Go for Broke! (1951): a Film Out of Its Time

Judging by Go for Broke‘s posters and related promotional material, you’d think that this Robert Pirosh picture is yet another post-WWII jingoistic war film. We see strapping blonde Van Johnson hoisting a rifle and chasing the Italian ladies. The title, too, evokes visions of Battleground (1949)–also starring Van Johnson and directed by Robert Pirosh–and the… Continue reading Go for Broke! (1951): a Film Out of Its Time

Charles McGraw’s Freakishly Sad and Incongruous Death

Charles McGraw (1914-1980) was the squarest jawed of all square-jawed Hollywood actors of the golden period, always playing a tough guy of some sort: police lieutenants and sergeants, rear admirals, sheriffs, captains, gladiators. If you were a casting director and you needed a certain granite-like face with oversized features, plus a steely demeanor to match,… Continue reading Charles McGraw’s Freakishly Sad and Incongruous Death