Fuller at Fox
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FULLER AT FOX The first sentence in Samuel Fuller’s Wikipe- excellent music. In order of their appearance Fuller assembled a first-rate cast, including dia entry reads thusly: “Samuel Michael Fuller on these two CDs, they are: Richard Widmark (with whom he’d just worked (August 12, 1912 – October 30, 1997) was on Pickup on South Street), Victor Francen, an American screenwriter, novelist, and film HELL AND HIGH WATER Cameron Mitchell, David Wayne, Gene Evans, director known for low-budget, understated Richard Loo, and, as Denise Girard, newcomer genre movies with controversial themes.” One When Zanuck proposed to Fuller that his next Bella Darvi, who also just happened to be the wonders if the author of that first sentence has project after Pickup on South Street should mistress of Daryl F. Zanuck. The film’s hand- actually seen a Samuel Fuller movie, because be Hell and High Water, Fuller agreed, even some photography was by Joseph MacDonald “understated” would be about the last word though he wasn’t crazy about the script. He did and the music was by Alfred Newman, the you’d ever use about a Fuller film. After all, it as a favor to Zanuck, who’d defended Fuller head of the Fox music department, who by the according to Fuller, he didn’t speak until he when J. Edgar Hoover attacked both Fuller time of Hell and High Water had already won was almost five years old, and when he finally and Fox over Pickup on South Street, about six Oscars. did speak the first word out of his mouth was which more later. Zanuck agreed to let Fuller “hammer.” And if that doesn’t perfectly encap- do a complete rewrite of the script. Fox had, Newman, of course, turned in an exemplary sulate who Fuller was as a person, writer, and the year before, introduced Cinemascope to score, highlighting all the action, suspense, director, nothing does. “Hammer.” Hardly an the world with The Robe, and Hell and High and romance in his usual brilliant way. His understated first word. Water was to be in that glorious “You see it rousing march that occurs in the main title se- Fuller began his working life as a copyboy, without glasses!” process. Fuller was wary, quence was actually written almost a decade then at seventeen worked as a crime reporter as were many filmmakers back then. Zanuck before for an hour-long documentary called for the New York Evening Graphic. In his early screened Jean Negulesco’s film, How to Marry The Fighting Lady. In addition to Newman’s twenties, he wrote his first three novels, all with a Millionaire for him, and Fuller was impressed. incredible scoring, the film also features one classic Fuller titles: Burn, Baby Burn, Test Tube As he would later write, “I realized that Negule- of Fuller’s favorite tunes, the song “Mam’selle.” Baby, and Make Up and Kiss. His 1944 novel, sco made Cinemascope serve the story, and Newman’s interpolations of it are simply won- The Dark Page, was turned into the 1952 film, not the opposite.” derful and give the Widmark and Darvi ro- Scandal Sheet. In 1936, Fuller wrote his first mance real warmth. The score is yet another film, Hats Off. As he saw the films made from Fuller fully embraced the new widescreen Newman classic from an era in which he simply his scripts he was usually dissatisfied with the process and Hell and High Water became the could do no wrong. result. When offered a deal to write three films poster child for Cinemascope and the movie for producer Robert Lippert, Fuller agreed only Zanuck would show to nervous filmmakers be- PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET if he would be allowed to also direct them – at cause Fuller had found a way to keep Cinema- no additional fee. That, of course, was happy scope fluid even in claustrophobic scenes in a The year prior to Hell and High Water, Fuller news to low-budget producer Lippert and Full- submarine. made a noir classic for Fox, Pickup on South er’s directing career was launched with the Street. It’s classic Fuller, with its anti-hero film I Shot Jesse James. That was followed by Hell and High Water begins with voice-over pickpocket Skip McCoy, police informant Moe, The Baron of Arizona, starring Vincent Price, narration: who informs on her friend Skip, who doesn’t and then came The Steel Helmet, the first film mind (“Moe’s okay, she’s gotta eat”), a fetching about the Korean War that was actually shot “In the summer of 1953, it was announced than female named Candy, a Commie spy named during the Korean War. Filmed in ten days on a an atomic bomb of foreign origin had been Joey, tough cops, and various other noir types budget of $105,000, the film was so successful exploded somewhere outside of the United all lurking around the peculiarly Fuller land- that the major studios sat up and took a look at States. Shortly thereafter it was indicated that scape. this young director. One of those who sat up this atomic reaction, according to scientific was Daryl F. Zanuck at Twentieth Century Fox, reports, originated in a remote area in North The story kicks off on a crowded subway train who signed Fuller for a seven-picture deal. Pacific waters, somewhere between the north- when Skip lifts the fetching female Candy’s ern tip of the Japanese Islands and the Arctic wallet. The wallet, however, contains microfilm Fuller’s first film for Fox was Fixed Bayonets! Circle. This is the story of that explosion.” that she was delivering for her ex-boyfriend, (note the exclamation point – understated, Joey, who’s told her the microfilm contains isn’t it), released in 1951. As Fuller noted in A group of scientists, businessmen, and states- stolen business secrets – alas, what it really his memoir, A Third Face: My Tale of Writing, men believe that the Communist Chinese are contains is top government secrets because Fighting and Filmmaking: “Zanuck had always building a secret atomic base on an island Joey is a nasty Communist spy. From there we championed me. He didn’t always agree with north of Japan. But they must have proof so are fully in Fullerland and the movie is by turns me but he’d tell me face-to-face, no matter. they hire a submarine commander to get proof. weird, wacky, extremely touching (especially in Once he’d Okayed a project, Zanuck was there The commander agrees (there is a lot of money Moe’s final scene), and filled with classic Fuller for me, always fighting for my vision.” in it for him) and he assembles his crew – also touches – in other words, a movie like no other. on board are a scientist, Professor Montel, For this CD set of Fuller at Fox, we pick up and his comely assistant Denise Girard. What The film is filled with great performances, espe- with the next three films Fuller would make for happens is by turns taut, romantic, dramatic, cially from its stars, Richard Widmark as Skip, Zanuck and Fox – Pickup on South Street, Hell exciting, and with occasional moments of Jean Peters as Candy, Richard Kiley as Joey, and High Water, and House of Bamboo, three Fulleresque brevity. and most especially the extraordinary Thelma classic Fuller films that also happen to have Ritter as Moe, certainly one of her greatest performances in a career filled with them – what’s to come – jagged, bluesy, and jazzy. Once again, Fuller turned to Leigh Harline for her heartbreaking turn as Moe earned her an The film’s music perfectly defines its charac- the score and Harline turned in what was and Oscar nomination. The supporting cast is no ters, drama, and milieu. It’s a great score for is one of his best scores. It is lush with melody less terrific and includes such stalwarts as Wil- one of Fuller’s finest films. and orchestral color, and the Fox orchestra has lis Bouchey, Murvyn Vye, Milburn Stone, and rarely sounded more beautiful. As with all great Parley Baer. HOUSE OF BAMBOO main titles, we immediately enter the sound world of the film – the swirling strings and brass While the film received some middling reviews From Julie Kirgo’s wonderful notes for the Twi- statements draw us in instantly. From there, (now, of course, it’s a masterpiece, but it was light Time release of House of Bamboo: Harline’s score really does run the gamut, hit- a masterpiece back in 1953, just not one crit- ting every mood and story point with absolute ics were quite ready for), it was a big success “In the fall of 1954, fresh from the back-to-back and unerring precision. Harline remains one for Fox and Fuller. But it raised the ire of none hits Pickup on South Street and Hell and High of the most under-appreciated of the Golden other than Mr. J. Edgar Hoover, so much so Water, writer-director Sam Fuller was in Lon- Age composers, but hopefully with each CD that Zanuck and Fuller were summoned to don, taking advantage of a clause in his con- release, new fans will emerge and people will meet him at a Hollywood restaurant called Ro- tract with Twentieth Century Fox that allowed appreciate just how great he was. manoff’s. Hoover took exception to Widmark’s him six months off to work independently. What character – when asked for his help in catch- he had in mind was ‘a yarn about a bank heist All three scores have had previous releases.