The Valley of the Gwangi (1969)

Tuck (James Franciscus), a charming scoundrel, seeks out wild west star and old flame T.J. Breckenridge (Gila Golan) to make a deal for her trained horse. T.J. isn’t initially receptive. Tuck had broken her heart by walking out on her, but she changes her tune when she comes in possession of a tiny horse, a living ancestor of modern horses … ok, ok, it’s Cowboys vs. Dinosaurs.

Old friend Richard Carlson plays the owner of the struggling wild west show, fiercely protective of T.J. Carlson would appear in the Elvis flick Change of Habit later that year, his last feature film. Also, Elvis’. Gila Golan was quite charming as the feisty T.J. Breckenridge, but because of her thick accent, all of her dialog was dubbed. It was noticeable.

All the important elements are present. A secret valley, a blind gypsy fortune teller (in turn of the century Mexico, no less), a bumbling scientist, a spunky sidekick, a love triangle, and a proper character arc for our protagonist. Oh yea, and cowboys and dinosaurs. It’s not exactly a think piece, but for the most part it gets the science right. Because of the time crunch, Ray Harryhausen didn’t finish color testing of his creatures. As such, they were blue-purple in color.

Valley of the Gwangi parallels King Kong (1933) a bit, which tracks as it is based on an abandoned Willis H. O’Brien script. It’s not a bad film, despite itself. It’s goofy in parts but the story makes in-world sense. Having no faith, the studio didn’t promote it, and it predictably bombed. A few years earlier it might have been a sizable success on the drive-in circuit. AMRU 3.

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Ambitious PR man Sidney (Tony Curtis) trades personal favors with influential columnist (Burt Lancaster) in exchange for getting his client’s names into his articles. The latest favor is to get Hunsecker’s kid sister away from a dirty jazz singer. This task proves harder than first seems.

Lancaster’s Hunsecker is a Walter Winchell type. Ruthless, manipulative, egomaniacal. Also with a suspicious infatuation with little sis. And Sidney is willing to do anything, use anyone, to succeed, consequences be damned. What transpires is a battle of and between two wholly unethical men.

At one level one can understand why someone would not want their little sister seeing an unsavory musician but not so much when he is played by Martin “Apple Pie” Milner (Adam-12). Susan Harrison (Little sis) had a rather short career despite being very charming here. Just three movies and eight episodes of TV over eight years. She married outside the industry and apparently moved on with life.

Sweet Smell of Success has an engaging story, a smart script, and excellent performances all around. It’s original, compelling, surprising, sometimes amusing, and thoroughly enjoyable. I should have watched it sooner. Much sooner. AMRU 4.5.

"Everybody knows Manny Davis - except Mrs. Manny Davis."