IMDb > Career (1959)
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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   164 votes
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Up 34% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Joseph Anthony
Writers:
Bert Granet (writer)
James Lee (play)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Career on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 February 1961 (Sweden) more
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
More than anything in the world, Sam Lawson wants to be a successful actor. Is he willing to sacrifice his wife, happiness and personal reputation to achieve his goal? | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Emmy Nominations Reveal Few Surprises
 (From CinemaSpy. 16 July 2009, 10:01 AM, PDT)
The 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations
 (From MovieWeb. 16 July 2009, 6:30 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
"Career, Career, Love is a Career" more (5 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Dean Martin ... Maurice 'Maury' Novak

Anthony Franciosa ... Sam Lawson

Shirley MacLaine ... Sharon Kensington

Carolyn Jones ... Shirley Drake
Joan Blackman ... Barbara Lawson Helmsley
Robert Middleton ... Robert Kensington

Donna Douglas ... Marjorie Burke

Jerry Paris ... Allan Burke
Frank McHugh ... Charlie Gallagher
Chuck Wassil ... Eric Peters
Mary Treen ... Marie, secretary to Shirley Drake
Yuki Shimoda ... Yosho
Alan Hewitt ... Matt Helmsley
Marjorie Bennett ... Fan Magazine Columnist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Edit Angold ... Mrs. Eglevsky
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
105 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15
Company:
Paramount Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Prior to the release of this movie, a fan had written to 'Screen Stories' magazine, inquiring as to what movie Dean Martin would next be appearing in. The response was that one of the movies would be 'Korea' - but there was no mention of 'Career'. While the movie does have a brief character introduction set during the Korean War, Dean Martin never appeared in a movie called 'Korea'. more
Quotes:
Sharon Kensington: Oh, what a lovely name. I love that name. You know, the first man I ever completely destroyed was named Sam. He's a hairdresser now. more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful.
"Career, Career, Love is a Career", 20 January 2006
9/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

Career is one no-holds barred look at the theatrical profession and what it takes to get to the top. Anthony Franciosa had that determination, but it cost him big time in his personal life.

No pun intended, but this may have been Tony Franciosa's career role. He's Sam Lawson, World War II veteran with thespian ambitions. Franciosa literally starts at the bottom with a character named Maury Novak played by Dean Martin.

Career has it all, the performances in fly by night stock companies for indifferent audiences, the fighting for bit roles and the bigger fight to get even noticed for your big break.

It costs Franciosa two marriages and near blacklisting through his association with Martin. Career in fact is one of the first films to even mention the blacklist, albeit they do it in a very gingerly way. Had it been made 10 years later, I doubt that the script would have had a line in it for Carolyn Jones to say that the House Un American Activities Committee had some honorable intentions.

Speaking of Jones, she's great in a role as an agent who has a deep affection for her client Franciosa. You kind of hope that they will get together at some point in the future. Shirley MacLaine has a great part as the good time daughter of a big theatrical producer played by Robert Middleton. At some point MacLaine gets married to both Franciosa and Martin during the film.

Dino did a hit record of the title song for the film although it is only heard instrumentally during the film. His performance as Maury Novak, a sleazy friend indeed to Franciosa, further established him as a dramatic actor and more proof he didn't need Jerry Lewis to succeed.

Career is a dated film, it's very rooted in the Fifties when the story takes place. Yet it is a good dramatic story and a bit of a social commentary on the times.

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