ONCE AGAIN, WE are able to refer to our having seen this film "with the naked eye"; that being, at the local movie house in our neighborhood. In much of the same way that God intended us to see Baseball Under the Lights; he also wanted us to see Movies at the Show!
IN OUR CASE, it was the Ogden Theatre at 63rd & Ashland, in Chicago's West Englewood neighborhood. We were about ten years old at the time and really didn't particularly like the film. This was probably and most likely due to the fact that a young kid would not understand the story, nor its relevance to recent history and current events.
HAVING VIEWED THE same movie in recent times (more than once)and owing to the undeniable consequences of growing decidedly "long in the tooth", we have radically altered our opinion of BLOOD ALLEY.
SO, UPON FURTHER review, we must proclaim this to be one of the better dramas of that middle 1950s. Its offbeat characters, desperate situations and the winning premise of a cynical, world weary boozer's finding both redemption and love are the makings of a dynamite winning combination.
STRONG FEATURES OF the production were: realistic settings, great incidental music, fine color work and a plausible storyline that keeps one interested from start to end. Of course, all of these elements were skillfully blended by one Mr. William Wellman, Director extraordinaire.
A large cast was assembled that featured many of the Chinese actors of Hollywood, including such names as Victor Sen Young. There are very many extras of Asian descent present; as well as some Caucasians masquerading as Chinese. Two names that stick out to us are Mike Mazurki and Anita Ekberg.
ITS LARGE CAST features the main characters of Stars John Wayne and (Mrs. Betty Bogart, herself) Lauren Bacall. They do make for a very interesting, albeit quite offbeat, couple. We also learned that Mr. Robert Mitchum was fired off of the picture and replaced by the Duke; who incidentally produced it.
AS ENJOYABLE AS Mr. Wayne and Miss Bacall in the picture, we can't help feeling that Mitchum was much more the real world counterpart of this crusty sea-dog of a Merchant Captain.
IN OUR CASE, it was the Ogden Theatre at 63rd & Ashland, in Chicago's West Englewood neighborhood. We were about ten years old at the time and really didn't particularly like the film. This was probably and most likely due to the fact that a young kid would not understand the story, nor its relevance to recent history and current events.
HAVING VIEWED THE same movie in recent times (more than once)and owing to the undeniable consequences of growing decidedly "long in the tooth", we have radically altered our opinion of BLOOD ALLEY.
SO, UPON FURTHER review, we must proclaim this to be one of the better dramas of that middle 1950s. Its offbeat characters, desperate situations and the winning premise of a cynical, world weary boozer's finding both redemption and love are the makings of a dynamite winning combination.
STRONG FEATURES OF the production were: realistic settings, great incidental music, fine color work and a plausible storyline that keeps one interested from start to end. Of course, all of these elements were skillfully blended by one Mr. William Wellman, Director extraordinaire.
A large cast was assembled that featured many of the Chinese actors of Hollywood, including such names as Victor Sen Young. There are very many extras of Asian descent present; as well as some Caucasians masquerading as Chinese. Two names that stick out to us are Mike Mazurki and Anita Ekberg.
ITS LARGE CAST features the main characters of Stars John Wayne and (Mrs. Betty Bogart, herself) Lauren Bacall. They do make for a very interesting, albeit quite offbeat, couple. We also learned that Mr. Robert Mitchum was fired off of the picture and replaced by the Duke; who incidentally produced it.
AS ENJOYABLE AS Mr. Wayne and Miss Bacall in the picture, we can't help feeling that Mitchum was much more the real world counterpart of this crusty sea-dog of a Merchant Captain.