Prince-P
Joined Jun 2014
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The "Battle of the Bulge" was a decisive combat during World War II. It was fought between American and German forces in the densely forested Ardennes in Belgium. On December 16, several American units, including the 101st Airborne Division, were surrounded by overwhelming German forces in the small town of Bastogne. Due to the severe cold, allied aircraft couldn't resupply the troops, and it also proved impossible to carry out ground attacks against the German forces. It wasn't until December 26 that the legendary General Patton and his Third Army managed to open up a corridor through enemy lines. Finally, the exhausted American troops could be freed.
One of the survivors of the "Siege of Bastogne" was the young Robert Pirosh. He had kept a diary during the fighting and in 1947 he sold a sixty-page outline of his experiences to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The idea was that the studio should make a realistic war film based on his notes. Robert Pirosh would write the screenplay and also act as technical expert during the shooting. The title was to be "Battleground".
Most of "Battleground" was made at the MGM studio in Culver City. But it was challenging production. To replicate the Ardennes, a minor forest was planted in the company's main soundstage (the trees were shipped from northern California). Chemical "snow" was then blown by wind machines to duplicate the brutal Belgian winter. But, sadly, Robert Pirosh and the movie's director, William Wellman, had a late falling out. After that, the writer was barred from the set.
Due to the Production Code's strict rules regarding profanity, MGM was forced to "homogenize" most of the film's dialogue. Despite that, the movie became something of a sleeper hit. And there was more to come. It turned out that 1949 was something of a pinnacle for war stories. In addition to "Battleground", classics like "Sands of Iwo Jima" and "12 O'Clock High" also opened that year.
One of the survivors of the "Siege of Bastogne" was the young Robert Pirosh. He had kept a diary during the fighting and in 1947 he sold a sixty-page outline of his experiences to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The idea was that the studio should make a realistic war film based on his notes. Robert Pirosh would write the screenplay and also act as technical expert during the shooting. The title was to be "Battleground".
Most of "Battleground" was made at the MGM studio in Culver City. But it was challenging production. To replicate the Ardennes, a minor forest was planted in the company's main soundstage (the trees were shipped from northern California). Chemical "snow" was then blown by wind machines to duplicate the brutal Belgian winter. But, sadly, Robert Pirosh and the movie's director, William Wellman, had a late falling out. After that, the writer was barred from the set.
Due to the Production Code's strict rules regarding profanity, MGM was forced to "homogenize" most of the film's dialogue. Despite that, the movie became something of a sleeper hit. And there was more to come. It turned out that 1949 was something of a pinnacle for war stories. In addition to "Battleground", classics like "Sands of Iwo Jima" and "12 O'Clock High" also opened that year.
In the middle of the 1940s, director Leo McCarey had a bright idea. He planned to make a buddy film about two priests and wanted Spencer Tracy to play one of them. Unfortunately, Tracy's studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, wouldn't lend out their star for such a role. Spencer Tracy had already portrayed a catholic priest in "Boys Town" and its sequel "Men of Boys Town", and MGM was nervous that the actor would be typecast if he would put on the robe again.
With Spencer Tracy out of the picture, Leo McCarey instead suggested his good friend, Bing Crosby, for the role. A choice most punters in Hollywood frowned upon. Bing Crosby was widely considered a great singer and comedian, but not someone who could carry a drama. And certainly not a production that was already considered to be a hard sell at the box office. McCarey was adamant, though. He had always believed in Crosby's charisma in front of the camera. Besides, McCarey had already promised his buddy a role in one of his films.
Eventually, Leo McCarey's studio, Paramount Pictures, agreed to make the film. But, and this was important, only if the director waived his salary instead of a share in any (unlikely) profits. Luckily, McCarey had no problem with that. He threw out most of the screenplay and then urged his cast to improvise their scenes directly on the set. Leo McCarey was more interested in the genuine responses of the actors than in some flashy editing or glamorous photography.
Despite the controversy of showing drinking and swearing priests, "Going My Way" managed to charm the public and critics alike. The film became the year's top-grossing production and laid the foundation for Bing Crosby to become respected as an actor (he won an Oscar for his role). Leo McCarey must also have been quite pleased. As the director had been given a share of the film's profit, he earned more than anyone else in the United States that year. A truly remarkable feat.
With Spencer Tracy out of the picture, Leo McCarey instead suggested his good friend, Bing Crosby, for the role. A choice most punters in Hollywood frowned upon. Bing Crosby was widely considered a great singer and comedian, but not someone who could carry a drama. And certainly not a production that was already considered to be a hard sell at the box office. McCarey was adamant, though. He had always believed in Crosby's charisma in front of the camera. Besides, McCarey had already promised his buddy a role in one of his films.
Eventually, Leo McCarey's studio, Paramount Pictures, agreed to make the film. But, and this was important, only if the director waived his salary instead of a share in any (unlikely) profits. Luckily, McCarey had no problem with that. He threw out most of the screenplay and then urged his cast to improvise their scenes directly on the set. Leo McCarey was more interested in the genuine responses of the actors than in some flashy editing or glamorous photography.
Despite the controversy of showing drinking and swearing priests, "Going My Way" managed to charm the public and critics alike. The film became the year's top-grossing production and laid the foundation for Bing Crosby to become respected as an actor (he won an Oscar for his role). Leo McCarey must also have been quite pleased. As the director had been given a share of the film's profit, he earned more than anyone else in the United States that year. A truly remarkable feat.
Orson Welles was only 26 when he made "Citizen Kane". A story about newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane that many consider one of the greatest movies ever made. But following up on such a masterpiece wasn't easy. The model for the film's media mogul was William Randolph Hearst, and he didn't like the way he was portrayed. As Hearst had plenty of influential friends among Hollywood's powerful studio heads, he was not a person you wanted to offend. Especially not if you want your career in Tinseltown to continue.
Unfortunately, RKO Studios didn't make a dime on "Citizen Kane." So, the company's president began to regret the contract he had offered the young director (according to which, Orson Welles could make three films with total artistic freedom). But at this point, Welles knew nothing about what was going on at RKO. Instead, he began to shoot "The Magnificent Ambersons" along with his usual cast and crew. A film based on a once-celebrated, but now largely forgotten novel.
Now, however, the executives at RKO really had had enough. Alarmed by the adverse reactions the film received at a secret sneak preview, they fired Orson Welles. Then, a young editor was tasked with drastically cutting down "The Magnificent Ambersons". And not only that. After chopping away more than 60 minutes of film, a new, more "optimistic" ending was tacked on. According to Welles himself, the changes basically destroyed the heart of the picture.
And things would get worse. A few months later, Orson Welles' original cut was destroyed. Incinerated by executive order to free up space in RKO's vault (it was standard practice to burn unused nitrate negatives to salvage the silver in the emulsion). The studio didn't even have faith in their 88-minute version of "The Magnificent Ambersons" with its feeble happy ending. The film was released in just two Los Angeles venues, on the bottom half of a double bill.
Unfortunately, RKO Studios didn't make a dime on "Citizen Kane." So, the company's president began to regret the contract he had offered the young director (according to which, Orson Welles could make three films with total artistic freedom). But at this point, Welles knew nothing about what was going on at RKO. Instead, he began to shoot "The Magnificent Ambersons" along with his usual cast and crew. A film based on a once-celebrated, but now largely forgotten novel.
Now, however, the executives at RKO really had had enough. Alarmed by the adverse reactions the film received at a secret sneak preview, they fired Orson Welles. Then, a young editor was tasked with drastically cutting down "The Magnificent Ambersons". And not only that. After chopping away more than 60 minutes of film, a new, more "optimistic" ending was tacked on. According to Welles himself, the changes basically destroyed the heart of the picture.
And things would get worse. A few months later, Orson Welles' original cut was destroyed. Incinerated by executive order to free up space in RKO's vault (it was standard practice to burn unused nitrate negatives to salvage the silver in the emulsion). The studio didn't even have faith in their 88-minute version of "The Magnificent Ambersons" with its feeble happy ending. The film was released in just two Los Angeles venues, on the bottom half of a double bill.