60 YEARS AGO
April 6, 1949
Warner release: “Flamingo Road” Stars: Joan Crawford, Zachary Scott, Sydney Greenstreet Variety says: “Classy vehicle with strong cast”
April 13, 1949
Metro release: “The Barkleys of Broadway” Stars: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Oscar Levant Variety says: “Reunites Astaire and Rogers”
April 20, 1949
Metro release: “The Stratton Story” Stars: James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Morgan Variety says: “Deeply moving story.”
April 27, 1949
paramount release: “The Great Gatsby” Stars: Alan Ladd, Betty Field, Macdonald Carey Variety says: “F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story of the roaring ‘20’s.”
50 YEARS AGO
April 1, 1959
20th Fox release: “Warlock” Stars: Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, Dorothy Malone. Variety says: “Big western with top stars in class production.” United Artists release: “The Hound of The Baskervilles” Stars: Peter Cushing, Andre Morell, Christopher Lee, Marla Landi. Variety says: “Well-made remake of Sherlock Holmes yarn.
April 8, 1959
Metro release: “The World, The Flesh and The Devil” Stars: Harry Belafonte, Inger Stevens, Mel Ferrer. Variety says “Atomic wipeout, three character drama. Well made.
April 15, 1959
Paramount release: “Last Train From Gun Hill” Stars: Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Carolyn Jones Variety says: “Superior western. Good box office.”
April 29, 1959
Columbia release: “Face of a Fugitive” Stars: Fred MacMurray, Lin McCarthy, Dorothy Green Variety says: “Technically slick.” May 6, 1959 United Artist release: “Pork Chop Hill” Stars: Gregory Peck, Harry Guardino, Rip Torn, George Peppard Variety says: Grim unrelieved war picture with minimum heroics and maximum realism.
40 YEARS AGO
April 2, 1969
Metro Goldwyn Mayer release: “Heaven With a Gun” Stars: Glenn Ford, Carolyn Jones, Barbara Hershey Variety says: Western pits good guys (shepherds) vs. baddies (cattlemen) with Glenn Ford as marquee drawing card.
April 30, 1969
Universal release: “Death of a Gunfighter” Stars: Richard Widmark, Lena Horne, Carroll O’Connor Variety says: “Actionful story of a town marshal fighting city council’s attempts to remove him”