Let Yourself Go ... To Old Hollywood

The beginning of Ida Lupino's directing career

After Road House in 1948, Ida Lupino turned towards making her own films. Inspired by a story on unwed mothers by Malvin Wald and Paul Jerrico, she started "Emerald Productions" (later "The Filmakers") with Anson Bond and her then-husband Collier Young, to produce the film. Among other things, this gave her the opportunity to foster young acting talent, as she had long desired.

When the director, Elmer Clifton, had a heart-attack a couple days into filming, Ida took over the directorial duties. This film was released in 1949 as "Not Wanted". Ida is credited as co-producer and co-writer, and the film is billed as "Ida Lupino presents". She did not take credit for directing, though.

"Not Wanted" was a substantial hit for a low-budget independent production, and launched Ida's career as a director, writer, and producer.

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originally posted in The Vintage Classics on October 11, 2018

Ida Lupino in "Road House" (1948)

Road House (1948). Ida Lupino had recently left Warner Bros. after refusing to sign a long-term contract that did not allow for outside work. During her new free-lance period, she found the story that led to the film "Road House", and had her agent sell the project to 20th Century Fox on the condition that she star in the film.

This is a great, dramatic thriller, where Ida plays a nightclub singer. She does her own singing in this film, and, as Celeste Holm's character says, "She does more without a voice than anyone I've ever heard."

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originally posted in The Vintage Classics on October 11, 2018

Ida Lupino in "Moontide" (1942)

Moontide (1942).

This was one of the first Ida Lupino films I watched, and it still is one of my favorites, which is a very high standard.

It’s one of very few films done in Hollywood by French superstar Jean Gabin. The dark, foggy, isolated atmosphere is reminiscent of film noir. But this film is really unique.

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originally posted in The Vintage Classics on October 9, 2018

Ida Lupino in "Devotion" (1946)

Devotion (1946), is a fictionalized account of the Brontë family. Ida Lupino gives a powerful performance as Charlotte Brontë, author of Wuthering Heights. Arthur Kennedy is very memorable as her troubled brother. Paul Henreid and Olivia de Havilland also star.

This movie was filmed in 1943 but held for release for over two years. It doesn’t appear to have been well-received critically, partially because of how it deviates from historical accuracy. But I found it a very well-done, memorable film. Ida was especially impressive to me.

What are your thoughts?

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originally posted in The Vintage Classics on October 6, 2018

Ida Lupino in "The Light That Failed" (1939)

Ida Lupino as Bessie Broke in “The Light That Failed” (1939), starring Ronald Colman. The role that she convinced director William Wellman to give her and that helped launch her career beyond the ingenue roles she’d been limited to for years.

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originally posted in "The Vintage Classics" on October 6, 2018

Ida Lupino posts in The Vintage Classics

In October, Ida Lupino was voted as "Star of the Month" in Facebook group, "The Vintage Classics". As I had been the one to add her to the poll and the first to vote for her, I felt a certain degree of ownership, and pride, in that result. So over the course of that month, I put together a couple dozen very short posts related to Lupino's acting and directing career in Hollywood. I'd like to re-post those here so I have that material preserved on my own blog. So posts here in the category "Ida Lupino Vintage Classics series" will contain what originally was posted there.