14 Movies Starring Arthur Kennedy

High Sierra

High Sierra

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1941-01-25

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

100 min

Rated:

PASSED

IMDB Ratings:

7.6 (10801 Reviews)

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Cast:

Writer:

John Huston (screen play)

W.R. Burnett (screen play)

W.R. Burnett (from a novel by)

Fullplot:

Roy 'Mad Dog' Earle is broken out of prison by an old associate who wants him to help with an upcoming robbery. When the robbery goes wrong and a man is shot and killed Earle is forced to go on the run, and with the police and an angry press hot on his tail he eventually takes refuge among the peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, where a tense siege ensues. But will the Police make him regret the attachments he formed with two women during the brief planning of the robbery.

Air Force

Air Force

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1943-03-20

Languages:

English, Japanese

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

124 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

7.1 (2040 Reviews)

Director:

Howard Hawks

Cast:

Writer:

Dudley Nichols (original screenplay)

Fullplot:

On December 6, 1941 nine B-17 bomber set off on a flight from San Francisco to Hawaii. One of the bombers, the Mary Ann, is commanded by 'Irish' Quincannon. The bombardier, Tommy McMartin, has a sister living in Hawaii and the co-pilot, Bill Williams, is sweet on her. The men are all highly professional with the exception of aerial gunner Joe Winocki, a bitter man who has every intention of leaving the army air corps. They arrive at Hickam Field on the morning of December 7, just as the Japanese are attacking Pearl Harbor and other military facilities. All of the men prepare to face the enemy, including Winocki whose attitude changes quickly. The bomber and its crew will participate in many missions but not all will survive.

Champion

Champion

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1949-04-09

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

99 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

7.5 (2198 Reviews)

Director:

Mark Robson

Cast:

Writer:

Carl Foreman (screenplay)

Ring Lardner (story)

Fullplot:

Midge Kelly, hitchhiking west with lame brother Connie, is hustled unprepared into a pro boxing match. Though he's severely beaten, manager Tommy Haley finds him promising. Arrived in California, Midge and Connie find nothing but a menial job from which Midge gets relief by seducing Emma, a lovely young waitress. One shotgun marriage later, ambitious Midge falls back on the only option he knows: boxing. Seduced by cheering crowds, money, and a succession of blondes, Midge becomes more and more of a hero in public...and a heel in private.

The Window

The Window

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1949-07-21

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

73 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

7.5 (2005 Reviews)

Director:

Ted Tetzlaff

Cast:

Writer:

Mel Dinelli (screenplay)

Cornell Woolrich (based on a story by)

Fullplot:

At the age of 9, Tommy Woodry has a reputation for telling tall tales -- the latest one being that his family is moving from Manhattan to a ranch out west. When the landlord interrupts the Woodrys at dinner to show their about to be vacated apartment, the Woodrys tell Tommy enough is enough. Then that hot summer night Tommy decides to sleep on the fire escape -- outside the Kellerson's apartment, since it is a story higher and gets more breeze. Tommy sees the Kellersons kill a man. Tommy's parents and the police won't believe his story. But the Kellersons want to silence him.

Bright Victory

Bright Victory

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1951-07-16

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

96 min

IMDB Ratings:

7.5 (459 Reviews)

Director:

Mark Robson

Genres:

DramaWar

Cast:

Writer:

Robert Buckner

Baynard Kendrick (novel)

Fullplot:

In North Africa during World War II, Sergeant Larry Nevins is blinded by a German sniper's bullet. Rehabilitation at the military hospital presents many challenges, but accepting his disability also proves to be difficult for others.

The Desperate Hours

The Desperate Hours

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1956-02-13

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

112 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

7.6 (6307 Reviews)

Director:

William Wyler

Cast:

Writer:

Joseph Hayes (screenplay)

Joseph Hayes (adapted from the novel and play by)

Fullplot:

After escaping from prison, Glenn Griffin, his brother Hal and a third inmate Sam Kobish randomly select a house in a well-to-do suburb of Indianapolis in which to hide out. The home belongs to the Hilliard family, Dan and Ellie who live there with their 19-year old daughter Cindy and their young son Ralph. They plan on staying only until midnight as Griffin is awaiting his girlfriend who will meet them with some money he had stashed away. When she doesn't arrive, their stay stretches out to several days. Dan Hilliard plays their game knowing that if he makes any attempt to contact the police, his family could be caught in the crossfire.

Trial

Trial

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1955-10-07

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

105 min

IMDB Ratings:

6.9 (585 Reviews)

Director:

Mark Robson

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Don Mankiewicz

Don Mankiewicz (novel)

Fullplot:

The story of a murder trial where a Mexican boy is accused of the death of a Caucasian girl. The two-faced attorney (Arthur Kennedy) who takes the boy's case is only interested in defending him so he can exploit his Communist-backed organization for their own underhanded purposes. He and his organization bring in an idealistic law professor (Glenn Ford) who agrees to represent the boy in court.

Peyton Place

Peyton Place

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1958-03-03

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

157 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (3810 Reviews)

Director:

Mark Robson

Genres:

DramaRomance

Cast:

Writer:

John Michael Hayes (screenplay)

Grace Metalious (from the novel by)

Fullplot:

It's the pre-WWII era. Peyton Place is a small town in New England, whose leading adult citizens rule the town with their high moral standards, which they try to pass on to their offspring. The adults, especially those that wield power largely through their positions and/or through their wealth, will not tolerate anything they believe morally improper, even if there is a hint of impropriety without comprehensive evidence to back up the hints. As their offspring grow from teenagers to adults, the offspring learn that there is much hypocrisy by the adults lying underneath that faèade of proper Christian morals. The offspring begin to rebel in different ways, which is brought to public scrutiny with the arrival into town of an "outsider", the new young high school principal Michael Rossi, and through a murder trial.

A Summer Place

A Summer Place

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1959-11-18

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

130 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

(1976 Reviews)

Director:

Delmer Daves

Genres:

DramaRomance

Cast:

Writer:

Sloan Wilson (novel)

Delmer Daves

Fullplot:

The Hunter family has long owned a mansion on Pine Island, a summer resort located off the Maine coast. Bart Hunter's now deceased father was able to open the mansion for free when Bart was younger, but current owner Bart, a drunkard and weak man, must now live there year round for financial survival with his wife Sylvia and their late teen-aged son Johnny, the family who are barely able to eke out a living with the mansion now as a year-round inn which is in an extreme state of disrepair. Bart and Sylvia are in a quietly unhappy marriage due largely to Bart's drinking. The Buffalo-based Jorgensons - husband Ken Jorgenson, his wife Helen Jorgenson and their late teen-aged daughter Molly Jorgenson - have rented rooms at the inn for the summer, while Ken looks for a summer house on the island. Ken lived on the island twenty years ago, he actually a working class lifeguard for Bart's father at that time. Ken is now a self-made millionaire as a research scientist, who had never been back to the island until now. Ken and Helen too are in an unsatisfying marriage, Helen, a shrew and prude, who seems to hate and mistrust anything and everything, including her husband and daughter. Helen only seems concerned with public perception that their lives are perfect. Upon first meeting, Johnny and Molly fall in love. Meanwhile, Ken and Sylvia rekindle a romance from twenty years earlier, they uncertain if Bart knew at the time of their relationship, which did not last because of the differences in their social background. The two romances have a rocky road to potential happiness. Helen does not trust either Johnny or Molly to be morally proper. Ken and Sylvia know that their respective spouses will never consent to divorce, and if they do will do whatever they can so that they will never get to see their children again. And despite knowing that their respective parents are unhappy in their marriages, Johnny and Molly do not approve of a liaison between his mother and her father. Regardless, Ken and Sylvia want to provide their children with as much love and guidance as possible, including encouraging them to follow their hearts while not getting into trouble, a message which may not be heard if only because of Johnny and Molly believing that what they are doing is disgusting, and because of Johnny and Molly's own raging hormones.

Elmer Gantry

Elmer Gantry

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1960-07-01

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

146 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

7.9 (7484 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Brooks

Genres:

Drama

Cast:

Writer:

Richard Brooks (screenplay)

Sinclair Lewis (from the novel by)

Fullplot:

Elmer Gantry is a fast talking, hard drinking traveling salesman who always has a risquè story and a hip flask to entertain cronies and customers alike. He is immediately taken with Sister Sharon Falconer, a lay preacher whose hellfire and damnation revivalism has attracted quite a following. Gantry uses his own quick wit and knowledge of the bible to become an indispensable part of Sister Sharon's roadshow but soon finds that his past catches up with him in the form of Lulu Bains, now a prostitute. While Gantry seeks and eventually gets forgiveness from Sharon, tragedy strikes when she finally manages to get out of her revivalist tent and opens a permanent church.

Barabbas

Barabbas

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1962-10-10

Languages:

English

Countries:

Italy, USA

Runtime:

137 min

Rated:

NOT RATED

IMDB Ratings:

(3529 Reviews)

Cast:

Writer:

Christopher Fry (screenplay)

Pèr Lagerkvist (novel)

Fullplot:

Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was spared crucifixion when Pilate manipulated the crowd into to pardoning him, rather than Jesus. Struggling with his spirituality, Barabbas goes through many ordeals leading him to the gladiatorial arena, where he tries to win his freedom and confront his inner demons, ultimately becoming a follower of the man who was crucified in his place.

Nevada Smith

Nevada Smith

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1966-06-10

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA

Runtime:

128 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

(4993 Reviews)

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Genres:

Western

Cast:

Writer:

Harold Robbins (novel)

John Michael Hayes (story)

John Michael Hayes (screenplay)

Fullplot:

Nevada Smith is the young son of an Indian mother and white father. When his father and mother are killed by three men over gold, Nevada sets out to find them and kill them. The boy is taken in by a gun merchant. The gun merchant shows him how to shoot, to shoot on time, and to shoot straight. Everything that Nevada does goes to killing those three men. He learns to read and write just to learn their location. He pays people to tell him where they're at. He even goes to prison to kill one of them. While the movie is a Western and has plenty of action, it also takes a deep look into vengeance and how one can change after a haunting incident.

Let Sleeping Corpses Lie

Let Sleeping Corpses Lie

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1975-06-01

Languages:

Italian, Spanish

Countries:

Italy, Spain

Runtime:

95 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

6.9 (5189 Reviews)

Director:

Jorge Grau

Genres:

Horror

Cast:

Writer:

Sandro Continenza

Marcello Coscia

Fullplot:

A cop chases two young people visiting the English countryside, suspecting them of a local murder; unbeknownst to him, the real culprits are the living dead, brought to life with a thirst for human flesh by radiation being used by area farmers as a pesticide alternative.

Let Sleeping Corpses Lie

Let Sleeping Corpses Lie

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1975-06-01

Languages:

Italian, Spanish

Countries:

Italy, Spain

Runtime:

95 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

6.9 (5206 Reviews)

Director:

Jorge Grau

Genres:

Horror

Cast:

Writer:

Sandro Continenza

Marcello Coscia

Fullplot:

A cop chases two young people visiting the English countryside, suspecting them of a local murder; unbeknownst to him, the real culprits are the living dead, brought to life with a thirst for human flesh by radiation being used by area farmers as a pesticide alternative.

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