NINA FOCH: Vampires, Werewolf's, Arch Oboler, a Little Gershwin, and the Pharaoh's Daughter

You probably never heard of Nina Foch, and certainly not Nina Consuelo Maude Fock. Perhaps though, Bela Lugosi, Anthony Quinn, Gene Kelly, Robert Wise, Cecil B. DeMille, and Kirk Douglas?

This is a look at a Short Subject, two Horror Movies from the 1940's, and four 1950's Motion Picture's with just a taste of 1950's Television Horror and Science Fiction. Plus one 1960 movie that helped to break the "Black Listing's" of those in the Motion Picture Industry. All with an Actress that became a University of Southern California (USC), Film and Directing Teacher.

Nina Consuelo Maude Fock was born on April 20, 1924, in Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands. 

Nina's mother was American stage and silent screen  actress Consuelo Flowerton. Who became known, during the First World War, as the "Poster Girl", because of allied propaganda posters drawn by artist, Howard Chandler Christy. In 1921, Consuelo appeared in "The Ziegfeld Follies". That same year she portrayed "Oylmpe" in the Rudolph Valentino and Alla Nazimova's motion picture, "Camille".

Nina's father was Dutch-American Classical Music Composer and Conductor, Dirk Fock (Foch). 

Her parents married in 1923, and moved to Vienna, Austria, where Dirk worked as the conductor for the "Vienna Concert Society". The two lived, what was described as a "Lavish Life Style", but that led to financial difficulties and they separated. In 1926, Consuelo obtained a "Dutch Court Divorce" and split custody of their daughter. At some point, after that 1st Divorce, mother and daughter moved to New York City. In 1932, Consuelo obtained a 2nd Divorce in American Courts, and took over full custody of Nina.

Once in New York, Consuelo taught her daughter the piano, and an appreciation of art, but like her mother, Nina wanted to act. She was enrolled in the original "Lincoln Experimental School", founded in 1917, by John D. Rockefeller's "General Education Board", as "a pioneer experimental school for newer educational methods," administered by the "Teacher's College of Columbia University". It would be replaced in 1948, by the "New Lincoln School".

After graduation, Nina Foch attended the prestigious, private, acting school, the "American Academy of Dramatic Arts". There she learned "Method Acting" under Lee Strasberg, and Stella Adler. 

Nine Foch's first on-screen appearance was in a "Warner Brothers" Western Short Subject.

WAGON WHEELS WEST released on October 30, 1943, running 18-Minutes

This is the story of a United States Marshall tracking down his father's killer. Some of the footage, and actors seen, actually came from the "Warner Brothers", 1936, singing cowboy, Dick Foran's, "Song of the Saddle". Which was about a singing cowboy seeking revenge on his father's killer. 

According to several reviews of the short, it was an efficient condensation of the 58-minute "B" Western, "Song of the Saddle".

Above from the 1943 short film, "Wagon Wheels West"left front is:

Robert Shayne portraying "United States Marshall Frankie Wilson". In the 1936 movie this character is "Frank Wilson, Jr. aka: The Singing Kid". The character is not a Marshall come looking for the murderer of his father from ten-years-before, but a singing cowboy. Who talks his way into the murderer's gang. 

Later, Robert Shayne, from 1952 - 1958, portrayed "Inspector Henderson", on television's "The Adventures of Superman". In 1953, he starred as "The Neanderthal Man", next appearing in 1953's, "Invaders from Mars", 1954's, "Tobor the Great", 1957's,"KRONOS" and the same years "The Giant Claw". Among other low budget horror and science fiction movies. My article is "Robert Shayn: Superman's 'Inspector Henderson' and 'B' Minus Science Fiction and Horror" found at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2022/06/robert-shayne-supermans-detective.html

Nina Foch portrayed "JAN COLBURN". Of interest is that Alma Lloyd's character, below, of "JEN COBURN", in the full length movie, could easily confuse an audience member of the short to think they're hearing "Jan Colburn" and not "Jen Coburn" for the split second of the name being heard in stock footage.

In the cage is Charles Middleton portraying the stage line owner, "Phineas Hook". Of the three main actors in this shorten version, Charles Middleton actually portrayed the same character in the 1936 motion picture. In both, he is the murderer. Below right, Middleton is the man with his hands up next to the horse.

Starting with 1936's, "Flash Gordon", Charles Middleton portrayed "Emperor Ming the Merciless" in all three "Universal Pictures Flash Gordon" serials. My article is "FLASH GORDON: From a Sunday Comic Strip to Movies and Television 1934 to 2008", speeding from "Planet Mongo" at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2025/07/flash-gordon-from-sunday-comic-strip-to.html 

Charles Middleton was also the "Sheriff" in director James Whale's, 1936, version of the Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's, "Show Boat", and a slave overseer in 1939, "Gone with the Wind".

According to film historian Michael R. Pitts's,"Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films 1928-1982", published in 2014, on her 19th-Birthday, Nina Foch signed a contract with "Columbia Pictures".

Nina Foch's next on-screen appearance, was also her first motion picture under her "Columbia Picture's" contract, and was:

THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE released on November 11, 1943

In a typical article about this feature film entitled, "THE SCREEN; Any Blood Donors?", from the "New York Times", January 22, 1944, at:

https://www.nytimes.com/1944/01/29/archives/the-screen-any-blood-donors.html

The following spoiler was found:

Need we say more about a picture called "The Return of the Vampire" than just that—plus the fact that Columbia made it and it opened at the Rialto yesterday? Are you still interested? All right, we'll tell you that Bela Lugosi rises again from the grave to go about sucking transfusions from the throat of a beautiful girl in the dark of night, while mists rise around the English mansion and dogs howl mournfully on the hill. But his accomplice, a hairy-faced man-beast (Matt Willis) proves his undoing in the end. This monster gets religion or something and turns the vampire into dust with a crucifix. Thus the forces of good triumph over evil and we all can feel much better—until next time.

Any Blood Donors?

The unnamed writer shows his/her prejudice, because the feature comes from "Columbia Pictures". Which, at its founding in 1919, had no physical studio, but rented one office, each, in a building in Los Angeles, and another in New York City. In 1924, the studio moved into a "small rented studio" on Hollywood's, "Poverty Row", at the corner of Gower Street snd Sunset Boulevard. 

In 1934, "Columbia Pictures", unexpectedly swept the "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences" awards, with the Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert's "It Happened One Night", directed by Frank Capra, but to "Hollywood", they were still a "Poverty Row Studio". 

The studio's owner and head, Harry "King" Cohan, just kept making low-budget detective pictures, dramas, comedies, and musical films. In 1937, the studio did make director Frank Capra's, "Lost Horizon", starring Ronald Coleman. However, the movie ran $776,000 over the "King's" mandated budget, and took the studio 5-years to make-up the loss. In 1939, "Columbia Pictures" made director Frank Capra's, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", starring James Stewart. The film was nominated for 11-Oscars, and won "Best Screenplay", but the "Poverty Row Stigma" remained.

The reviewer also attacked the screenplay for being a horror film with both a vampire and werewolf. The reviewer's comments "assumed", that because the audience kept seeing those two monsters over and over again, the film would be boring to the viewer. 

To the reviewer's point, "Universal Pictures", had released in 1943.  Its 5th-Frankenstein movie, its 4th-Dracula movie, and its 3rd-Werewolf movie. In the year of this "New York Times" review, 1944, "Universal Pictures" would release the first film with the "Frankenstein Monster" portrayed for the first time by "B" Cowboy actor and singer, Glenn Strange, the "Wolf Man" portrayed by Lon Chaney, Jr., "Dracula re-named Baron Latos" and portrayed by John Carradine, a Mad Doctor portrayed by Boris Karloff, and his Hunchback assistant portrayed by J. Carrol Naish. All belonging to "The House of Frankenstein". They all would return the following year, in "The House of Dracula".

"The Return of the Vampire", had a final 1943 cost of $75,000, and the United States Box Office, alone, was $1,900,000. 

Additionally, other later reviewers and film historians have attempted to claim "The Return of the Vampire" was to have been a direct sequel to director Tod Browning's, 1931, "Dracula", but "Columbia Pictures" could not get around "Universal Pictures" active copyright on the novel and changed Bela Lugosi's character's name. I would point out that the destruction of "Lugosi's Count" had occurred in the opening minutes of "Universal Picture's", 1936, "Dracula's Daughter".

Bela Lugosi was supposed to have played "Dracula" in the above coffin scene, but he refused. The audience first sees "Professor Van Helsing", once again portrayed by Edward Van Sloan, nail a wooden stake through the Count's heart, a Lugosi dummy was used. Below, "Countess Marya Zaleska". the title character, burns her father's body to ashes.

I would also remind my reader that Tod Browning had Bela Lugosi looking like "Dracula" in his 1935, "Mark of the Vampire". Which was not a sequel to Browning's 1931 "Dracula", but a remake of his 1927, "London After Midnight". So, using the actor in a "Dracula" like role was nothing special.

Above, Bela Lugosi portraying "Count Mora", and Carroll Borland portraying "Luna".

However, this motion picture was based upon a story idea by Kurt Neumann. Haven't heard of Neumann? He was an uncredited writer on "Universal Picture's", 1935, "Dracula's Daughter", and he wrote and directed the 1950, Cult Classic Science Fiction, "Rocketship X-M: Expedition Moon". Also as a director, Kurt Neumann directed both 1957's, "KRONOS", and "She Devil", which he wrote. In 1958, Neumann directed "The Fly", my article is "ROCKETSHIP X-M, EXPEDITION MOON (1950): Anatomy of a Cult Science Fiction Classic" at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2022/07/rocketship-x-m-expedition-moon-1950.html  

Griffin Jay wrote the screenplay and among his others are "Universal Pictures", 1940's, "The Mummy's Hand", 1942's, "The Mummy's Tomb", and 1943's, "The Mummy's Ghost".

Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó aka: Bela Lugosi portrayed "Armand Tesla". Lugosi was facing financial problems and before this picture. He had accepted a role from "Monogram Pictures", in a "Eastside Kids" comedy, 1943's, "Ghosts on the Loose" featuring 5th-billed Ava Gardner in her 16th on-screen appearance. Bela would follow this feature film with another low budget "Monogram Picture", 1944's, "Voodoo Man" with John Carradine and George Zucco.

Frieda Inescort portrayed "Lady Jane Ainsely". The Edinburgh, Scotland, born stage actress had been appearing in several Broadway productions since 1922 and on-screen since 1935. She had just been seen in the Walter Huston, 1943, Second World War propaganda, "Mission to Moscow".

Nina Foch portrayed the adult "Nicki Saunders".

Roland Varno portrayed the adult "John Ainsley". The Utrecht, Netherlands, born actor, actually served during the Second World War in the American "Office of Strategic Services", which would become the "Central Intelligence Agency". Immediately before this motion picture, Varno was seen in the Louise Rainer Second World War propaganda movie, 1943's, "Hostages".

Above left to right, Nina Foch, Roland Varno, and Frieda Inescort.

Miles Mander portrayed "Sir Frederick Fleet". The English actor had just been seen in both 1943's, "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Guadalcanal Diary", 

Above left to right, Miles Mander, Frieda Inescort, and George McKay portraying the "Cemetery Caretaker".

Matt Willis portrayed "Andreas Obry". Willis was just seen in the comedy, 1943, "Hi Ya, Sailor", a musical comedy starring Donald Woods, of 1953's, "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", and 1960's, "13 Ghosts".

Willis above in his human form and below in his werewolf form created by the uncredited make-up artist, Clay Campbell. Who did the overlooked 1956, "Columbia Pictures", "The Werewolf".

The Basic Story with a Spoiler Climax:

This is a very good example of the work of Kurt Neumann and spans two World Wars. The setting is London and a young woman is brought to the clinic of "Lady Jane Ainsley" and her colleague, "Professor (Doctor in some reviews) Walter Saunders", portrayed by Gilbert Emery. The two are baffled by her severe case of anemia.

Later during the night, the cause of the anemia enters the clinics room, but discovers that his victim is dead from what "Professor Saunders" believes is shock, not anemia, or blood loss. Seeking revenge, he now enters the bedroom of "Professor Saunders" granddaughter, "Nicki", portrayed by Sharilee (or Sherlee) Collier, born in Durban, South Africa . The following morning, "Saunders" shows "Lady Jane" two small puncture wounds on his granddaughter's neck.

As fantastic as it sounds to "Lady Jane", "Saunders" believes "Nicki" and their patient were victims of a vampire. He further informs "Lady Jane" about the work of an 18th-Century scientist named "Armand Tesla". Next, believing that it is "Tesla" the two are after. They go in daylight to the London cemetery containing his grave and open the coffin to see a perfectly normal looking man. "Professor Saunders" holds a mirror to "Tesla's" face and there is no reflection, confirming his theory. As they take a metal stake to hammer into "Armand Telsa's" heart, a werewolf appears, who is under the vampire's control.

The moment that "Professor Saunders" stake pierces the heart of "Armand Tesla", the werewolf returns to his normal self of "Andreas Obry".

Switch to 24-years-later during the Second World War and the German Blitz of the city of London.

Scotland Yard Chief Detective "Sir Fredrick Fleet" finishes reading the now deceased "Professor Saunders" account of the vampire, Next, he informs his good friend, "Lady Jane Ainsley", that if "Tesla" were alive at the moment they staked him, she would have been arrested for murder. "Lady Jane" replies to "Fleet", that the man she and "Professor Saunders" staked, was an 18th-Century-VAMPIRE expert named "Armand Tesla". "Sir Fredrick" doesn't believe either what he read, or that there is such a thing as a vampire.

Following the above, "Lady Jane" informs her son "John", who is engaged to marry his childhood playmate, "Nicki Saunders", the whole incredible story, but warns him not to ever tell her. 

A German air raid takes place on London, and when it's over. Two Civil Defense workers are checking the cemetery that contains the body of the vampire. Their job is to clean up after the air raid and replace the bodies of the dead back in their resting places, if the bombing disturbed them.

The vampire's body is next to his broken open coffin and the two civil defense workers notice the metal stake in it. They're sure that it was from a bomb fragment, and want to remove the stake. When they do, they're surprised to hear a moan and decide to leave the area,

Above left is Harold De Becker as the "Unnamed "Civil Defense Worker #2", and on the right is Billy Bevan portraying "Horace, Civil Defense Worker #1".

Next, "Armand Tesla" calls to "Andreas", who fights a loosing battle of wills and becomes a werewolf once more. He is sent to murder a "Dr. Hugo Bruckner", which is not shown in the motion picture's release print. Meanwhile, as the body of "Telsa" cannot be located after bombing, "Sir Frederick Fleet" closes the case file.

"Lady Jane" is having an engagement party for "John" and "Nicki". "Sir Fredrick Fleet" wants to give "Nicki" her grandfather's report, but "Lady Jane" takes it from him. She locks it in a drawer, again not wanting her son's fiancee to see it. Now, "Hugo Bruckner", concentration camp escapee, arrives at the party, and starts to charm everyone except "Sir Frederick". Of course, this is the vampire "Armand Telsa".

After the party, "Niki" is back in her bedroom and finds her grandfather's report that was stolen from the locked drawer and starts to read it. The following morning "Nicki" is found unconscious on her bed with two tiny puncture marks in her neck.

"Lady Jane" questions the two "Civil Defense" men that patrolled the grave yard and they tell her about the stake that they removed from a man's dead body, and the moan they heard. 

"Lady Jane" now tells "Sir Fredrick", who still doesn't believe in vampires, but assigns two plainclothes police officers to follow "Andreas". As he would have had access to the desk the manuscript was in. However, "Fleet" still doesn't believe he is a werewolf. However, the two officer's report back to him that they saw "Andreas" transform into a werewolf and give "Sir Frederick" a bundle with the personal effects of the real "Bruckner". 

"While, Sir Frederick" is still calling the vampire-werewolf story "Pure Fantasy". The laboratory report on the break-in of the desk the manuscript was stolen from comes back. The report states the desk contained wolf hairs.

"Telsa" now attacks "John", and he is found unconscious the following morning with puncture wounds on his neck. "Nicki" believes it was her that attacked "John" and drank his blood. Actually, this is a post hypnotic suggestion from "Armand Telsa". Meanwhile, "Sir Frederick" corners "Andreas", but as he begins to transform into a werewolf, escapes. Two plainclothes police officers are assigned to follow "Bruckner/Telsa", but he easily escapes them.

While "Nicki" is asleep, "Lady Jane" notices a cross and takes it with her. "Lady Jane" is seen playing the piano as "Armand Tesla" appears and threatens to turn both "Nicki" and "John" into vampires.

Just then, "Lady Jane" reveals a cross and warns "Armand Telsa":

That the power of goodness

can destroy him and the vampire disappears.

 

The Spoiler Climax:

From outside the house, "Armand Tesla" calls to "Nicki" to come to him. Downstairs, "Lady Jane" and"Sir Frederick" are still arguing over vampirism as "Nicki" comes down the stairs in a trance and "Lady Jane" tells "Sir Frederick" they must let her go, but follow. They arrive at the cemetery as another German air raid starts. "Nicki" is with "Tesla" as the bombs start falling and she faints. "Andreas" in his werewolf form now picks "Nicki" up in an obvious attempt to get her to safety, but "Sir Frederick" sees him and shoots the werewolf before he can complete the task. As the bombs start falling on the cemetery, "Sir Frederick" tells "Lady Jane" to take cover, which both do.

In the basement ruins of "Saint Matthew Church", "Armand Tesla" has nothing more to do with the injured "Andreas" and tells him just to die. Now hearing the words of "Lady Jane" in his head, "Andreas Obry" picks up a crucifix and turns back to his human self, the werewolf is gone forever. He next attempts to destroy the vampire, but a direct hit on the church by a German bomb knocks both out. "Andreas" recovers first and goes to the still body of the vampire and starts to drag him out of the church into the morning sunlight.

"Armand Tesla, vampire", now regains consciousness and realizes he is in the sunlight.

"Andreas" approaches "Tesla" and drives a metal stake into his heart.

The sunlight has its effect on the vampire.

A few feet away, the wounded "Andreas" dies.

"Nicki" tells "Lady Jane" and "Sir Frederick" that "Andreas" saved her life. Looking at the bones that was once "Armand Tesla", "Lady Jane" asks "Sir Frederick" if he doesn't now believe in vampires. He tells her he cannot accept her version of events without physical evidence. When she points to the bones in the tuxedo, he says that could be any buried body exposed from the bombing of the cemetery. He two turns to the two plainclothes police officers and asks them, if the believe in vampires? The two answer yes!

ACTOR MILES MANDERS, TURNS AND BREAKS THE FOURTH WALL OF THE THEATRE AND ASKS THE VIEWING AUDIENCE:

AND YOU PEOPLE?

 At the time of this writing, the following link will take my reader to the motion picture, "The Return of the Vampire":

https://archive.org/details/PhantasmagoriaTheater-TheReturnOfTheVampire1944433   

According to the "Watch TCM" website at:

https://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/titles/3812#:~:text=as%20a%20lycanthrope.-,Cry%20of%20the%20Werewolf%20had%20been%20intended%20as%20a%20direct,The%20Undying%20Monster%20(1942)

This next feature film, and the first starring Nina Foch:

- - - -had been intended as as direct sequel to The Return of the Vampire and bore the production title of Bride of the Vampire. By the time cameras rolled on May 8, 1944, the script by Griffin Jay (who had written a couple of Universal's Mummy sequels) and Charles O'Neal (fresh from penning the Val Lewton-produced The Seventh Victim (1943) at (RKO) had swapped out the vampirism angle in favor of werewolfery and a trick or two cadged from Jacques Tourneurs Cat People and John Brahm's The Undying Monster (1942).

The result now was:

 CRY OF THE WEREWOLF released August 17, 1944

I have read a large amount of reviews that mentioned this movie started as "Bride of the Vampire", but I could not find out why the name change took place and the vampire angle was dropped. The most interesting overall review of the movie, in my opinion, came from the website "horrorcultfilms.co.uk" 

that contains the following:

https://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/2019/04/cry-of-the-werewolf-1944/

- - - - Bela Lugosi was intended to come back as the Dracula-substitute Armand Tesla as was Nina Foch as his potential bride in what was supposed to be called Bride Of The Vampire. But somewhere along the line [info really is pretty scarce about this one] it metamorphisised into Cry Of The Werewolf,- - - -

In short, no one knows "The Why?" As there is apparently no records at "Columbia Pictures" that are still in existence, or records of interviews, if they happened, with the writers and actors.

A speculative question would be, when was "The Return of the Vampire", sequel, "Bride of the Vampire", to have taken place? Before, or after the vampire feature?

A similar problem faced the British studio, "Hammer Films", with their 1958, "Dracula" aka: "Horror of Dracula". Which has "Dr. Van Helsing" completely destroying the vampire by sunlight at the film's climax. 

A sequence that compares to "Columbia Pictures" having "Andreas Obry" completely destroying "Armand Tesla" by sunlight in 1943's, "The Return of the Vampire". 

Additionally, no documentation has been found to support the story, that the sequence had parts of the sunlights effect on the vampire censored by Joseph Breen of the "Hayes Office". As being unacceptable for audiences to see during the Second World War, because of the Homefront reports of what was happening to American soldiers fighting in Europe and especially the Pacific.

So, how would you bring "Armand Telsa" back to undead life for a sequel? 

"Hammer" solved the problem by taking "Dracula" back in time before the events of their 1958 movie. Would the "Bride of the Vampire" have had to do the same, or would the screenplay writers have found a way to explain that the ending of "The Return of the Vampire" never happened? Meaning "Armand Tesla" was still undead alive?

The speculative answer to switching a vampire for as werewolf might be as simple as avoiding the problem I just mentioned, but again, without records, we will never know for sure.

Nina Foch portrayed "Gypsy Princess Celeste LaTour". I mentioned that "Columbia Pictures" was known for its many detective series of films. One such series was based upon the popular 1940 through 1947, radio drama, "Crime Doctor". Nina Foch had just co-starred in 1944's, "Shadows in the Night", starring Warner Baxter as the "Crime Doctor, Robert Ordway". This was the 3rd-film in a series of 10, that he appeared in as the character. Foch followed this motion picture with 5th-billing in a "Columbia Pictures" rip-off of "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's", "The Thin Man" comedy detective series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. "Columbia's" was 1944's, "Strange Affair", starring Allyn Joslyn and Evelyn Keyes.

Stephen Crane portrayed "Robert 'Bob' Morris". This was his 1st of only 3-motion pictures. His last was 1945's, "The Crime Doctor's Courage". In 1953, Crane created the Polynesian themed restaurant, "The Luau", at 421 N. Rodeo Drive, in Beverly Hills, and it became a major Hollywood movie star's haunt, and believe me, with great spareribs. Which led to a chain of United States and Canadian restaurants called "Kon Tiki". Stephen Crane was married to actress Lana Turner, TWICE!

Osa Massen portrayed "Elsa( or Ilsa depending upon the reviewer) Chauvet". The Copenhagen, Denmark, born actress is best known to science fiction fans for the role of "Dr. Lisa Van Horn", in 1950's, "Rocketship X-M: Expedition Moon". 

Above, Osa Massen and Stephen Crane.

Blanche Yurka portrayed "Bianca, the protector of Celeste's secret and a 'Cold' enforcer". The "Metropolitan Opera Singer", turned legitimate theatre actress, turned motion picture actress, had portrayed "Madame Thérèse De Farge" in the 1935, classic version of Charles Dickens's, "A Tale of Two City", starring Ronald Colman. Immediately before this horror entry, Blanche Yurka portrayed "The Abbess", in the 1944 version of novelist Thornton Wilder's, "The Bridge off San Luis Rey", directed by Rowland V. Lee.

Above left to right, Blanche Yurka, and Nina Foch. 

Barton MacLane portrayed "Police Detective Barry Lane". Tough guy MacLane's film career included the co-starring role of "Police Lieutenant Steve MacBride" in actress Glenda Farrell's, "Torchy Blane" series from "Warner Brothers". "Jake Kranmer" in the Ida Lupino and Humphrey Bogart, 1941, "High Sierra", "Detective Rief" in 1943's, "The Crime Doctor's Strangest Case", "Pat McCormick" in director John Huston's, 1948's, "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", and "Captain Tarnowski", in the Richard Denning, 1948, science fiction, "Unknown Island".

John Abbott portrayed "Peter Althius". From my linked article below:

Prior to the start of World War 2 John Abbott appeared in British motion pictures and was a member of the distinguished British Shakespearean group "The Old Vic Company". He appeared with them in Denmark playing Claudius the evil uncle of "Hamlet". Also in that production were Lawrence Olivier, Vivian Leigh and Alec Guinness. At the start of the Second World War the actor worked at the British Embassy in Moscow and when Hitler started his move on Russia. John Abbott left for the United States and became an actor in films here. His film career would last into 1983. 

John Abbot had also co-starred in 1945's, "The Vampire's Ghost", which I mention in my linked article. Along with two titles I have already mentioned. The article is "THE UNDYING MONSTER', 'THE SEVENTH VICTIM', 'THE CLIMAX', 'THE VAMPIRE'S GHOST', AND 'THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS: Forgotten Horror and Thriller Gems of the 1940's" to explore at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/11/the-undying-monster-seventh-victim.html  

The Basic Werewolf Not Vampire Plot:

The movie's budget and box office figures are unavailable, and the finished feature only had a running time of either 62, or 63 minutes depending on the source used. The standard complaint was too much talking, not enough werewolf. The story had to cover a lot of information within a basically one-hour maximum time, and that equates to a large narrative given by John Abbott. Once again, the reviewers are thinking 1941's, "The Wolf Man", with Curt Siodmak's great screenplay and that "Werewolf Poem" he created. I would counter that with 1944's, "The House of Frankenstein", "Universal Pictures" gave the viewer even less werewolf in 70-minutes divided among five-monsters. 

After the opening titles finish, the following is seen on-screen:

The ancient belief is still held by many that anything that happens in the world is never lost. No sparrow falls unnoted--no tree crashes in the forest unheard. The sorrows, the joys, the love and the hates of past generations live on in people's memories, in their legends and their stories. Perhaps our story is something that has lived on in a person's memory or perhaps it is just a legend--

 Cut To:

"Peter Althius", below left, the tour guide for group's of people. At an "Occult Museum" owned by "Professor (or Doctor depending upon the reviewer), Charles Morris", portrayed by Fritz Leiber. 

"Althius" starts all his tours by telling each group that there is:

much to be seen, more to be heard, and plenty to imagine

The museum is in what was once the home of the "Queen of the Gypsies, Marie LaTour", located in the swamps outside of New Orleans. "Peter Althius" has escorted his tour group int a reconstruction of a vampire's crypt, and explains that in the coffin are the remains of a vampire with a "Wooden", not "Metal", stake through its heart. 

Next, "Peter" takes his group into a large room in the house/museum and in a flashback, tells the members of this tour that:

"Marie LaTour" was married to a normal human, "George LaTour", portrayed by George Eldredge, which helped mask her "Heel (A contemptible, or villainous person) Persona". 

At night, she would turn into a wolf and kill sheep. One night, George found muddy paw prints and followed them to his wife's bedroom. There she changed into her wolf form and killed her husband. The servants heard his screams and werewolf "Marie" jumped through a window and escaped to a gypsy camp.

 

"Peter Althius" ends his tour, by revealing a painting of "Marie LaTour", WEREWOLF!

"Professor/Doctor Charles Morris" has been writing a book on his investigation into "Marie LaTour". A relative of "Marie", her "Daughter?", her "Granddaughter?", her "Great Granddaughter?", depends upon the reviewer. As it is never made clear which one she is, does not want the book published. 

However, any such version of Nina Foch's character, would mean that "Marie" was pregnant when she murdered her husband, "George LaTour". I would point out the clothing in the above painting, and most importantly, that "Althius" refers to the "People of that period", when speaking about "Marie LaTour". Which begs the unanswered question, how old is "Celeste LaTour"?

I would add that the website, "Werewiki" at https://werewolf.fandom.com/wiki/Celeste_LaTour clearly calls "Celeste", "Marie's" daughter. 

Above, Osa Massen, "Elsa/Ilsa Chauvet", the research assistant to Fritz Leiber's, "Dr/Professor Morris". 

Nearing a breakthrough in his research, "Morris" sends for his son "Bob", to come home and assistant him and his current assistant. Meanwhile, being overlooked by "Morris" is the museum's janitor, "Jan/Yan Spavero", portrayed by Ivan Triesault, who happens to be a gypsy. He is of course a spy for his "Princess", "Celeste LaTour", and reports on the progress of the book.

Above, Blanche Yurka, Nina Foch and what some reviewers call her character's, "Renfield, Jan/Yan Spavero", Ivan Triesault. Who fears both father and son, and "Chauvet", may have discovered both "Marie's" secret, and secret hiding place. He is seen above, reporting to his "Princess". 

Meanwhile, as "Elsa/Ilsa Chauvet" is picking "Bob Morris" up at the airport, his father is literally torn apart by a wild animal. This happens off screen, but the audience hears his terrifying screams and the "Cry of the Werewolf". 

My research shows there were three factors in not filming the actual werewolf attack sequence. The first was a concern that Joseph Breen wouldn't accept it. Two, the cost of the special effects and make-up, and three, the penny-pinching owner, Harry "King" Cohan's overall budget.

Right after the screaming "dies" from "Professor/Doctor Morris's" room, the audience sees "Jan/Yan Spavero" stagger out. Raising the question, did he murder "Morris"? Of course any audience member who remembers "Peter Althius's" tale, should be thinking "Celeste LaTour", but they don't know for sure.

Enter "Police Detective Barry Lane", to investigate the gruesome murder. As "Bob Morris", and "Elsa/Ilsa Chauvet", return.

 

Using infrared photography, "Lane" is able to discover "Spavero's" fingerprints on the burnt pages of the unfinished book about "Marie LaTour". Along with fingerprints on "Morris's" research documents. Therefore, "Jan./Yan Spavero" becomes the detective's prime suspect.

While "Bob" and "Elsa/Ilsa" start working together, not just on recreating his father's work.

In the room that "Professor/Doctor Morris" was murdered, a voodoo doll is found.

While the police continue to investigate, "Bob" and "Elsa/Ilsa" have become engaged, but unknown to either. Is that "Celeste LaTour", who cannot marry, because of the curse passed down to her, is in love with "Bob".

"Bob" goes to the museum/house's basement to look through some files, and starts to hear a women walking towards where he is, but her footsteps become the sound of the padding paws of a wolf walking on the floor. "Bob" escapes in elevator, only to meet "Celeste LaTour". She offers to explain the customs of "Her People", if he will escort her back to the gypsy camp, which he does.

Unlike the gypsy encampment, in "Universal Pictures, The Wolf Man". Which is meant as only a prop for the upcoming scene. Which involves  Lon Chaney, Jr., Evelyn Ankers, and Fay Helm meeting Bela Lugosi, and Maria Ouspenskaya. 

When those three visitor's leave, the audience still doesn't know much about the gypsies, or who Oupenskaya's, "Maleva", really is? According to the official cast listing, her character is a "Romani sorceress", which is not mentioned in "The Wolf Man", or any of the sequels with her. Compared to the encampment in "Cry of the Werewolf", that has the purpose of backing up the character's of both "Marie" and "Celeste LaTour".

One of the major points being made in the "Cry of the Werewolf", is who "Marie LaTour" became, and her relationship to the other Louisiana gypsies. The audience now discovers that "Celeste LaTour" is a "Gypsy Princess", and that there is an actual hierarchy to these gypsies. The audience will be shown interactions from even the lowest gypsy to their "Princess", and with more detail in her relationship with both "Bianca" and "Jan/Yan's". 

"Bob" returns to the museum, under a spell cast by "Celeste", and tells "Elsa/Ilsa" that he no longer believes the gypsies are involved his father's murder. This seems very strange to her, but she will not have time to counter this claim, because "Celeste LaTour" has become concerned about the discovery within the   "Occult Museum" of secret passageways that were unknown to "Professor/Doctor Morris". One of these passageway's contains the tomb of "Marie LaTour". "Bob" and his future wife's research have turned up a clue to those passageways. "Celeste" has now decided to keep the family secret, secret, she will kill anyone who might know of it. Her first victim is the tour guide "Peter Althius",  her next victim is her protector, "Bianca", as the werewolf strikes. 

The climax comes when first "Elsa/Ilsa" realizes that "Celeste" has placed some type of spell on "Bob", and she decides to find out the "Secret of Marie La Tour". Next, she is confronted by "Celeste", who has decided to remove her rival for "Bob", by turning her into a werewolf. Later, returning to the museum, "Bob" hears a cat meowing in a basement , opens a closet door, and finds a dazed "Elsa/Ilsa", in a trance confessing to murdering "Bob's" father". "Bob" now calls "Detective Barry Lane" and "Lane" heads for the museum with a small force. They arrive, and "Bob" suggests that the basement holds the secret to his father's death, and the police go downstairs. 

"Barry Lane" and his men locate "The Tomb of the Werewolf Queen, Marie LaTour", and hear what sounds like a "wolf". The wolf appears and all the police officers fire their weapons at it. This causes "Elsa/Ilsa Chauvet" to temporarily come out of her trance. She is now confronted by a wounded "Celeste LaTour", who wants her to shoot and kill "Bob Morris".

When "Bob" pleads with "Elsa/Ilsa" to use her own freewill and break the trance. The wounded "Celeste LaTour" turns into a wolf and attacks him.

Just then, "Lane" and his police officer's break into the chamber, all shoot again, and kill the wolf. This causes "Elsa/Ilsa" to come completely out of her trance and the picture ends with "Bob" examining the dead wolf.

On October 23, 1944, two months after the release of "Cry of the Werewolf", Nina Foch was reunited with that picture's first time director, Henry Levin. This was for the first of a series of "B" Film-Noir's, or straight Crime Drama's, that the actress became noted for during the 1940's. As with others low-budget features of the period, her first crime feature was based upon a popular radio program, in this instance, "I Love a Mystery". 

In all, Nina Foch, would appear in a combination of ten, either straight "Crime Drama's", or "Film-Noirs", between "I Love a Mystery". Where she co-starred with the forgotten Jim Bannon, and George Macready, and 1949's, "Johnny Allego". In which, Foch co-starred with George Raft, and George Macready.

Next, like many actors looking for steady work at the time, the actress discovered the new medium of "Live Television". The dramatic anthology program was "The Philco Television Playhouse", in the role of "Elizabeth", in the "Three Cornered Moon", August 28, 1949.

On January 20, 1951, a television program, "Two Girl's Named Smith", premiered. The series would become part of a lawsuit for plagiarism of both the novel and the 1942 motion picture, "My Sister Eileen", that starred Rosalind Russell and Janet Blair. The series had the working title of "My Sister Eileen". Before the suit was settled, there would be 44-episodes. Nina Foch would replace Peggy Ann Gardner in the role of "Babs Smith", in some episodes in July and August, Gardner returned and then left the show in September, and Marcia Henderson portrayed "Babs" through the last episode on  October 13, 1951.

His name was Arch Oboler and he had taken over a popular midnight radio horror program and when television came into being, he moved "Lights Out" to live television. My article is "ARCH OBOLER: Horror, Fascism, the End of the World, the 3rd-Dimension, and a Television Set", to scare your pants off, at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2025/03/arch-oboler-horror-fascism-end-of-world.html 

"House of Dust" was presented live on February 5, 1951, on the "National Broadcasting Company (NBC)". The program starred Anthony Quinn and Nina Foch. Found on the "UCLA Cinema Education" website at:

https://cinema.ucla.edu/events/2024/04/06/atomic-television 

Mark Quigby describes the episode:

In this live episode, future Academy Award winner Anthony Quinn (Viva Zapata!) stars as one of the last survivors of a global nuclear war. While a chance encounter with another survivor (Nina Foch) points to a new tomorrow, the pair must first fight for their lives against a terrifying scourge created in the bomb’s aftermath. The low-budget production features expressionistic sets and innovative sound design that illuminate early television’s artistic and technical ingenuity while simultaneously adhering to stylistic elements of radio (an emphasis on sound effects; organ accompaniment to punctuate the drama).

Staying with "Lights Out", a year later, on January 14, 1952, opposite Franchot Tone. Nina Foch, appeared in "Blood Relation". This is considered a "Lost Episode" and I couldn't find any information on the program.

After, "House of Dust", came just a little George and Ira Gershwin:

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS premiered in London, on August 26, 1951

Back in the "Spring of 1928", George Gershwin composed a "jazz-infuenced symphonic tone poem", entitled "An American in Paris". Which Gershwin premiered on December 13, 1928, at Carnegie Hall. Below, the first recording released in 1929.

On August 1, 1950, exterior filming in Paris, France, began on the motion picture inspired by the George Gershwin piece, with additional music composed by him and lyrics by brother Ira Gershwin.

The story and screenplay were by Alan Jay Lerner. Among lyricist and writer Lerner's work, are the original stage productions of 1947's, "Brigadoon", 1951's, "Paint Your Wagon", 1956's, "My Fair Lady", and 1960's, "Camelot".

The director was Vincente Minnelli, whose motion pictures included, with his wife at the time, Judy Garland, 1944's, "Meet Me in St. Louis" and 1948's, "The Pirate", co-starring Gene Kelly. Minnelli didn't just direct musicals, but also outstanding drama. Such as the classic dram about an obsessive "Hollywood Producer", "The Bad and Beautiful" co-starring Lana Turner and Kirk Douglas, and the 1956's biography of painter Vincent Van Gogh, "Lust for Life", starring Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn.

The Five Main Actors of This Motion Picture Ballet:

Gene Kelly portrayed "Jerry Mulligan". He had just been seen in the 1950 musical, "Summer Stock", co-starring with Judy Garland. 

Leslie Caron portrayed "Lise Bouvier". This was Caron's first on-screen appearance. Among her musical motion picture's is 1953's, "Lili". She also portrayed "Cinderella", in 1955's, "The Glass Sleeper", long with dancing with Fred Astaire in 1955's, "Daddy Long Legs", and of course, 1958's, "Gigi", directed by Vincente Minnelli. 

Oscar Levant portrayed "Adam Cook". Levant was recognized as a composer, concert pianist, conductor, author, comedian, and in his spare time, regular radio game show panelist, television talk show host, and not to forget, motion picture actor.

George Guetary portrayed "Henri 'Hank' Baurel". Guetary was an Egypt born French singer and actor. He had been acting in French motion picture's since 1936. This was one of his three English language movies.

Above left to right, George Guetary , Gene Kelly, and Oscar Levant

Nina Foch portrayed "Milo Roberts". Foch had just co-starred with Dick Haymes and Roland Young in the comedy crime film, 1951's, "St. Benny the Dip".

Above, Gene Kelly and Nina Foch.

The Basic Story Line:

It's 1951, the Second World War is ended, and ex-American soldier, "Jerry Mulligan" now lives in an upstairs apartment above a Paris bar trying to become a successful artist. His neighbor is struggling concert pianist, "Adam Cook", a longtime associate of French singer "Henri Baurel". On the ground floor of the bar, at a table sits "Adam", and "Henri", who tells the other about his girlfriend, "Lise Bouvier". "Jerry" comes downstairs, joins them, putting some of his art beside his chair, then leaves to hopefully sell some of it.

Lonely heiress, "Milo Roberts" is walking through Montmartre, notices "Jerry", and after a little chit chat, buys two paintings. 

"Jerry" is asked to take the paintings to "Milo's" apartment. After dropping them off, before he leaves, "Jerry" is invited to a dinner party that night and accepts. On his way back to his apartment, "Jerry" meets a group of children, and the music of George and Ira Gershwin kicks in, as Gene Kelly sings and dances to "I've Got Rhythm".

The night, "Jerry" discovers the dinner party is for two. He immediately tells "Milo" he does not want to be a paid escort, but she replies that she wants only to help his career as an artist. 

Later, at a crowded bar, "Milo" offers to sponsor an art show of "Jerry's" work. As "Henri" and "Adam" enter the bar and join the other two at their table. "Jerry" notices a young woman and gets up and goes over and asks her to dance with him. He is unaware that "Henri" is watching closely, because the young woman is his girlfriend, "Lise Bouvier". She rebuffs "Jerry", but he's persistent and "Lise" still is uninterested. While this bantering was going on, "Jerry" made a pass at another girl, and "Henri" gets up and walks out to get his car. "Lise" joins "Henri" and still upset with "Jerry", she starts to cry, and calls him rude and inconsiderate.

The next day, "Jerry" calls "Lise", but she doesn't want anything to do with him. "Jerry" finds out "Lise" works at a parfumerie (a perfume making company) and goes there. He convinces her to go out that night, but "Lise" wants their meeting not to be in a public place. That evening the two meet along the Seine, and this becomes a dance number. It ends and she leaves him and goes to see "Henri" after he performs the Gershwin's "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise". "Henri" tells "Lise" he's leaving for a tour of the United States and proposes marriage.

"Adam" daydreams he is humorously performing "George Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra". In this sequence, Oscar Levant's "Adam", also sees himself a the conductor of the orchestra, a member of the orchestra, and a member of his audience.

Meanwhile, "Milo" rents a lavish art studio for "Jerry" to paint in and tells him that she is planning an exhibition of his work in three months. He initially refuses the studio, but gets "Milo" to agree to let him pay her back for the rent, if his art sells.

One day, after a month of "Jerry" courting "Lise", she suddenly runs off to a waiting g taxi cab and it drives away. "Jerry" tells "Adam" about "Lise", and "Adam" realizes both of his friends are in love with the same girl. Later, "Jerry" and "Henri" discuss their love, "Gershwin's S Wonderful", without each realizing they're talking about the same girl.

That night at the Seine, "Lise" informs "Jerry" that she's leaving for the United States with "Henri" and the two will be getting married. "Lise" feels "Duty-Bound" to "Henri", who protected her during the war. However, "Jerry" and "Lise" admit their love for each other, and then she leaves.

A dejected "Jerry" invites "Milo" to the art student's masked ball and the two meet "Henri" and "Lise".

"Henri" overhears "Jerry" and "Lise" saying good-bye and realizes the truth. She, next leaves with "Henri" and "Jerry" fantasizes the 17-minute long, George Gershwin's "An American in Paris Ballet", as the dancing skills of Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron take center stage.

"Jerry" comes out of his fantasy and finds "Lise" waiting for him.

After being in a motion picture nominated for 8, "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences" Oscars, and winning "The Best Picture", and also "The Golden Globe" for "Best Picture". Nina Foch found herself back on live television and her second appearance on "Lights Out". After with, she was seen on "Chesterfield Presents", that was "Chesterfield Cigarette's" way of telling their viewers how wonderful smoking their product is over the others. The episode was entitled "A Moment of Memory", February 7, 1952, opposite British actor, David Niven. What it was about, I could not tell you, nor who the two actors portrayed. Should cigarettes not be your thing, how about a bottle of beer? Nina Foch would follow with the "World So Wide", February 22, 1952, on the "Schlitz Playhouse", co-starring with John Forsythe, portraying architect "Hayden Court". Whose wife passed away and he starts all over again with a romance in Europe.

On March 7, 1952, on the television series, "Tales of Tomorrow", described by the website "IMDb" as a Drama, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller and Mystery anthology series. We know Nina Foch starred in a story entitled "Bound Together". What her character's name was in unknown, and was she portraying the astronaut's cheating wife? We also know that when he returned, unexpectedly, from a mission to Mars, is he actually the same astronaut that left the Earth?

We also know the other members of the cast were Dario Barrie, Russell Hardie, Leola Harlowe, and Robert Webber. However, again, what their character's name's were and how they were involved in the plot remains unknown.

The first picture below is actress Norma Shearer portraying "Queen Marie Antoinette" in the 1938, "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer" production, of author Rafael Sabatini's "Scaramouche". The other picture is of Nina Foch portraying "Queen Marie Antoinette", in the May 8, 1952 release, starring Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, and Mel Ferrer. Notice anything?

Yes, it's the exact same dress kept by "MGM's" costume department for 14-years. Just in case they might need it again. The role is small, but critical to set up who's the good guy, and the bad guy, as if 1952 audiences could not have figured that out by the names of the actors in the motion picture prior to seeing it, or reading a review.

Five other anthology television programs and two forgotten motion picture later, brought Nina Foch to her "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Best Supporting Actress" nomination, and the "National Board of Review Awards" win in the category.

EXECUTIVE SUITE premiered at the "MGM World Film Festival", in Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 17, 1954

Screenplay writer Ernest Lehman was given the novel by Cameron Hawley and the instructions to turn it into a screenplay. 

Robert Wise was given the directing assignment. His next directing assignment was a screenplay based upon a classic Greek tragedy by Homer, that was written in approximately the 8th Century BCE. My article is "Director Robert Wise: Horror, Science Fiction and the Greek Homer", at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2020/01/director-robert-wise-horror-science.html 

The screenplay has "Avery Bullard", portrayed by Raoul Freeman, the "President of the Treadway Corporation", phoning his secretary to call an executive board meeting. The members of the board arrive, but "Bullard" drops dead on a New York Street, has his wallet stolen by passerby, and the battle between the members of the board to become the new President and have the "Executive Suite" begins.

The Cast:

Above left to right the participants in the dirty, mud slinging, battle.

William Holden portrayed "McDonald 'Don' Walling, V.P. for Design and Development".

June Allyson portrayed "Mary Blemond Walling, wife of Don Walling".

Barbara Stanwyck portrayed "Julia O. Tredway, daughter and heir of Tredway's founder, and Bullard's mistress".

Frederic March portrayed "Loren Phineas Shaw, V.P. and Controller".

Walter Pidgeon portrayed "Frederick Y. Alderson, V.P. and Treasurer".

Shelley Winters portrayed "Eva Bardeman, secretary and mistress to Walter Dudley".

Paul Douglas portrayed "Josiah Walter Dudley, V.P. for Sales".

Louis Calhern portrayed "George Nyle Caswell, board member".

Dean Jagger portrayed "Jesse Q. Grimm, V.P. for Manufacturing".

Nina Foch portrayed "Erica Martin, secretary to Bullard and the Board of Directors"

Above left to right, Fredric March, Nina Foch, and Barbara Stanwyck. Below, Nina Foch and William Holden.

Five television appearances, a "B" Western from "Universal Pictures", 1954's, "Four Guns to the Border", director by actor Richard Carlson, he's not in the picture, and the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, 1955, comedy, "You're Never Too Young", with a villainess Raymond Burr, were next for Nina Foch. Then the Martin and Lewis comedy was followed by:

ILLEGAL premiering in San Francisco, on October 5, 1955

In 1929, playwright Frank J. Collins wrote "The Mouthpiece". In 1932, "Warner Brothers" first turned the play into a motion picture, also called "The Mouthpiece", starring Warren William and actress Sydney Fox. In 1940, "Warner Brothers" remade the motion picture as "The Man Who Talked Too Much", starring George Brent and Virginia Bruce. This was the studio's third version of the 1929 play, with their third screenplay adaption.

Edward G. Robinson portrayed "Victor Scott". Robinson had just been seen co-starring with George Raft, in the crime film-noir, 1955's, "A Bullet for Joey".

Nina Foch portrayed "Ellen Miles". 

Hugh Marlowe portrayed "Ray Borden". Marlowe, who co-starred in director Robert Wise's, 1951, "The Day the Earth Stood Still", followed this motion picture with two other science fiction films in 1956, "World Without End", and "Earth vs the Flying Saucers".

Jayne Mansfield portrayed "Angel O'Hara". Mansfield had just portrayed a "Cigarette Girl" in 1955's, "Pete Kelly's Blues". She followed this feature as "Mario's dance partner at night club", in 1955's, "Hell on Frisco Bay", starring Alan Ladd, Edward G. Robinson, and Joanne Dru.

The picture starts with the murder of "Gloria Benson", and the trial of the murderer prosecuted by "District Attorney Victor Scott " with his assistant, "Lawyer Ellen Miles". "Scott" wins a conviction, and it is revealed that it was "Ellen's" father, who on his deathbed, had asked "Victor" to care for his daughter. "Ellen" wishes for a romantic relationship, but "Scott" is more interested in running for Governor than her. He encourages "Ellen" to marry co-worker "Ray Bolton", which she did.

Next, "Victor" is told that the police have shot a man, who made a dying declaration that he murdered "Gloria Benson". This immediately, changes the conviction, from guilty to innocent, but he is to be executed that same day.

This seemingly straight forward story starts to twist and turn with leaks to the cities crime boss, "Frank Garland", portrayed by Albert Dekker, coming from the "District Attorney's Office" and "Ellen" being tried for the murder of her husband.

The following link, at the time of this writing, will take my reader to this and three other Edward G. Robinson  feature film.

https://m.ok.ru/video/267819485859 

His full name was Cecil Blount DeMille and he had an idea to fight motion picture censorship from "The Hayes Office". DeMille's idea was released on December 2, 1923, and was called "The Ten Commandments". My article about that idea is part of my article, "Cecil B. DeMille: December 1913 to December 1923" to be read at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2024/07/cecil-b-demille-december-1913-to.html 

As this next film indicates, even in 1956:

- - - - DeMille said “Let There Be Biblical Sex” and it was good.

The above line is from my article, "The Bible According to Hollywood", read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/05/the-bible-according-to-hollywood.html 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS released October 5, 1956

The motion picture is directed by Cecil B. DeMille, billed as Cecil B. de Mille.

Charlton Heston portrayed "Moses" and the voice of "God" at the burning bush. He had just co-starred with Jane Wyman and Clair Trevor in 1955's, "Lucy Gallant". For those of my readers who might disagree with Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas. I give them the link to my article "CHARLTON HESTON: The Original 'INDIANA JONES'?" architecturally searching at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/07/charlton-heston-original-indiana-jones.html 

Yul Brynner portrayed "Rameses II". Brynner had just been seen in the Rodgers and Hammerstein, 1956, "The King and I". 

Anne Baxter portrayed "Nefertiti". Baxter would next co-star with Charlton Heston and Gilbert Roland in the 1956 Western, "Three Violent People".

Edward G. Robinson portrayed "Dathan". He had just co-starred with Kevin McCarthy in the 1956 crime film-noir, "Nightmare".

Yvonne De Carlo portrayed "Sephora". De Carlo followed this motion picture co-starring with George Sanders and Zsa Zsa Gabor in the crime film-noir, 1956's, "Death of a Scoundrel".

Debra Paget portrayed "Lilia". Paget followed this feature with 1956's, "Love Me Tender", the first motion picture with Elvis Presley.

John Derek portrayed "Joshua". Derek followed this feature film with appearances on two dramatic anthology television programs.

Sir Cedric Hardwicke portrayed "Seti I", not "Ramesses I", as some reviewers of this motion picture seem to think. However, "Seti I" was the father of "Ramesses II". Hardwicke followed this feature with Michael Todd's first "Todd-A-O" presentation, the 1956, version of French author Jules Verne's, "Around the World in 80-Days".

Above left to right, Charlton Heston as "Prince Moses", Yul Brynner as "Prince Rameses", and Sir Cedric Hardwicke as "Seti I".

Nina Foch portrayed "Bithiah", the "Pharoah's Daughter". Nina Foch followed this role with 4th billing in 1956's, "Three Brave Men". The true story of a civilian employee working for the Navy during the start of the "Cold War" and accused of being a communist.

The Basic Outline of Nina Foch's Role in the 3-hour-and-forty-minute motion picture.

Hearing the prophecy about a deliverer of the Hebrew slaves from Egyptian bondage, "Seti I" orders the deaths of the first born Hebrew males. A Hebrew woman named "Yochabel", portrayed by Martha Scott, to save her son from death. Places the baby, portrayed by Charlton Heston's son Fraser,  in a basket and lets it float down the Nile. "Youchabel" has her daughter "Miriam", portrayed by Babette Bain, follow the basket.

"Miriam" follows the basket containing her baby brother and witnesses "The Pharaoh's Daughter "Bithiah", find it. She now claims that the baby was sent to her by the Egyptian Gods. She had just lost her husband and had wanted a son. However, the Egyptian slave, "Memnet", portrayed by Dame Judith Anderson, sees the swaddling cloth he's wrapped in and tells the Pharaoh's daughter that the baby is Hebrew and by her own father's edict, must be killed. "Bithiah" cares little about religious birth, and "Memnet" is ordered to sink the basket in the Nile. Which she does, but not before "Memnent" hides the Hebrew swaddling cloth inside her clothing.

Later, "Bithiah" has "Memnet" swear on penalty of death not to reveal the boy's, whom she names "Moses", parentage. 

Holding up the baby, "Bithiah" names him "Moses", and the story cuts to an adult "Prince Moses" returning to "Seti I", after conquering Ethiopia. 

Above left to right, Anne Baxter, Yul Brynner, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Nina Foch,  and H. B. Warner portraying "Amminadab".

"Prince Moses" now takes over the building of a city that "Rameses" hasn't been able to complete, blaming the Hebrew slaves. There "Moses" first meets "Joshua", a stonecutter, who tells him about the Hebrew God and the prophecy of a deliverer. "Moses" also saves an old woman from being crushed, not knowing that this is his mother, "Yochabel" and reprimands the master builder, "Baka", portrayed by Vincent Prince. "Baka" asks "Moses" why he saved an old woman, and get the reply, "because she is an old woman." 

"Moses" next instructs "Joshua" to tell the other Hebrews that for the rest of the day they are to rest. Looking at "Moses", knowing his true identity, "Yochabel" states that of all the mother's in Israel, she has looked upon the deliverer. 

Next, "Nefertiti", who wants to marry "Moses", learns from "Memnet" that he is the son of a Hebrew slave and shows her the proof, the swaddling cloth and is murdered by "Nefertiti".

Meanwhile, "Moses" is torn by the revelations that he might be Hebrew and this so-called deliverer. Especially, after he discovers the swaddling cloth in "Neferiti's" room and she confesses that she has murdered "Memnet" to keep his birth as a Hebrew safe. "Moses" leaves and goes to see his "Mother", "Bithiah", and tells her he must find out the truth of who he is,

In panic, "Bithiah" heads for the house of "Yochabel", to get her and her family safely out of Egypt, before "Moses" discovers the truth.

However, "Moses" is following and walks into the small home and discovers the truth of his birth and meets his mother, "The Old Woman" once more.

Above front, Martha Scott as "Yochabel", back left, Olive Deering portraying the adult, "Miriam", and John Carradine portraying "Aaron", the older brother of "Moses". Right, Nina Foch as "Bithiah", and Charlton Heston as "Moses".

What follows does not concern Nina Foch, as "Moses" goes among his people to find out what being a Hebrew means. He's brought before "Seti I" and banished to the desert, finds his wife, learns of his mother's death, climbs the sacred mountain of Sinai, and hears the voice of God. Next, "Moses" returns to Egypt and with his brother "Aaron", confronts the new pharaoh, "Rameses II", his wife, "Neferiti", and their son, portrayed by Eugene Mazzola.

Nina Foch returns to the story, when the 10th Plague, the Death of the First Born Son, is about to move through Egypt. With her slaves, they become safe in "Aaron's" house, with the blood of a lamb on the door posts to prevent the angel of death from visiting them and "PASSOVER" the group.

Finally, "Rameses" lets the Hebrew's Exodus Egypt and "Bithiah" and her servants join it. They will cross the "Red Sea", and except for "Rameses", all the Egyptian soldiers are drowned as the parted "Red Sea" returns to its original shores.

This is followed by the receiving of "The Ten Commandments" by "Moses", the Hebrew's making the "Golden Calf", "Moses" destroying the calif with the original "Ten Commandment's" tablet's and the march of the Hebrews with "Bithiah" to Canaan. Followed by "Moses" not being permitted to cross into the promised land and the story ends with the appointment of "Joshua" as the new leader of the Hebrew's.

Nina Foch followed Cecil B. DeMille's epic with 20-television roles, and the previously mentioned 1956, "Three Brave Men", and next, she had a role in another epic:

SPARTACUS premiered in New York City on October 6, 1960

One can enjoy this motion picture without knowing its importance to both American Politics and the ending of what was known as "Blacklisting".

After the Second World War, there rose what was known as "The Second Red Scare", in which our ally, the "Soviet Union", returned as the foremost enemy of America. One name became associated with that change and I speak to him in my article "MCCARTHYISM: LIGHTS, CAMERA, COMMUNISTS IN THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY", at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2025/08/mccarthyism-lights-camera-communists-in.html 

Briefly, producer/star Kirk Douglas defied the studio head's and brought back "Blacklisted", Dalton Trumbo, to write this screenplay with full on-credit. Trumbo had also written producer/director Otto Preminger, 1960's, "Exodus", based upon the worldwide best seller by author Leon Uris, about the founding of the "State of Israel". Preminger, also broke the "Black List Taboo" by giving Dalton Trumbo full on-screen credit for his writing. 

After what these two powerful motion picture makers did, no American studio dared blacklist again!

The two protagonist's of Trumbo's screenplay are first, the gladiator slave, "Spartacus", portrayed by Kirk Douglas, and the second:

"Marcus Licinius Grassus", portrayed by Laurence Olivier.

Peter Ustinov portrayed "Batiatus", the owner of a gladiator school. He came upon "Spartacus" about to be executed and saved him to train as a gladiator. "Batiatus" saved him, because of the ferocious nature "Spartacus" showed toward those about to execute him, pure gladiator material.

Move forward in the story and "Crassus" brings his mistress, although he is homosexual, "Helena Glabrus", portrayed by Nina Foch, to enjoy a gladiator match at "Batiatus's" school.

The following is a small piece of the actual dialogue:

• 
  
• Marcus Licinius Crassus: My young friends desire a private showing of two pairs.

Batiatus: Two pairs? Oh yes. I think I have something that would - please them.

Helena Glabrus: Two pairs to the death.

• Batiatus: To the death, Your Ladyship?

Helena Glabrus: Well, surely you don't think we came all the way to Capua - for gymnastics?

Next, "Helena Glabrus" picks her two fighters and of course, one will be "Spartacus".

The other gladiator has the familiar face of Woody Strode portraying "Draba". He was "The King of Ethiopia" in 1956's, "The Ten Commandments", and had the title role in director John Ford's, 1960, "Sergeant Rutledge". My article is "Woody Strode and Michael Pate: Western Stalwarts" at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/03/woody-strode-and-michael-pate-one.html 

Left to right, Nina Foch, Peter Usinov, Charles Laughton portraying "Gracchus", and Joanna Barnes portraying "Claudia Marius".

Then there was the James Gardner and Natalie Wood comedy, 1960's, "Cash McCall". Nina Foch was the older woman who wants "Cash", but he's interested in the girl who keeps finding ways to put him off. 

It was in 1960 that Nina Foch became a teacher in film directing at the "University of Southern California (USA) School of Cinematic Arts" and later with the "American Film Institute", from its founding on June 5, 1967.

Nina Foch continued to primarily appear on television through Season Three, Episode Five, "The Round File", on "The Closer", July 16, 2007.

On December 5, 2008, 84-years-old Nina Foch passed away. Her roles on either film, or television totaled 215.