I want to take a few minutes to remember Henry Hathaway, an American film director who was born March 13, 1898 and died Feb. 11, 1985.
His parents named him Henri Leopold de Fiennes, but he became Henry Hathaway when he started working in movies. During a career that began in 1930 and continued through 1974, Hathaway directed 67 movies and worked with many of Hollywood’s most popular stars, including Gary Cooper, James Stewart, John Wayne, James Cagney, Dean Martin, David Niven, Richard Conte and Robert Mitchum.
Hathaway is credited with drawing out impressive work from his stars and with helping to establish actors Karl Malden, Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson.
Hathaway’s movies were popular with audiences but frequently received mixed reviews from critics, who often noted he was a “contract’ director for the studios, reliable but not particularly creative. It’s an arguable point, but somewhat accurate - Hathaway was a contract director, and his films reflected studio priorities.
His films typically featured strong supporting casts that included some of the best character actors of their time, including Walter Abel, John Doucette, Dean Jagger, Hugh Marlowe, and Cameron Mitchell. I think the supporting casts made Hathaway’s movies memorable as well as entertaining.
I like Hathaway’s work because I find his movies engaging and entertaining, valuable qualities that contribute to the affection audiences have for his films decades after they were released.
Here’s a chronological list my favorite Hathaway films, ones that I believe represent the essential Hathaway collection.
The Lives of the Bengal Lancers (1935) - Gary Cooper stars in an action film set in India. The movie received six Academy Award nominations, including best director, best film editing and best picture.
The Real Glory (1939) - Gary Cooper stars again; this time as an army doctor working in the Philippines. David Niven, Reginald Owen and Broderick Crawford also appear.
Brigham Young 1940 - This one is from the era of Hollywood’s bio pictures that often contained as much fiction as nonfiction. Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell star, with Dean Jagger in a supporting role.
13 Rue Madeliene (1946) - James Cagney, Richard Conte and Walter Abel star in a World War II tale about secret agents and betrayal.
Call Northside 777 (1948) - James Stewart, Richard Conte and Lee J. Cobb star in this story about a Chicago reporter’s efforts to re-open an old murder case. It’s a classic.
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel (1951) - James Mason, Jessica Tandy and Richard Boone star in a movie that generated some controversy when released just six years after the end of World War II. Many argued it presented a sympathetic portrayal of the German general. Maybe so, but Mason delivers an impressive performance.
O Henry’s Full House (1952)- (“The Clarion Call” segment.) Hathaway is one of five directors in this anthology film featuring five of O. Henry’s stories. It’s an interesting production that’s worth watching. The cast includes Marilyn Monroe and Richard Widmark.
Niagara (1953) - A film noir thriller starring a smoldering Marilyn Monroe and Joseph Cotten. Some steamy stuff from back in the day.
Prince Valiant (1954) Robert Wagner, James Mason and Janet Leigh star in a tale about a Viking Prince’s efforts to earn a knighthood in King Arthur’s Court. It's campy and a long way from "Game of Thrones", but still enjoyable, and the kids can watch it, too.
Garden of Evil (1954) Gary Cooper, Susan Hayward, Richard Widmark, Cameron Mitchell and Hugh Marlowe star in this often overlooked western about adventurers recruited to save a woman’s husband. He’s trapped in a gold mine deep in Apache territory.
North to Alaska (1960) An odd romantic comedy starring John Wayne, Stewart Granger, Capucine (a true beauty), Ernie Kovacs and Fabian.
How the West Was Won (1962) - Hathaway, John Ford and two other directors contributed to this epic that follows an ensemble cast through the westward expansion.
The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) - John Wayne, Dean Martin, Earl Holliman, James Gregory, Michael Anderson Jr., George Kennedy, Dennis Hopper and John Doucette star in this tale about four brothers determined to find out who was responsible for swindling their mother and killing their father.
Nevada Smith (1966) - Hathaway takes another look at the revenge theme; this time with Steve McQueen, Karl Malden, Arthur Kennedy, Suzanne Pleshette, Martin Landau, and Brian Keith. McQueen is hunting the three men who killed his parents. The running time (126 minutes) could have been trimmed to make a tighter story, but this is worth watching for the wonderful supporting cast, particularly Brian Keith’s performance. Watch also for Martin Landau.
5 Card Stud (1968) Dean Martin, Robert Mitchum, Roddy McDowell, Yaphet Kotto and Inger Stevens star in a story about a poker game that ends in a lynching. Things get interesting when someone starts killing men who were at the card table that night. I consider this one of Hathaway’s most entertaining movies. It also serves as a fine representative of the type of westerns Hollywood produced in the late 1960s - movies that featured familiar themes (revenge) mixed with film techniques some considered gimmicky.
True Grit (1969) - The first (and in my opinion best) of the two versions of this story about a girl who hires a federal marshal to hunt the man who killed her father. John Wayne won an Oscar for his work, and the supporting cast is wonderful.
– Thank you for reading. Comments and feedback are always welcome. Send email to kbottswrites@gmail.com. Savor the coffee and make the most of your day.
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