Lori Nelson
(August 15, 1933 – August 23, 2020)
Lori Nelson, has passed away at 87. She was born Dixie Kay Nelson. Her family moved to Hollywood when she was four. Soon after, she was crowned Little Miss America.
In 1950, Ms. Nelson signed a seven-year contract with Universal-International. Her first film was Bend Of The River, followed by Ma And Pa Kettle At The Fair and Francis Goes To West Point (all 1952). In 1953, U-I put her in Douglas Sirk’s All I Desire. She appeared in two Audie Murphy pictures, Tumbleweed (1953) and Destry (1954).
In 1955, she did Ma And Pa Kettle At Waikiki, Revenge of the Creature, Roger Corman’s Day The World Ended and I Died A Thousand Times, a remake of High Sierra (1941) — which has already been remake as Colorado Territory (1949). Underwater! was released in 1955, though it’d been shot some time earlier. She was loaned to Howard Hughes and RKO for that one. She’s also in Pardners (1956), one of the last Martin and Lewis pictures, Hot Rod Girl (1956) co-starring Chuck Connors and Howard W. Koch’s Untamed Youth (1957) with Mamie Van Doren. What a great batch of 1950s cinema.
Toby, I first remember watching Lori Nelson, in the movie UNTAMED YOUTH(1957), which was played a lot on the WREC-TV Channel 3 Memphis, Tennessee EARLY MOVIE, during the 1960’s. Also, she teamed up with Audie Murphy once again on his TV Western WHISPERING SMITH in the “Double Edge” episode, which first aired on August 7, 1961.
Lori Nelson, is most remembered for her role in REVENGE OF THE CREATURE(filmed in 1954, released 1955) and at first she didn’t want to do the role, but later she was glad she did. “I played opposite Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, Jimmy Stewart, Dean Martin and Audie Murphy, but who’s the leading man everybody wants to ask me about? The Gill Man!”
Lori, thank you. LORI NELSON R.I.P.
Wonderful feedback as always Walter.
Master that you are of providing links is there any chance of highlighting
the artwork for THE OUTLAW’S SON starring Dane Clark,Ben Cooper and
Lori Nelson-typical Bel Air promising far more than the film actually delivers.
When all is said and done though this Lesley Selander Western is not half
bad.
While we are speaking all things Universal, Universal Pictures Germany
have a 9 Western collection due in November.
This set I guess should retail at around 20 Euros so it won’t break the bank.
The first volume Universal released recently were all Paramount Pictures and
the feedback on the picture quality was not great-some sources say that
they were merely upscaled DVD’;s.
By an odd twist of fate this second volume is top heavy with Audie Murphy
pictures including two titles from the recent Kino Lorber set:DUEL AT
SILVER CREEK,RIDE A CROOKED TRAIL.
There are however two Murphy pictures making their Worldwide Blu Ray debut
here DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER and WALK THE PROUD LAND which
just happen to be two of Audie’s best pictures.
Other titles in the set include TOMAHAWK,BORDER RIVER,and RED
SUNDOWN.
Also included is PILLARS OF THE SKY making it’s Worldwide Blu Ray debut
although I believe Kino are prepping their own version.
I’ve saved the best to last and am hopeful that it may be at last the
CinemaScope version but I’m not holding my breath. Universal Europe have
diferent paramaters to Universal USA remember Universal France released
THE WILD & THE INNOCENT and THE PURPLE MASK as horrible 4×3
pan & scan versions.
If DAY OF THE BADMAN is in fact the CinemaScope version then that’s
sensational and that title alone would justify the purchase but like I said
I’m not holding my breath.
The above information is not 100% I have done my best to translate from
German so don’t get too excited folks.
One thing positive ‘though Universal Germany have started releasing classic
Westerns and this is encouraging as Koch and Explosive seem to have more
or less given up on Westerns.
John k,I have 9 MOVIE WESTERN COLLECTION VOL 1 and I found the transfers good .I was wondering if they would ever get round to VOL 2 and as with VOL 1 I would have liked to have seen some hard to find titles,but that’s only me having a winge .Don’t know if I’ll get this one as I already have most of them.
As an add on to the above Universal Germany have also started releasing
stand alone versions of their classic films. They recently released DEATH OF
A GUNFIGHTER on Blu Ray and the transfer is superb.
Soon they will release THE PLAINSMAN (1936) again making it’s Worldwide
Blu Ray debut,.Is it too much to hope that Universal USA might follow suit but
then again Kino Lorber are doing a superb job reissuing Universal classics.
John, I’ve had a scan of the 3-sheet sitting around for when I got to this movie — unfortunately, I don’t have a copy of it. Those Bel-Air pictures always had great art.
John k,I noticed that the BLU RAY version of THE PLAINSMAN due to be released by Universal Germany is 6 mins longer then the DVD.I doub’t that this is extra footage,but maybe they’ve included a trailer?
Thanks Toby,
Sadly Lori did not have too much to do in the movie and that’s a shame.
The film also marked a return to the screen for Ellen Drew who alarmingly
seemed to have aged considerably.
If THE OUTLAW’S SON had a stronger supporting cast it would have been a
cracker it just shows what guys like John Dehner and Leo Gordon bring to a
movie.
John K, thanks for all the upcoming information on Western movie releases. Again, I’m still waiting for LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL(filmed in 1958, released 1959) in Blu-ray.
Here are some Italian posters for OUTLAW’S SON.
http://www.benitomovieposter.com/catalog/il-figlio-del-bandito-p-91379.html?language=en
Every time someone mentions Last Train From Gun Hill on Blu-Ray, my blood pressure goes up. That will be such a terrific disc. And, of course, I’d love to do a commentary for it.
And a big thanks to the nameless person who sent me Outlaw’s Son yesterday. I’ll get a post on it up as soon as I can — in the middle of commentary notes right now (for a movie that hasn’t been announced yet).
As mentioned before OUTLAW’S SON is let down by a weak supporting cast
i.e. the minor roles and as I also mentioned a John Dehner or Leo Gordon
would have raised the film several notches-Selander (and Bel Air) have done
far better. Dane Clark,not an ideal Western actor, works really hard to save the
film from total ruin.I do recall there is a nifty stagecoach crack up scene though.
gcwe 1
Interesting that you found the picture quality on the German Vol 1 OK I was
just going by the DVD Beaver review which was pretty negative,I thought.
For me Vol 2 is far more appealing and if DAY OF THE BADMAN is,in fact
in CinemaScope (which I doubt) then that’s sensational.
If Day Of The Badman turns out to be Scope, I’m in for sure!
I’m gonna get the darn thing anyway mainly because of the two Murphy
pictures DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER and WALK THE PROUD LAND two
of his very best,I thought. PILLARS OF THE SKY in high def would be real
nice too. I have seen DAY OF THE BADMAN at the cinema back in the ’60’s
if the Blu Ray is 4×3 I’ll watch it once and that’s it…stay tuned.
Needless to say Universal Germany Blu Ray’s are region free.
I saw “DAY OF THE BADMAN” on its release in the UK in 1958 on the big screen. Loved it. If that is on BluRay in scope you can count me in for sure too.
Kino Lorber are prepping 2K restorations of two Anthony Quinn 50’s Westerns
Allen H Miner’s THE RIDE BACK and Harry Horner’s MAN FROM DEL RIO.
I have always felt that THE MAN FROM DEL RIO incredibly underrated a
real low budget gem if ever there was one. Toby commentaries???
Kino has announced THE RIDE BACK and MAN FROM DEL RIO.
John K and Texican, this is good news.
John K and Texican, this is good news, hands down.