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Lady in Cement

January 01, 1970

Lady in Cement is a 1968 American neo-noir[2] mystery crime comedy thriller film directed by Gordon Douglas, based on the 1961 novel The Lady in Cement by Marvin H. Albert. The film stars Frank Sinatra, Raquel Welch, Dan Blocker, Richard Conte, Martin Gabel, Lainie Kazan, and Pat Henry.

Lady in Cement
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGordon Douglas
Screenplay by
Based onThe Lady in Cement
1961 novel
by Marvin H. Albert
Produced byAaron Rosenberg
Starring
CinematographyJoseph Biroc
Edited byRobert Simpson
Music byHugo Montenegro
Production
company
Arcola Pictures
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • November 20, 1968 (1968-11-20)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.6 million[1]

A sequel to the 1967 film Tony Rome, Lady in Cement was released on November 20, 1968.

Plot edit

While diving off the Miami coast seeking one of the 11 fabled Spanish galleons sunk in 1591, private investigator Tony Rome discovers a dead woman, her feet encased in cement (concrete), at the bottom of the ocean.

Rome reports this to Lieutenant Dave Santini and thinks nothing more of the incident, until Waldo Gronsky hires him to find a missing woman, Sandra Lomax. Gronsky has little money, so he allows Rome to pawn his watch to retain his services. Eventually, Gronsky admits that he just got out of prison because Sandra Lomax identified him as the perpetrator of a crime, which is why he hired Rome to find her.

After investigating the local hotspots and picking up on a few names, Rome soon comes across Kit Forrest, whose party Sandra Lomax was supposed to have attended. Rome's talking to Forrest raises the ire of racketeer Al Mungar, a supposedly reformed gangster who looks after Kit's interests. Mungar, his son, and some goons warn Rome off the case.

Rome is able to identify Lomax as the lady in cement by an artist who used her as a model. As he gets closer to solving the case, he eventually becomes a suspect and has to evade capture by Lt. Santini. Mungar is revealed to be a figurehead, and his son is the real muscle in the organization. He reveals that he killed Sandra and everyone who got in his way. He is about to kill Kit when Gronsky overpowers him. They call Santini, and the film closes with Kit and Tony together on his boat.

Cast edit

 
Sinatra and Welch at Gulfstream Park

Production edit

The film was based on a novel published in 1961, which The New York Times called "ingenuous".[3]

Following the success of Tony Rome, Aaron Rosenberg hired Marvin Albert to adapt Cement for Sinatra. The actor made it after The Detective.[4] Raquel Welch's casting was announced in June 1967.[5]

Sammy Davis Jr was to have appeared in the film as the charter-boat captain.[6] Sinatra fell ill, though, and filming was postponed for four weeks. Davis was replaced by Pat Henry in the final film.[7]

Dan Blocker was given time away from Bonanza to play his part. When Rome tracks down Gronski to the seedy massage parlor he owns, Dan Blocker is shown watching a TV which is blaring the Bonanza theme. The movie gave an early role to Lainie Kazan.[8]

Welch later said she did not realize her character was an alcoholic until after filming wrapped. "I'm watching this movie and I'm thinking, 'What the hell has she got on?' At one point, I had this epiphany: 'Oh, she's an alcoholic!' I didn't know that. How could I miss that?... I think I was just so enamored with Frank Sinatra, you know. He's hypnotic."[9]

Filming started in March 1968. Before and during filming, Sinatra was performing at the Fontainebleau in Miami over a six-week period. Welch went to watch him, and found the experience so inspiring, she determined to continue to perform to live audiences in her career.[10]

Reception edit

Box office edit

According to Fox records, the film required $7,150,000 in rentals to break even, and by December 11, 1970, had made $6,825,000, which made a loss for the studio.[11]

Critical reception edit

Opening to mixed reviews, Lady in Cement is generally considered to be a middling sequel to Tony Rome. Critic Roger Ebert gave faint praise in a generally scathing review by commenting: "In the movie's few good scenes, Sinatra once again painfully reminds us what a controlled, effective actor he is."[12] Variety described Sinatra's character as being "on the trail of people in whom there couldn't be less interest", Raquel Welch "adds her limited, but beauteous contribution", and Dan Blocker "is excellent as a sympathetic heavy".[13]

Home media edit

Lady in Cement was released on DVD on May 24, 2005, as part of a boxed set along with Tony Rome and The Detective, both also directed by Douglas. No bonus features were included.[14]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p255
  2. ^ Silver, Alain; Ward, Elizabeth; eds. (1992). Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style (3rd ed.). Woodstock, NY: The Overlook Press. ISBN 0-87951-479-5
  3. ^ A. B. (June 4, 1961). "Criminals at large". The New York Times. ProQuest 115449613.
  4. ^ Martin, B. (June 5, 1967). "'Caper' for faye dunaway". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 155789349.
  5. ^ Dorothy Manners (June 30, 1967). "Raquel welch to costar with sinatra". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. ProQuest 143211118.
  6. ^ "Sammy davis to costar with sinatra". The Washington Post and Times-Herald. January 6, 1968. ProQuest 143516569.
  7. ^ Harford, M. (March 6, 1968). "'SWEET CHARITY' ROLE". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 155915617.
  8. ^ Rose, B. (June 8, 1968). "Miss kazan weighs love-career choice". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 155947940.
  9. ^ Wenn. (April 10, 2017). "Raquel Welch: 'I was awful in Sinatra film'". XPOSÉ.ie. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  10. ^ G. C. (May 30, 1982). "Raquel welch: 'I like a character with backbone'". The New York Times. ProQuest 121982606.
  11. ^ Silverman, Stephen M (1988). The Fox that got away : the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox. L. Stuart. p. 327. ISBN 9780818404856.
  12. ^ Ebert, Roger (December 3, 1968). "Lady in Cement". RogerEbert.com.
  13. ^ Variety Staff (December 31, 1968). "Lady in Cement". Variety.
  14. ^ Review of the DVD Release by DVD Times

External links edit

January 01, 1970
lady, cement, 1968, american, noir, mystery, crime, comedy, thriller, film, directed, gordon, douglas, based, 1961, novel, marvin, albert, film, stars, frank, sinatra, raquel, welch, blocker, richard, conte, martin, gabel, lainie, kazan, henry, theatrical, rel. Lady in Cement is a 1968 American neo noir 2 mystery crime comedy thriller film directed by Gordon Douglas based on the 1961 novel The Lady in Cement by Marvin H Albert The film stars Frank Sinatra Raquel Welch Dan Blocker Richard Conte Martin Gabel Lainie Kazan and Pat Henry Lady in CementTheatrical release posterDirected byGordon DouglasScreenplay byMarvin H Albert Jack GussBased onThe Lady in Cement1961 novelby Marvin H AlbertProduced byAaron RosenbergStarringFrank Sinatra Raquel Welch Dan Blocker Richard Conte Martin Gabel Lainie Kazan Pat HenryCinematographyJoseph BirocEdited byRobert SimpsonMusic byHugo MontenegroProductioncompanyArcola PicturesDistributed by20th Century FoxRelease dateNovember 20 1968 1968 11 20 Running time94 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 3 6 million 1 A sequel to the 1967 film Tony Rome Lady in Cement was released on November 20 1968 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 4 1 Box office 4 2 Critical reception 5 Home media 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksPlot editWhile diving off the Miami coast seeking one of the 11 fabled Spanish galleons sunk in 1591 private investigator Tony Rome discovers a dead woman her feet encased in cement concrete at the bottom of the ocean Rome reports this to Lieutenant Dave Santini and thinks nothing more of the incident until Waldo Gronsky hires him to find a missing woman Sandra Lomax Gronsky has little money so he allows Rome to pawn his watch to retain his services Eventually Gronsky admits that he just got out of prison because Sandra Lomax identified him as the perpetrator of a crime which is why he hired Rome to find her After investigating the local hotspots and picking up on a few names Rome soon comes across Kit Forrest whose party Sandra Lomax was supposed to have attended Rome s talking to Forrest raises the ire of racketeer Al Mungar a supposedly reformed gangster who looks after Kit s interests Mungar his son and some goons warn Rome off the case Rome is able to identify Lomax as the lady in cement by an artist who used her as a model As he gets closer to solving the case he eventually becomes a suspect and has to evade capture by Lt Santini Mungar is revealed to be a figurehead and his son is the real muscle in the organization He reveals that he killed Sandra and everyone who got in his way He is about to kill Kit when Gronsky overpowers him They call Santini and the film closes with Kit and Tony together on his boat Cast edit nbsp Sinatra and Welch at Gulfstream Park Frank Sinatra as Tony Rome Raquel Welch as Kit Forrest Dan Blocker as Gronsky Richard Conte as Lt Santini Martin Gabel as Al Mungar Lainie Kazan as Maria Baretto Pat Henry as Rubin Richard Deacon as Arnie Sherwin Alex Stevens as Shev Bunny Yeager as Bunny Fjord Swedish masseuseProduction editThe film was based on a novel published in 1961 which The New York Times called ingenuous 3 Following the success of Tony Rome Aaron Rosenberg hired Marvin Albert to adapt Cement for Sinatra The actor made it after The Detective 4 Raquel Welch s casting was announced in June 1967 5 Sammy Davis Jr was to have appeared in the film as the charter boat captain 6 Sinatra fell ill though and filming was postponed for four weeks Davis was replaced by Pat Henry in the final film 7 Dan Blocker was given time away from Bonanza to play his part When Rome tracks down Gronski to the seedy massage parlor he owns Dan Blocker is shown watching a TV which is blaring the Bonanza theme The movie gave an early role to Lainie Kazan 8 Welch later said she did not realize her character was an alcoholic until after filming wrapped I m watching this movie and I m thinking What the hell has she got on At one point I had this epiphany Oh she s an alcoholic I didn t know that How could I miss that I think I was just so enamored with Frank Sinatra you know He s hypnotic 9 Filming started in March 1968 Before and during filming Sinatra was performing at the Fontainebleau in Miami over a six week period Welch went to watch him and found the experience so inspiring she determined to continue to perform to live audiences in her career 10 Reception editBox office edit According to Fox records the film required 7 150 000 in rentals to break even and by December 11 1970 had made 6 825 000 which made a loss for the studio 11 Critical reception edit Opening to mixed reviews Lady in Cement is generally considered to be a middling sequel to Tony Rome Critic Roger Ebert gave faint praise in a generally scathing review by commenting In the movie s few good scenes Sinatra once again painfully reminds us what a controlled effective actor he is 12 Variety described Sinatra s character as being on the trail of people in whom there couldn t be less interest Raquel Welch adds her limited but beauteous contribution and Dan Blocker is excellent as a sympathetic heavy 13 Home media editLady in Cement was released on DVD on May 24 2005 as part of a boxed set along with Tony Rome and The Detective both also directed by Douglas No bonus features were included 14 See also editList of American films of 1968References edit Solomon Aubrey Twentieth Century Fox A Corporate and Financial History The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series Lanham MD Scarecrow Press 1989 ISBN 978 0 8108 4244 1 p255 Silver Alain Ward Elizabeth eds 1992 Film Noir An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style 3rd ed Woodstock NY The Overlook Press ISBN 0 87951 479 5 A B June 4 1961 Criminals at large The New York Times ProQuest 115449613 Martin B June 5 1967 Caper for faye dunaway Los Angeles Times ProQuest 155789349 Dorothy Manners June 30 1967 Raquel welch to costar with sinatra The Washington Post and Times Herald ProQuest 143211118 Sammy davis to costar with sinatra The Washington Post and Times Herald January 6 1968 ProQuest 143516569 Harford M March 6 1968 SWEET CHARITY ROLE Los Angeles Times ProQuest 155915617 Rose B June 8 1968 Miss kazan weighs love career choice Los Angeles Times ProQuest 155947940 Wenn April 10 2017 Raquel Welch I was awful in Sinatra film XPOSE ie Retrieved April 15 2017 G C May 30 1982 Raquel welch I like a character with backbone The New York Times ProQuest 121982606 Silverman Stephen M 1988 The Fox that got away the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century Fox L Stuart p 327 ISBN 9780818404856 Ebert Roger December 3 1968 Lady in Cement RogerEbert com Variety Staff December 31 1968 Lady in Cement Variety Review of the DVD Release by DVD TimesExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Lady in Cement at Wikimedia Commons Lady in Cement at IMDb nbsp Lady in Cement at AllMovie Lady in Cement at the TCM Movie Database Lady in Cement at the American Film Institute Catalog Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lady in Cement amp oldid 1217571056, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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