Eleanor Parker in The Mysterious Doctor



In 1943, Eleanor Parker was second-billed in The Mysterious Doctor. It was her biggest role up until that time (she had made her feature film debut the previous year in Busses Roar).




Only an hour long, The Mysterious Doctor was a B-movie programmer made to be shown as part of a cinema double feature. The story revolves around a small town in Cornwall with a supposedly haunted tin mine, with many references to the British war effort thrown in to make it current for 1943.





Eleanor Parker has several scenes in The Mysterious Doctor and her character is actually is somewhat integral to the plot, not completely superfluous as sometimes female characters in these types of films are. Still, she didn't have too much to work with here but Eleanor Parker's acting ability is quite evident throughout and she manages to breathe some life into her role. And, of course, she looks beautiful too!






Here's a clip of one of Eleanor Parker's scenes in the movie where she gets a chance to scream in terror:





Here are some pictures of Eleanor Parker in The Mysterious Doctor:


Eleanor Parker and Bruce Lester








Emma Relph in Heaven 17's Penthouse and Pavement music video

Years ago I bought Heaven 17's Penthouse and Pavement LP and have been a fan ever since. Later, I saw the video for one of their greatest songs, "Penthouse and Pavement" and quickly became a fan of that as well. The music video (easily viewable several places online), besides having a fun concept, also features the talents of a gorgeous actress named Emma Relph. Besides a handful of smaller roles on a few somewhat obscure TV shows and films, her most prominent part was as a cast member in the 1981 UK sci-fi/horror miniseries Day of the Triffids.


Here are some images of Emma Relph in the music video for "Penthouse and Pavement" by Heaven 17 (click to view full size):








Janet Leigh in Just This Once (1952)



In 1952, Janet Leigh was first-billed in the romantic comedy Just This Once. She was the object of desire for two leading men, Peter Lawford and Richard Anderson.




Of course, Janet Leigh was no stranger to romance or comedy at this point in her career. In Just This Once, she deftly handles her role: she is funny and charming and looks stunning the entire time. The plot revolves around a thrifty, engaged to be married, lawyer (Janet Leigh) who must straighten out the finances of a millionaire playboy (Peter Lawford). It's a simple premise, but the movie moves along briskly with great performances all around and many funny scenes. I'm a big fan of old and new "rom-coms" and I definitely felt that this was a particularly enjoyable example.











Here are some images of Janet Leigh and her Just This Once co-star Peter Lawford:







Here's a picture of Janet Leigh with Marilyn Erskine:





And finally, two pics of Janet Leigh with her two leading men from Just This Once, Peter Lawford and Richard Anderson:




Some promo pics of Jill Townsend in The Spirit Is Willing



As you might know, Jill Townsend's first movie was The Spirit Is Willing. Here are some fantastic black and white promotional photos of her in the 1967 film.






Jane Greer in You for Me (1952)

Jane Greer with her You for Me co-stars Peter Lawford and Gig Young


In 1952, Jane Greer starred in her first and only romantic comedy, You for Me. The movie was certainly a change of pace for Jane Greer who, at the time, was best known for playing the femme fatale in the film noir classic Out of the Past and other assorted non-comedic roles (for example: Station West)  In You for Me, Jane Greer played the object of desire for two leading men, Peter Lawford and Gig Young, giving the actress a chance to show skills opposite someone besides Robert Mitchum (her co-star in two of her most popular previous films).





Here are some vintage newspaper advertisements and reviews of You for Me.










Here are a few promotional photos of Jane Greer and her co-stars from You for Me:




 


Meg Foster on The Mod Squad



Early in her career, Meg Foster made two guest appearances on the Mod Squad television series, first in in 1970 and then again a year later. Neither role garnered her much screen time. Nevertheless, Meg Foster managed to make the most of what she had to work with and ended up with a memorable pair of appearances.








Who Are the Keepers, Who Are the Inmates? (October 6, 1970)



In Meg Foster's first Mod Squad guest role, she plays Cora, a young patient at Valhalla Sanitarium. This happens to be the same mental health institution that Mod Squad member Linc (Clarence Williams III) decides to go undercover in to expose brutal, experimental methods that he believes are being used on unsuspecting patients. Linc eventually bonds with Cora, who has gone crazy after being assaulted by a group of men.




This episode was one of the earliest examples of Meg Foster's long history of television guest appearances. She doesn't get to say much, since she is supposed to be traumatized, but she looks wonderful and gets to do some expressive acting.











Death of a Nobody (December 7, 1971)



After appearing in a third season episode of The Mod Squad, Meg Foster came back to do another small role in the fourth season. This time she plays the pregnant wife of a guy with a shady past.




Meg Foster doesn't really have much to do here (except look great) since the episode is not about her. She only really has one scene where she gets to do dialogue, but her presence is enough to brighten things up a bit.






Meg Foster and Clarence Williams III on the Mod Squad