Richard Widmark

Known for his fiendish giggle, Richard Widmark could also be deadly serious. In the 60's, he played in many westerns, but some of us especially dig him in his film noir roles of the late 40's and 50's.

He was nominated for an Oscar for acting in a supporting role in his first big film Kiss of Death in 1947. Though he frequently played the bad guy in his film noir appearances, he had an endearing little boy quality that somehow made him more sympathetic than others who played sadistic villains.

In Kiss Of Death (1947), Widmark plays Tommy Udo, a psychotic killer, feared and sought by stoolie/family man Nick Bianco (Victor Mature).

Road House (1948), has Widmark playing Jefty, a nightclub owner whose twisted side seeps out when he falls hard for the club's new songbird (Ida Lupino), but she prefers Jefty's best friend and business partner Pete (Cornel Wilde).

In The Street With No Name (1948), he plays Alec Stiles, an idiosyncratic gangster menaced by an undercover agent.

Night And The City (1950) has Widmark as Harry Fabian, a man who longs to be a big time fight promoter, but he gets way in over his head.

In Panic In The Streets (1950), Richard Widmark is Dr. Clinton Reed, a public health department official who throws himself into danger on the New Orleans waterfront to save the community from a deadly disease the killers are carrying.

Don't Bother To Knock (1952) has Widmark as Jed, an airline pilot who is attracted to a hotel babysitter (Marilyn Monroe). He's staying there because his girlfriend is the lounge singer, but she just dumped him. It's so much fun to see his interest in the babysitter gradually turn to uncomfortable bewilderment as he realizes she is more than a little off her rocker.

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