June 8 Alexis Smith

Happy Birthday Robert Preston and Alexis Smith.

TCM celebrated Alexis Smith’s birthday. I watched Whiplash. The film stars Dane Clark as an artist turned boxer. It is during a fight that he flashes back to the beach. Alexis buys his painting and Dane goes to see her to give the money back. He is in her bungalow (sniffing her perfume) when she comes back from the beach. They talk and agree to go out. They go out and later swim at that beach. She goes away. She is married to Zachary Scott but has fallen in love with Dane. She is blackmailed by Zachary to stay with him. When they go out Alexis sings along with the piano player. Dane has a strange expression on his face. I can’t quite tell if it is surprise, admiration or lust. Maybe it is a combination of all three. In the intimate setting her voice is fine. Later when Dane finds her again she is singing in a night club. The song is not the best for her deep voice, but is ok. Dane lights a cigarette so when she looks out at the audience she sees him.

At first I thought Alexis had a hard face. It might be more of a lived in face of a woman who has faced hard time. Whether that is acting real life I don’t know, but it is affective. It could also be the late 1940 straight shouldered clothing and tempered waist clothing that enhances that. She looks very angular.

I don’t know if the film would be considered Noir, but it has elements. It is a romance, with boxing, blackmail, tortured souls and strong personalities.