The surprising connection between this WWII spy film and James Bond

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The surprising connection between this WWII spy film and James Bond

Рет қаралды 12,020

Күн бұрын

#warmovie #jamesbond #classicmovies
Released shortly after the end of World War II, the Alan Ladd action drama "OSS" emerged as a captivating cinematic work, not only entertaining audiences but also playing a crucial role in shaping the future of spy films. The film's plot centered around agents working for the wartime intelligence agency, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), and their exploits behind enemy lines in occupied France.
Starring Alan Ladd and Geraldine Fitzgerald, and written by future James Bond screenwriter Richard Maibaum, "OSS" features suspenseful storytelling, intriguing characters, and unexpected twists that laid the foundation for the spy movie genre we know today.
OSS, like many Alan Ladd films, is unavailable for viewing on streaming. But you can purchase it here ➡️amzn.to/3PhxN89
You can watch one of the other OSS films that hit theaters
🍿Cloak and Dagger • Video
You can find used copies of Beverly Linet’s Alan Ladd biography here 📕amzn.to/3CAu4Le
Check out Damn Fool Idealistic Crusaders Video on OSS here ➡️ • O.S.S. (1946) Kino Lor...
You can watch the entire trailer for Alan Ladd’s 1949 film version of THE GREAT GATSBY here ➡️ • The Great Gatsby (1949)
Luckily, three of Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake’s four films are available to watch for free.
🍿This Gun For HIre archive.org/de...
🍿The Glass Key archive.org/de...
🍿The Blue Dahlia archive.org/de...
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Пікірлер: 109

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Check out Damn Fool Idealistic Crusaders Video on OSS here ➡kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aKiJZNuGvJvaf2g.html

@numbersix8919 Жыл бұрын

"He [Alan Ladd] was insecure about his talent he ---- legitimately ---- believed he didn't have any." (my emphasis) I'm sure this unfortunate phrasing was entirely unintentional. (!) Love your channel to the utmost!

@azohundred1353 Жыл бұрын

Alan Ladd also did a great WWII adventure film, China (1943), with Loretta Young, which was a significant influence on the Indiana Jones franchise. Between Alan Ladd's films O.S.S. (1946), China (1943), and the fact that his son, producer Alan Ladd Jr. greenlighted Star Wars, it's crazy the amount of influence his legacy has had on huge franchises like James Bond, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars. Great video, Cinema Cities, O.S.S. is definitely an underrated Alan Ladd classic! Thanks for shining a spotlight on it.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

His legacy runs deep and for someone who was so influential it's kind of sad how he's fallen out of the public's consciousness.

@anthonyperdue3557 Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 Because of Ladd's outstanding presence as Nevada Smith in 1964s The Carpetbaggers starring George Peppard a prequel about Nevada Smith was produced but had to star a younger actor - Steve McQueen. Radio -film and animation ( most notably Rocky and Bullwinkle) voice actor Paul Frees was also an O.S.S. operative during WW2. For me O.S.S. is not forgotten because that was my first Ladd film I saw on The Late Late Show ; it was a Saturday sometime between 2-3 a.m. 😄i recall the hour because that's usually when my local Late Late Show channel played movies I wanted to see. I read a biography on Ladd that described his close friendship with William Bendix, star of radios and later TVs Life of Riley series and who costarred in The Blue Dahlia. In later years their friendship ended over some misunderstanding.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Happily, Ladd and Bendix were able to reconnect and resume their close friendship. Bendix was devastated when Ladd died.

@frederickcombs8661 Жыл бұрын

I used to live in Palm Springs near Alan Ladd's home in Las Palmas. There is a plaque on the wall surrounding the house. He made all of those performances, yet kind of didn't know and thus suffered and died way too young. I would ride my bike, see the plaque, and every time say, "You were great, Alan!"😅

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

That's lovely. He probably needed to hear that more while he was alive.

@randyacuna5643 11 ай бұрын

This is one of Alan's best films. Not forgotten.

@OuterGalaxyLounge Жыл бұрын

Let's get real, all movies of the '30s and '40s are good. Despite having seen thousands since the 1970s, this one has eluded me, even though I've heard of it. Nice overview.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

It's worth seeking out. It's got a really solid and tight script and avoids the usual Hollywood happy ending.

@OuterGalaxyLounge Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 It might very well be that I already have this in my collection but just forgot (my collection is massive), but if I do not I will have it probably in the next few hours.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

@@OuterGalaxyLounge I like your style!

@OuterGalaxyLounge Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 Thanks. I ended up getting it in few hours. Blu ray.

@Whippets Жыл бұрын

Ladd never got enough credit, he could act with the best of them ... BUT what I really wanted to say is that Veronica Lake was a petite jewel, really "The Peek-a-boo Girl" --- think of a deep dive on her career, which was quite good but deserved a few more meatier roles.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I have an idea for a Lake video.

@jeffwhite3679 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for posting this. I thought I had seen all of the vintage films of this genre but I missed O.S.S.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

You're welcome. It's an overlooked gem.

@matthewhood7844 Жыл бұрын

My mom loved Alan Ladd, when you see scenes where his shirt is off you'll see why. I like him as a leading man. One of the benefits of him working with Veronica Lake was that she was tiny so no apple box was needed in scenes with her. I was surprised watching The Reluctant Dragon and seeing Ladd briefly playing a Disney animator.

@Ned_of_the_Hill Жыл бұрын

Great video! I'd not heard of this movie before you mentioned it in your Sterling Hayden video, so I'll have to check it out. I always loved Alan Ladd (and the amazing Veronica Lake) in "This Gun For Hire." Another actor in that movie who is under-rated in my opinion is Laird Cregar. I would really like to see your take on his life and career.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

You are so right about Laird Cregar. He's just so wonderful in every film he's in from Blood and Sand to Hangover Square.

@GrandOldMovies Жыл бұрын

Great video! I adore Alan Ladd and he is DEFINITELY underappreciated and underrated. He gives such a beautiful performance in The Blue Dahlia (another great noir of his); his grief when learning his son has died while he was in the military is subtly yet movingly rendered. I haven't seen OSS, wasn't even aware of it, so will have to check it out. It sounds like it was a serious and gritty look at wartime espionage, and the Bond connection is fascinating. Thanks for covering!

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. I think any Ladd fan will really love OSS. It's highly entertaining and the story expertly lays out the high stakes of wartime espionage.

@edramirez1240 Жыл бұрын

Fun fact: Although the character of ‘Philip Masson’ was 5’10.5” tall. The actor Alan Ladd was closer to 5’8”.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

😂

@birdsdaword Жыл бұрын

I have a picture of Alan Ladd shaking hands with Humphrey Bogart and they are the same height. I always thought that Alan Ladd was 5'6"

@edramirez1240 Жыл бұрын

@@birdsdaword Like the height situation with Tom Cruise. We never truly know.

@fabiengerard8142 Жыл бұрын

@@birdsdaword Were they both barefoot in that photo? 🤫

@birdsdaword Жыл бұрын

@@fabiengerard8142 I wish I could post the photo. Alan Ladd on the left facing Humphrey Bogart on the right. The photo goes all the way from their hips to the top of their hats. and they match exactly nose to nose and tie to tie and hat to hat.

@OuterGalaxyLounge Жыл бұрын

Forgive me in advance if you've already mentioned that the director, Irving Pichel, was a character actor -- and a very busy one -- in the 1930s. Last week I was watching the film, Wild Girl (1932) with Joan Bennett, and he was in that. I was struck by how similar his face and voice resemble actor Victor Jory. I once met Jory at a film retrospective in the early 1980s. But I digress.

@sherirobinson6867 Жыл бұрын

I absolutely love the noir of yesteryear... Anything that has action, crime or comedy prior to 1945 is right up my alley of entertainment. I have seen the movie OSS easily a dozen times back in the day they used to play it on TNT

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I think that's where I saw it first or maybe it was the old American Movie Classics channel.

@sherirobinson6867 Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 that's it AMC ... It wasn't TNT... I own a collection of old black-and-white DVDs I just adore the old movies.

@cineclassics2277 Жыл бұрын

As a connoisseur of classic cinema, I have surprisingly never heard of this film! Looking forward to checking it out!

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

It's a really a pretty thrilling and tragic action story. I think both Ladd and Fitzgerald really shine in this one.

@caraqueno Жыл бұрын

"O.S.S." was regularly shown on KTLA-5 in Los Angeles during my childhood and adolescence (1960's and 1970's). KTLA had access to pre-1950 Paramount films and showed them often until a change of ownership occurred at the station in the early 1990's. After that, the Paramount films, including "O.S.S." were never shown.

@jamesallard7223 Жыл бұрын

Nicely done, looking forward to the next!

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I'm already working on the next one.

@Noir_or_never31 Жыл бұрын

I love this movie! Thank you so much for doing a video on it! I was so thrilled when I first watched it and realised the Bond connection! If you could possibly do a more in-depth video in Alan Ladd that would be amazing ❤

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I really love Alan Ladd so I think I will eventually revisit his life and career

@l.a.gothro3999 Жыл бұрын

I remember an interview with Sir Roger Moore when he was at the peak of his popularity, wherein he stated, "Bond...James Bond. You can call me Jim."

@HootOwl513 Жыл бұрын

Love the Sterling Hayden tag at the end. We get his opinion of the Ladd film.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I think Hayden was probably glad he wasn't back in time to make that movie.

@HootOwl513 Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 Possibly, he dodged a bullet by not being available for shooting. He may have known things he could never reveal, and may have accidently divulged when back in the un-military atmosphere of a film set.

@davidhull1481 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for alerting me to Ladd’s version of The Great Gatsby. He got good reviews for his acting, but the film itself was butchered due to movie censors.

@joep8787 6 ай бұрын

I think Ladd was a good actor as long as he stayed within his image. He was best at playing mysterious loners with his ability to convey much with little dialog. Sort of like Charles Bronson. If you watch "Shane", you'll be amazed at how little dialog he had in that movie and how little time he actually has. Yet, his presence is always there. The video mentioned in passing a little known Gary Cooper movie "Cloak & Dagger". It's rarely shown, but it's an excellent, realistic depiction of the OSS. There's a brutal hand to hand to the death fight which would not be surpassed until "From Russia With Love" with a similar fight in a confined railway compartment.

@TheKeggie Жыл бұрын

Alan Ladd is probably my favourite actor who came out of the pre 1950's Hollywood studio system. He just had presence and acting style that still seems fresh in the 2000's era. Of cause like most people, it was watching Shane on television that really made me a huge fan of his and is still for me the quintessential western hero on celluloid.

@ferociousgumby Жыл бұрын

I LOOOOOVE this channel! I would love to see more deep dives on individual actors, such as the one on John Garfield. 💗💗💗💗💗💗

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad that you are enjoying the channel. I love making those long deep dive videos, they just take a long time(and expense) to put together so I can only do a few a year.

@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader Жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks for such a great shoutout! It’s wonderful to see more discussion of deeper catalog titles that just haven’t gotten proper recognition or simply haven’t been available for years. OSS is an incredible surprise when seen the first time but becomes so much more when you know its pedigree and find out about the people behind it. There’s so much of Ladd’s screen persona in Bond that the film he and Maibaum went to the UK to make, The Red Beret, brought together the nucleus of the Bond production team.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Have you seen Maibaum and Ladd's other OSS film, Captain Carey, USA? It's been years since I've seen it, so I can't recall specifics, but I do remember the 'mole' element of the story. I wonder if the Bond connections are obvious in that. Captain Carey is also a more romantic and drama-driven story than OSS.

@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 I definitely remember some, but it’s also been a very long time since I’ve seen it. I need to revisit it!

@JackMyersPhotography Жыл бұрын

Thanks for mining this old Hollywood gold. I know I’ve said it before, but, You have an excellent style and approach when it comes to making KZfaq videos. I really do love your in-depth approach. This movie looks thrilling, so now I’ve just got to find it. Thanks again!

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!!!!! I really appreciate the super chats. OSS is VERY thrilling and great look at how postwar Hollywood was telling wartime stories. It's one of my favorite Alan Ladd films.

@whenthepicturesgotbigger Жыл бұрын

I watched this on a plane once because I was shocked that there was a film pre-1960 on the movie list at all! I had never heard of it but I figured it had to be better than Black Adam or Fantastic Beasts. I was not disappointed!

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I'm amazed it was on the plane. That is actually very, very cool!

@whenthepicturesgotbigger Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 yep! This was an international flight which tends to have much wider film selections, but I completely agree! It was from Lagos, Nigeria -> Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Probably an Emirates flight.

@stretch9952 Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed this presentation. Heard of it, but not about it, until now. I shall need to find this one. Another unique spy movie, though about a malevolent one, is 'Five Fingers" with James Mason as a man betraying British secrets from within an embassy in Istanbul. Marvelous ironic ending. Would love to explore Mason some time. Another actor with a distinctive voice.

@classiclife7204 Жыл бұрын

I wish Ladd had done more Noir, or at least darker films. Paramount did their level best to shave off his rough edges - you know, the thing people found compelling in the first place - and I think it harmed his legacy. Too often he was the Bland Good Guy. This movie looks more suited to him; I'll have to check it out!

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I agree, he's someone who would've been a great fit at Warner's or even Columbia bc they made some edgy darker stuff (although I wouldn't wish any one as sensitive as Ladd the fate of working with Harry Cohn).

@classiclife7204 Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 Hah, true!

@TheSpiderUndertaker Жыл бұрын

Hands down my favourite yt channel about cinema at the moment

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

thank you!!!!

@whatsname2649 Жыл бұрын

Know this one well. Ladd great actor! I keep watching because I know you'll eventually come up with something I haven't seen. 👍🎥

@tiptopdadddy Жыл бұрын

The IC has a stable of their own writers to create positive portrayals. Marc Groubert wrote the original story of The Recruit and has talked about it in depth on his KZfaq channel. It’s an interesting sub-genre.

@aldiboronti Жыл бұрын

Not forgotten by me. Love this one.

@martinrenzhofer8241 Жыл бұрын

Crazy memory jog. I remember one part of this film. I must have seen it when I was a lad of 10 or 11. The only scene I remember is when the NAZIs grabbed one of the spies for using his knife and fork improperly. I don't remember anything else about the movie, including the title or who was in it. This was 50 years ago. So, when I saw the scene with Ladd being taught how to eat, my brain immediately flashed to that scene in a (Paris?) cafe. I loved that a spy could be caught because of his eating habits. Thanks.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I responded to another comment on this comment. Sorry about that. I've actually had a very similar experience with the movie "Belles on Their Toes." I could never think of the name of the movie and I only remembered kids singing on the beach in the 1920s. Then I saw it randomly on KZfaq and finally, after years, put a name to the scene.

@MoreMovies4u Жыл бұрын

Another well researched and brilliantly put together video CC! Thanks, enjoyed this one. Hope you're doing well my friend! 😊👍

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!!! Thanks for watching. Alan Ladd was my first old Hollywood crush. . . even before Tyrone Power!

@Chiller11 Жыл бұрын

Sterling Hayden, in an interview during his crazy grandpa period, being dismissive of Alan Ladd’s portrayal of an OSS officer. Gotta love Sterling Hayden.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

You could tell he was definitely not a fan. I actually included that clip of Hayden at the very, very end of the video.

@Chiller11 Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 Haha Sterling Hayden was a definite iconoclast. He seemed to have disdain for most things Hollywood and would rather be on a boat in the middle of some ocean. In that interview he looked and acted like your 6’5” crazy uncle. The one you don’t invite to the wedding cause he’s bound to drink too much and get in a brawl with the new in-laws.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Oh I would definitely invite him to the wedding!😂

@ameryek.9607 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting - I like your narration.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching.

@TheDukeofMadness Жыл бұрын

It was a great film, without a Hollywood ending.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I think the ending is fantastic. It's tragic and let's audience know the stakes were high and real sacrifices were made.

@maartenlemmens8628 Жыл бұрын

How about an episode on his frequent co-star Veronica Lake? Now there,s a sad life story not too many people may know about. PS Appointment with danger is another great Ladd movie, and his version of the great Gatsby has been released on bluray recently.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I saw that IMPRINT has a limited bluray release. It's not for my region but my play station is a region free bluray player! I'm going to get it. Also, I have an idea about a Veronica Lake video. . . .

@maartenlemmens8628 Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 that,s the one i meant!👍 all Imprint blurays are region free so no worries there.😁

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I'm actually really excited! I've been wanting to see Ladd's Gatsby for years!

@maartenlemmens8628 Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 i hope it lives up to expectations . I d love to see it anyway.

@lbbotpn5429 Жыл бұрын

I guess it becomes easier to see if you think past the surface, but it boggles my mind how insecure celebrities can be... what hope do we normies have? I have officially put O.S.S. on my watchlist all the time wishing that a Sterling Hayden equivalent was out there somewhere. I learned something new and came away with a movie recommendation... Best. Channel. Ever?

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Considering that OSS was such a hit, I'm surprised Paramount didn't stick Hayden in a spy film when he got back to Hollywood to further capitalize on the subject.

@gorge5412 Жыл бұрын

Sterling Hayden wrote an excellent autobiography, "Wanderer." Great read! He sailed craft carrying guns, ammo, explosives, supplies, etc. to Yugoslavia, supporting our (U.S.) ally at that time, Tito. Now you know.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

We’ve known kzfaq.info/get/bejne/os2hgbt1zMC1f3U.html

@dk60ish Жыл бұрын

I just watched it before watching this, fantastic with a solid cast (even a very young Bobby Driscoll!), & a shame this has been written off & buried as "just another Ladd vehicle", when it deserves to be mentioned along the same lines as his 3 early film noirs & "Shane"!

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

I agree 100%. I think a major part of the problem is that the Paramount classics library has not always been as easily accessible as some other classic studio's libraries (MGM and WB). That's really hurt the legacy of big paramount stars and films.

@peace-yv4qd Жыл бұрын

Alan Ladd is in the top five of my favorite male actors. He sort of had that average guy presence about him.I was born 6/2/45.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Average guy with an edge. I think he's great. He's also got a wonderful voice.

@peace-yv4qd Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 Despite his doubts regarding his acting ability, he was a good actor. Shane, This Gun for Hire, Two Years before the Mast and The Blue Dalia were among his best roles. When asked by an interviewer what if anything he would change about himself he replied, 'everything". Quite sad to be so insecure.

@tombaker4586 Жыл бұрын

Just watched it, great actor, great movie.

@aeoleaburwell7247 Жыл бұрын

Well done. Just one suggestion though to allow another second for reading text on screen. Thanks.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip!

@spockboy Жыл бұрын

Great video! 3:20 5ft 10 and a half LOL

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

the studios never took a break from selling the dream 😂

@spockboy Жыл бұрын

@@CinemaCities1978 They KNEW how to do it back then, Now? Not so much.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

we're all too jaded😞

@VonWenk Жыл бұрын

I remember Richard Maibaum also producing Captain Carey, U.S.A.

@CinemaCities1978 Жыл бұрын

Yes, another Ladd OSS film! I liked that one. Captain Carey also gave us the classic "Mona Lisa," which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song

@johnsweeney5946 Жыл бұрын

If you think you are going to watch the movie, forget it.

@glw2088 Жыл бұрын

Why on earth would you think you were going to watch the movie, this video is 11 minutes long.

@user-ov4wd8qz6l 9 ай бұрын

I never seen this one.

@sonnysantana5454 4 ай бұрын

funny in the movie cloak & dagger with gary cooper their's a move that coopers character does at the airport that 12 or 15 years down the road connery's character pulled the same hat trick at the Jamaica airport