.jpg)
Mr. Ray's career really hit its stride in 1955 when he appeared in no less than three feature films and
a major television drama special. These two pictures are from his second war movie, Battle Cry.
which co-starred Van Heflin, James Whitmore, Tab Hunter, Anne Francis,
Dorothy Malone, and Raymond Massey. Quite a cast!
A great film. Both Ann Francis and Dorothy Malone have said he was a perfect gentleman on and offscreen during the making of the film. He never put the make on them as other actors in cast did. They didn't say who though.
ReplyDeleteYes, by all accounts, Aldo Ray behaved well when it came to female costars. His biggest behavioral problem during shooting was his drinking on the job. It apparently started with dressing room tippling with Spencer Tracy, a great actor who had a big drinking problem that he managed to keep hidden for years. One director even warned another who was about to work with Aldo to shoot important scenes in the morning because he would be three sheets to the wind after lunch.
DeleteThat is one thing I cannot find out about him, was his drinking a problem before films, or did it become more of a problem as career pressures mounted.
DeleteI remember him very clearly in this film. My sister had pictures of him and Tab Hunter on her wall back then. Do you know if Aldo Ray ever posed naked?
ReplyDeleteThere are no known nudes of Aldo Ray. The beefcake shots I posted today are about as close as it gets.
DeleteThere is a site that has a photo which they claim is him, but I can say with utmost confidence it is DEFINITELY not him! It is quite laughable really.
DeleteBoozing and smoking were the social interactions back then. He's played so many drunks. The Frontier Circus episode. Just read about the FEOLO gang he led when they were filming Battle Cry. Eff everyone or lose out, FEOLO.
ReplyDeleteProbably the gang consisted of these gents https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-battle-cry-from-left-van-heflin-aldo-ray-james-whitmore-tab-hunter-127604619.html
Cheers, good to see another blog dedicated to Da Re.
Glad you enjoyed the series.
Delete