Mercedes McCambridge

Tonight, for our 334th episode and our 300th different film, we discuss Giant from 1956, directed by George Stevens, written by Fred Geil and Ivan Moffat, cinematography by William C. Miller, music by Dimitri Tyomkin, editing by William Hornbeck, Philip W. Anderson, and Fred Bohannon, starring Elizabeth Taylor as Leslie Linton Benedict.

Rock Hudson as Jordan Bick Benedict Jr., James Dean as Jet Rink, Carol Baker as Luz Benedict II, Jane Withers as Vashti, or Vashti, I think it's pronounced in the film, Hake Snithe, Chill Wills as Uncle Bally, Mercedes McCambridge as Luz Benedict, Dennis Hopper as Jordan, Geordie Benedict III, Salminio as Angel Obregon II, Rodney Taylor as Sir David Carfrae, Judith Evelyn as Mrs. Nancy Linton, Earl Holliman as Robert Bob Dace, Robert Nichols as Mort Pinky Snythe, Paul Fix as Dr. Horace Linton, Alexander Scorby as Old Polo, Fran Bennett as Judy Benedict, Charles Watts as Judge Oliver Whiteside, Elsa Cardenas as Juana Villalobos Benedict, and Carolyn Craig as Lacey Linton.

Background for the movie, based on the 1952 novel by Edna Farber, Giant premiered on October 10th, 1956, making this its 70th anniversary.

On a budget of $5.4 million, Giant grossed an estimated $25 million worldwide that year.

It would remain Warner Brothers' highest-grossing release until Superman from 1978, and was the third-highest-grossing film of 1956.

Giant was a hit with minimally American critics and was an awards darling at the Oscars, garnering 10 nominations for Best Picture, Actor for both Dean and Hudson, Supporting Actors for Mercedes McCambridge, Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction in Color, art direction in color, costume design in color, film editing, and score for a comedy or musical.

It won George Stevens his second Best Director Oscar after A Place in the Sun from 1951.

Giant was recognized by the AFI on its list of the 100 Years, 100 Movies edition in 1998 at number 82.

I truly believe it.

Uh, Mercedes McCambridge, who provided the voice of the demon, died of natural causes in March 2004.

And Max von Sydow, uh, who played Father Lankester Merrin, died in March 2020 from unknown causes.

Granted, he was 90 years old, so that's not super superstitious.

That's so creepy.

Yeah.

And just when you think that might be it, we've got one more, this time involving Mercedes McCambridge, who voiced the demon Pazuzu in the movie.

And while I have some things about Mercedes that I will get into, I want to talk about her son, John Markkille.

And of course, like Reagan is always the one that is, is, like, the best.

Yeah, Mercedes McCambridge.

Yeah.

Often we get that sort of stock, I don't know, sounds like-

Ladies and gentlemen, the makers of ironized yeast were happy to devote their entire commercial time on tonight's program to the third war loan drive in cooperation with the drug, cosmetic, and allied industries.

Mr. Obler? Well, first, a word of thanks to Linda Darnell, and of course, to Mercedes McCambridge and Byron Kane for tonight's beautiful performances.

It is later than you think.

Some days you want a little extra oomph to your usual look.

For full access to our archive, visit patreon.com slash oldtimeretroradio.

Leslie Woods, Lawson Zerbe, Everett Sloan, and Mercedes McCambridge are heard in tonight's Inner Sanctum Mysteries.

Originally broadcast on CBS September 5th, 1949, this is episode 438, Murder Rides the Carousel, written by Louis Vites and directed by Hyman Brown.

Paul McGrath serves as host in this period of the series, sponsored by Emerson Drug Company's Bromo Seltzer.

Captain Hans Maulich responds by seizing 50 women from the village and threatening their execution unless the shooter is surrendered.

Mercedes McCambridge, Edgar Barrier, Hans Conried, and Lou Merrill are featured in the cast.

The play had first been heard the previous year on NBC's Plays for Americans as a wartime message for the Treasury Department.

Ladies and gentlemen, Lights Out, Execution.

And now, Mr. Oberler, can you tell us a little about next week's story?

Well, before I do that, I'd like to personally thank the Ironized Yeast folks for giving me the opportunity of presenting this play to you tonight.

A word of thanks, too, to Edgar Barrier and Mercedes McCambridge, and to Hans Conried and Lou Merrill.

As to next week, well, if you've ever wished on a star, listen in, for the play has the provocative title of The Heavenly Jeep.