One of the unexpected pleasures of tracking down the occasional appearances of CJ-3B Jeeps in Hollywood movies, is stumbling onto the almost-forgotten stories of the people who made some of these almost-forgotten films.
For example, here's a movie I'd never heard of, but which was actually something of a landmark for its cinematographer. And it was one of the career highpoints for an actress who was better known for her romances than her movie roles.
Machete! (1958) was one of the last films photographed by pioneering cameraman Karl Struss (who won the first Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 1927, for the film Sunrise.) Struss had been collaborating regularly with director Kurt Neumann in the 1940's and 50's, including on the original 1958 version of The Fly. When Neumann died shortly after the premiere of The Fly and prior to the release of Machete!, Karl Struss retired from photographing feature films, and for the remainder of his career shot only television commercials.
Albert Dekker (left) starred as Don Luis Montoya, the wealthy, elderly sugar plantation owner who returns from New York to Puerto Rico with his young bride Jean. Lee Van Cleef (right) played the villain as usual, in this case Luis' cousin Miguel who stirs up trouble by telling Luis that his young wife is involved with Carlos, the handsome plantation manager.
When Federico Cavedo found this production still, showing a Willys CJ-3B, I looked forward to getting a chance to see the film.
The other star billing went to Mari Blanchard (100K JPEG) as the young wife Jean. Mari Blanchard's interesting life is summarized in Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen, which describes how she contracted polio at the age of 9 in 1936, then swam daily for years, to exercise her once-paralyzed limbs. After running away to join the circus, she studied law at UCLA and USC, meanwhile also pursuing a modelling career. In 1948 she was spotted by cartoonist Al Capp and became the inspiration for Stupefyin' Jones (80K JPEG) in his Li'l Abner comic strip, and then was signed by Paramount in Hollywood.
About the time that Willys unveiled the CJ-3B Jeep, Mari Blanchard was chosen "Miss Click of 1953; the girl we'd most like to train our lens on," by the Hollywood Cameramen's Guild. She became a gossip column staple, linked to single and married Hollywood men including George Raft and Mel Tormé. She mostly landed guest spots on TV series, but her movie roles also included She Devil (1957) and McLintock! (1963). Unfortunately she died of cancer in 1970 at the age of 43.
A review by John Howard Reid at IMDb.com says, "The script of Machete! is remarkably silly, even though it does offer Miss Blanchard the chance to play the femme fatale enthusiastically. Alas, the rest of the players are wasted; and a number of gratuitous musical numbers do little to enliven audience interest. On the other hand, the location photography by Karl Struss is a definite asset."
And of course a high-hood Jeep appearance is also always an asset.
Update: Machete! has been available for a while now on YouTube. Federico grabbed frames to show some of the appearances of the Jeep, which is Miguel's transportation around the plantation. Don Luis' ride is the 1956 Cadillac Series 62 convertible.
Like the Caddy, the CJ-3B looks almost brand new, and is equipped with a full Willys canvas top. Not surprisingly, since the film was shot on location in tropical Puerto Rico, there are no doors. Despite the fact that only the one Jeep appears in the film, it has the number "77" painted on the hood and windshield. Maybe a rental?
Ruth Cains, playing young Carlos' girlfriend Rita, jumps out of the Willys in this shot. Mari Blanchard never appears with the Jeep.
The main action sequence takes place at night, in the last few minutes of the film, as the sugar cane stubble is burned and Carlos and Miguel face off in a short machete duel. The Jeep arrives in a "day for night" shot (filmed on a sunny day and underexposed to appear dark.)
Thanks to Federico Cavedo for spotting the CJ-3B in this film. -- Derek Redmond
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