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Alex Nicol
1916-2001
Updated 7/19/2007 with more films available on DVD.
biography
Born in Ossining, New York, in January 1916 (some sources cite January 1919), character actor Alex Nicol acted in a number of stage productions from the 1930s through the mid 1950s. Acting both on and off Broadway, some of the Broadway productions in which he appeared include King Richard II and South Pacific. He also portrayed Brick in the Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, replacing Ben Gazzara in late 1955. After more than ten years of acting onstage, Nicol signed with Universal-International in 1950 and acted in his first film, The Sleeping City (1950; with Coleen Gray and Richard Conte).
Early 1950s Universal-International photo of Alex Nicol
Nicol acted in numerous westerns while at Universal, including Lone Hand (1953; with Joel McCrea and Barbara Hale) and Dawn at Socorro (1954; with Rory Calhoun and Piper Laurie). When he left Universal in 1955, Nicol freelanced thereafter. He started a second career as a director with the horror film The Screaming Skull (1958; with John Hudson and Peggy Webber). And he also directed some television show episodes in the 1960s, including Tarzan (1966-1969; with Ron Ely) and The Wild, Wild West (1965-1969; with Robert Conrad).
the films of alex nicol
Target Unknown (1951)
Images from the Universal-International war flick Target Unknown. LEFT: With James Best. RIGHT: With Malú Gatica
Meet Danny Wilson (1952)
From Universal-International's musical drama Meet Danny Wilson. LEFT: With Frank Sinatra and Raymond Burr. RIGHT: With Shelley Winters
Champ for a Day (1953)
Poster from the Republic drama Champ for a Day
Lone Hand (1953)
From the Universal-International western Lone Hand with Joel McCrea and James Arness
The Redhead From Wyoming (1953)
As Sheriff Blaine in the colorful Universal-International western The Redhead From Wyoming
Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Nicol portrayed gunfighter Jimmy Rapp in Universal-International's Dawn at Socorro
Heat Wave (1954)
With Hillary Brooke in the British-made film noir release Heat Wave
The Screaming Skull (1958)
Peggy Webber is frightened by The Screaming Skull, released by American International. This film marks Alex Nicol's debut as a director, and he also portrays Mickey the caretaker. This film once aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000
Look in Any Window (1961)
With Carole Mathews in the Allied Artists potboiler Look in Any Window
Then There Were Three (1961)
With Frank Latimore in the low-budget war flick Then There Were Three, directed by Alex Nicol
The Savage Guns (1962)
Maria Granada tries to stop Alex Nicol from killing Richard Basehart in this scene from the western The Savage Guns, released by MGM
Point of Terror (1971)
Poster from the horror flick Point of Terror, the final film directed by Alex Nicol
later years
With film roles getting fewer and farther between in the 1960s, Nicol headed to Europe, where he acted in several westerns. His film career slowed considerably in the late 1960s; his last film was Woman in the Rain (1976; with Ron Masak and Barbara Luna). Afterward, he retired from acting.
Alex Nicol passed away in July 2001 and was survived by his wife and three children.
The Redhead From Wyoming [DVD](1953) DVD
Lovely Maureen O'Hara takes the rustling rap for a slimy politician, but when he goes too far and starts a range war, she tries to organize a group of settlers to stop him. Alex Nicol, Robert Strauss, William Bishop and a young Dennis Weaver also star in this exciting sagebrush story. 81 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: Spanish, French; theatrical trailer.
Law And Order [DVD](1953) DVD
Western drama stars Ronald Reagan as a marshal looking to retire with lady love Dorothy Malone, but forced to strap on his six-irons one last time to free a frontier town from the grip of outlaw leader Preston Foster, the man responsible for Reagan's brother's death. 80 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: Spanish, French; theatrical trailer.
Law And Order(1953) VHS
Western drama stars Ronald Reagan as a marshal looking to retire with lady love Dorothy Malone, but forced to strap on his six-irons one last time to free a frontier town from the grip of outlaw leader Preston Foster, the man responsible for Reagan's brother's death. 80 min. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.
The Black Glove (1954)/The Deadly Game (1955) [DVD] DVD
"The Black Glove" is an early Hammer Studios suspenser concerning an American jazzman accused of slaying his girl singer and his race to uncover the person responsible. Intriguing effort stars Alex Nicol, Eleanor Summerfield. AKA: "Face the Music." And, Lloyd Bridges is an ex-GI living in Spain who's been accused of murdering a former Army buddy in order to obtain secret microfilm and betraying his country. With no one to turn to, Bridges must clear his name on his own, in "The Deadly Game." With Finlay Currie and Simone Silva. AKA: "Third Party Risk." Standard/Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; biographies; trivia; photo gallery; theatrical trailers.
Hammer Film Noir Double Feature Collector's Set 1 [DVD] DVD
Three-disc set includes "Bad Blonde," "Man Bait," "A Stolen Face," "Blackout" (1954), "The Gambler and the Lady," and "Heatwave" (1954).
Heatwave [VHS](1954) VHS
British crime story stars Hilary Brooke as an unscrupulous seductress who becomes bored with her wealthy husband and their resort idyll, and makes local writer Alex Nicol her newest challenge. 69 min.
The Man From Laramie [DVD](1955) DVD
The final "adult western" to be made by director Anthony Mann and star James Stewart in their mid-'50s collaboration, with Stewart searching for the gunrunners responsible for his brother's death. His quest leads him into the middle of a range war and a bitter power struggle between the sons of a ranchlord. Arthur Kennedy, Donald Crisp, Aline MacMahon co-star. 104 min. Widescreen and Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby 4.0 and Dolby Surround, Spanish; Subtitles: English, Chinese, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai; production notes; trailer. NOTE: This Title Is Out Of Print; Limit One Per Customer.
Stranger In Town [VHS](1957) VHS
A journalist investigating the murder of a fellow American and composer in an English village uncovers a sordid blackmail scheme. Alex Nicol and Anne Paige star. 73 min.
TV Guide Horror Classics: The Screaming Skull (1958)/Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter [DVD](1965) DVD
"The Screaming Skull" is a macabre shocker about a young newlywed and former asylum patient who moves into the mansion her husband shared with his dead first wife. She soon begins seeing a skull wherever she goes. Is she still insane, or is there a more sinister answer? John Hudson, Peggy Webber star. Then, in "Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter," it's actually the infamous mad doctor's granddaughter who makes a monster out of Jesse's buddy and sends "Igor" after his gunslinger pal. John Lupton and Narda Onyx play the title roles in director William Beaudine's sublimely silly sagebrush shocker. 153 min. total.
The Screaming Skull(1958) VHS
Macabre shocker about a young newlywed and former asylum patient who moves into the mansion her husband shared with his dead first wife. She soon begins seeing a skull wherever she goes. Is she still insane, or is there a more sinister answer? John Hudson, Peggy Webber star. 68 min.
Then There Were Three [VHS](1961) VHS
Six GIs in Europe loose track of fellow members of their troop and allow a stranger to join them as they search for the lost soldiers. Little do they realize that the stranger is actually a Nazi spy with orders to kill an underground leader. Frank Latimore, Alex Nichol and Sidney Clute star. 74 min.
A Matter Of WHO [DVD](1962) DVD
Terry-Thomas stars in this offbeat farce as a U.N. health investigator trying to track down the source of a smallpox epidemic. Things get complicated when he meets an unscrupulous oilman based in the Middle East. Alex Nicol, Sonja Ziemann and Honor Blackman also star. 92 min. Soundtrack: English.
A Matter Of WHO [VHS](1962) VHS
Terry-Thomas stars in this offbeat farce as a U.N. health investigator trying to track down the source of a smallpox epidemic. Things get complicated when he meets an unscrupulous oilman based in the Middle East. Alex Nichol, Sonja Ziemann and Honor Blackman also star. 92 min.
Ride And Kill [VHS](1964) VHS
In this guns-a-blazing shoot-'em-up, Tombstone is being threatened by a group of the town's movers and shakers, who hire outlaws to collect protection money from its citizens. After the sheriff is killed, the town drunk is named its lawman as a joke. But when the new sheriff cleans up his act, look out, bad guys! Alex Nicol, Claudio Hundar star.
Point Of Terror [VHS](1971) VHS
A handsome young singer and the bored wife of an invalid music producer plan a perfect crime, only to unleash a vengeance from beyond the grave. Nerve-numbing terror. Stars Peter Carpenter, Dyanne Thorne, Lory Hansen and Leslie Simms. Directed by Alex Nicol. 88 min. total.
Huckleberry Finn [VHS](1975) VHS
Ron Howard has the title role in this musical version of the Twain classic, which expands on the stories in the book. Also stars Jack Elam, Donny Most and a special appearance by Royal Dano as Mark Twain. 74 min.
Winner Take All [DVD](1975) DVD
Shirley Jones hopes to have a happy second marriage, but her gambling habit eventually gets in the way. Asked to withdraw $30,000 from the bank by husband Laurence Luckinbill, Jones goes on a gambling spree that threatens her marriage and herself. With Sam Groom, Joyce Van Patten. 97 min.
APE [DVD](1976) DVD
He's 36-feet of killer, a hairy, rampaging ape who can destroy large ships and battle killer sharks. The monstrous monkey escapes from a freighter, snags a movie starlet (played by Joanna Kerns, then named Joanna De Varona) and wreaks havoc on the Korean Army. "When this ape die, everybody cry." Rod Arrants also stars. AKA: "A*P*E." 87 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
out-of-print alex nicol vhs available from amazon.com
filmography
Woman in the Rain (1976) with Ron Masak and Mary Frann
APE (1976) with Joanna Kerns
Huckleberry Finn (1975) with Ron Howard, Donny Most, Antonio Fargas, Jack Elam, Merle Haggard, and Clint Howard
Winner Take All (1975) with Shirley Jones, Laurence Luckinbill, Sam Groom, Joyce Van Patten, Joan Blondell, and Sylvia Sidney
The Clones (1974) with Michael Greene, Gregory Sierra, and John Drew Barrymore
The Night God Screamed (1971) with Jeanne Crain
Homer (1970) with Don Scardino and Tisa Farrow
Bloody Mama (1970) with Shelley Winters, Pat Hingle, Don Stroud, Diane Varsi, Bruce Dern, Robert De Niro, and Robert Walden
Manila, Open City (1968) with John Ashley and James Shigeta
Relevo para un pistolero (1964) with Silvia Solar
Ride and Kill (1964)
Gunfighters of Casa Grande (1964)
Run with the Devil (1963) with Yvonne Furneaux
The Savage Guns (1962) with Richard Basehart and Fernando Rey
A Matter of WHO (1962) with Terry-Thomas and Honor Blackman
Then There Were Three (1961) with Frank Latimore
Look in Any Window (1961) with Paul Anka , Ruth Roman, Gigi Perreau, Carole Mathews, George Dolenz, and Jack Cassidy
Everybody Go Home (1960) with Martin Balsam
Under Ten Flags (1960) with Van Heflin, Charles Laughton, and John Ericson
5 Branded Women (1960) with Jeanne Moreau, Vera Miles, Barbara Bel Geddes, Van Heflin, Richard Basehart, and Steve Forrest
The Screaming Skull (1958) with John Hudson, Peggy Webber, and Russ Conway; directed by Alex Nicol. Once aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000
Stranger in Town (1957)
Great Day in the Morning (1956) with Virginia Mayo, Robert Stack, Ruth Roman, Raymond Burr, Leo Gordon, and Regis Toomey
Sincerely Yours (1955) with Liberace, Joanne Dru, Dorothy Malone, William Demarest, Lurene Tuttle, Lori Nelson, Edward Platt, and Guy Williams
The Man from Laramie (1955) with James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, and Cathy O'Donnell
Strategic Air Command (1955) with James Stewart, June Allyson, Barry Sullivan, Bruce Bennett, and Rosemary DeCamp
The Gilded Cage (1954)
Dawn at Socorro (1954) with Rory Calhoun, Piper Laurie, David Brian, Kathleen Hughes, Edgar Buchanan, Mara Corday, Lee Van Cleef, and Richard Garland
About Mrs. Leslie (1954) with Shirley Booth, Robert Ryan, and Philip Ober
Heat Wave (1954) with Hillary Brooke
Face the Music (1954)
Champ for a Day (1953) with Audrey Totter and Hope Emerson
Law and Order (1953) with Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Malone, Russell Johnson, Jack Kelly, and Dennis Weaver
Lone Hand (1953) with Joel McCrea, Barbara Hale, and Charles Drake
The Redhead From Wyoming (1953) with Maureen O'Hara, Gregg Palmer, Jack Kelly, Jeanne Cooper, and Dennis Weaver
Because of You (1952) with Loretta Young, Jeff Chandler, and Frances Dee
Red Ball Express (1952) with Jeff Chandler, Charles Drake, Sidney Poitier, Hugh O'Brian, Gregg Palmer, John Hudson, and Jack Kelly
Meet Danny Wilson (1952) with Frank Sinatra, Shelley Winters, and Raymond Burr
The Raging Tide (1951) with Shelley Winters, Richard Conte, Stephen McNally, and Charles Bickford
Air Cadet (1951) with Stephen McNally, Gail Russell, Richard Long, Charles Drake, Rock Hudson, Peggie Castle, and James Best
Target Unknown (1951) with Mark Stevens, Gig Young, Joyce Holden, and James Best
Tomahawk (1951) with Van Heflin, Yvonne De Carlo, Preston Foster, Rock Hudson, and Susan Cabot
The Sleeping City (1950) with Richard Conte, Coleen Gray, and Peggy Dow
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This page premiered August 25, 2004.
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