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Arlene Dahl
1928-
Updated 8/6/2007.
biography
Stunning redhead Arlene Dahl was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in August 1928 (some sources list 1924 as her year of birth). Early on, Dahl cultivated an interest in acting, and after completing high school she supported herself by working as a department store model. By the mid 1940s, she had made her way to Broadway, and in 1946 she signed a contract with Warner Bros. Her tenure at Warners was short-lived, with her only role coming in the 1947 release My Wild Irish Rose. However, the following year she went to MGM, where she was soon cast in such films as A Southern Yankee (1948; with Red Skelton and Brian Donlevy) and No Questions Asked (1951; with Barry Sullivan).
LEFT: Late 1940s MGM publicity photo. CENTER and RIGHT: Beautiful cheesecake shots
Married six times, Arlene Dahl's most famous husbands were the first two: Lex Barker (1951-1952) and Fernando Lamas (1954-1960). Dahl's marriages have produced three children, including actor Lorenzo Lamas.
LEFT: With first husband Lex Barker in 1952. RIGHT: With second husband Fernando Lamas in 1957
the films of arlene dahl
Inside Straight (1951)
With David Brian in Inside Straight
Desert Legion (1953)
Stills from the Universal-International adventure flick Desert Legion
Woman's World (1954)
With Van Heflin in Woman's World
Slightly Scarlet (1956)
With Rhonda Fleming in the film-noir thriller Slightly Scarlet
Wicked as They Come (1956)
Dahl as the ruthless Kathy Allen in Wicked as They Come. Also pictured is Philip Carey
Kisses for My President (1964)
Dahl puts the moves on Fred MacMurray in the farce Kisses for My President
Land Raiders (1969)
Struggling with George Maharis in Land Raiders
arlene dahl today
Arlene Dahl graces the cover of this 1954 magazine
Although she was still in demand as an actress, Dahl virtually abandoned her acting career in the late 1950s for the business world. Beginning in 1951, she had written a popular syndicated beauty column. Later in the 1950s, she took it a step further and started a highly successful company that marketed cosmetics and lingerie. In the 1960s and 1970s, she took on relatively few acting roles; however, when her cosmetics company went under in the early 1980s, she went back to acting, taking a recurring role on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. In the early 1990s, Dahl once again retired from the screen, this time to write an astrology column.
So You Wanna Be In Pictures? [VHS] VHS
Topping this collection of starstruck movie shorts is a 1947 entry from the popular ``Joe McDoakes'' series, starring George O'Hanlon as an inept Hollywood hopeful. Also included are ``Calling All Girls,'' a casting plea from Warner Bros.; the celebrity-laden cartoon, ``Hollywood Steps Out''; and Lustre Creme TV ads with Joan Bennett, Arlene Dahl and others. 45 min.
Life With Father [DVD](1947) DVD
Beloved comedy set in turn-of-the-century New York and starring William Powell as the stern but loving head of the Day family. Irene Dunne is his devoted (and long-suffering) wife; with Elizabeth Taylor, Jimmy Lydon, Martin Milner. 118 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English mono; scene access. Plays All Regions.
Life With Father [VHS](1947) VHS
Beloved comedy set in turn-of-the-century New York and starring William Powell as the stern but loving head of the Day family. Irene Dunne is his devoted (and long-suffering) wife; with Elizabeth Taylor, Jimmy Lydon, Martin Milner. 118 min.
The Black Book [DVD](1949) DVD
Lavish and exciting historical epic about the quest for a book containing important information sought by both peasants and aristocrats during the French Revolution. Robert Cummings, Arlene Dahl and Richard Hart star; directed by Anthony Mann ("Winchester '73"). AKA: "Reign of Terror." 84 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English mono. Plays All Regions.
The Black Book [VHS](1949) VHS
Lavish and exciting historical epic about the quest for a book containing important information sought by both peasants and aristocrats during the French Revolution. Robert Cummings, Arlene Dahl and Richard Hart star; directed by Anthony Mann ("Winchester '73"). AKA: "Reign of Terror." 84 min.
Classic Musicals From The Dream Factory [DVD] DVD
Five-disc set includes "Till the Clouds Roll By," "Ziegfeld Follies," "Summer Stock," "Three Little Words," and "It's Always Fair Weather."
Three Little Words [DVD](1950) DVD
Another fine musical bio from MGM stars Fred Astaire and Red Skelton as songwriters Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Numbers include "Who's Sorry Now?," "I Wanna Be Loved by You," "Thinking of You" and the title tune. Vera-Ellen, Keenan Wynn, Debbie Reynolds co-star. 102 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English, French; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; featurette; theatrical trailer.
Slightly Scarlet [DVD](1955) DVD
Intriguing film noir drama (and one of the few of that genre to be shot in color) stars John Payne as a hood working for big-city crime boss Ted de Corsia. Sent to dig up incriminating information on a reform-minded mayoral candidate, Payne falls for the politician's secretary, redhead Rhonda Fleming, and decides to turn in his boss...if he lives that long. With Arlene Dahl, Kent Taylor; based on a James L. Cain novel. 99 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; audio commentary; theatrical trailer; scene access.
Slightly Scarlet [VHS](1955) VHS
Intriguing film noir drama (and one of the few of that genre to be shot in color) stars John Payne as a hood working for big-city crime boss Ted de Corsia. Sent to dig up incriminating information on a reform-minded mayoral candidate, Payne falls for the politician's secretary, redhead Rhonda Fleming, and decides to turn in his boss...if he lives that long. With Arlene Dahl, Kent Taylor; based on a James L. Cain novel. 99 min.
Journey To The Center Of The Earth [DVD](1959) DVD
Action and fantasy deep inside the Earth from the novel by Jules Verne. James Mason, Diane Baker, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl and Thayer David star, as a small band of explorers finds strange animals, underground oceans and fiery volcanoes below the planet's surface. 130 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital Surround, Spanish Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English, Spanish.
Land Raiders [DVD](1969) DVD
Action-packed Western saga with Telly Savalas as an Indian-hating landowner who attempts to take over territory owned by the Apaches. When the Apache decide to reclaim their turf, Savalas finds himself in trouble. George Maharis, Arlene Dahl co-star. 101 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Japanese.
Night Of The Warrior [DVD](1991) DVD
Photographer Lorenzo Lamas pays off a loan to a sleazy fight promoter by entering a brutal martial arts tournament, but when he refuses to fight a Thai kickboxing champ, the promoter kidnaps his girlfriend and frames him for murder. Time to get even. All-out actioner co-stars Kathleen Kinmont, Arlene Dahl and Anthony Geary. 96 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English stereo; trailer.
Broadway: The Golden Age [DVD](2003) DVD
Filmmaker Rick McKay presents this astonishing documentary tribute to the Great White Way. Focusing on Broadway shows and superstars from the 1940s through the 1960s, McKay assembles an assortment of some of the greatest talents ever to grace the stage as they fondly remember the performances that have passed into legend. Includes rare archival footage and appearances by Jerry Orbach, Alec Baldwin, Carol Burnett, Marlon Brando, Elaine Stritch, Angela Lansbury, Arlene Dahl, and many more. AKA: "Broadway: The Movie." 111 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; audio commentary; audio commentary; bonus footage.
filmography
FILM
Night of the Warrior (1991) with Lorenzo Lamas
The Road to Katmandu (1969) with Elsa Martinelli
Land Raiders (1969) with George Maharis, Telly Savalas, Jocelyn Lane, and Guy Rolfe
Les Poneyttes (1967) with Corinne Clery
Kisses for My President (1964) with Fred MacMurray and Polly Bergen
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959) with Pat Boone, James Mason, and Diane Baker
Fortune Is a Woman (1957) with Christopher Lee
Wicked as They Come (1956) with Philip Carey
Slightly Scarlet (1956) with John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, and Lance Fuller
Bengal Brigade (1954) with Rock Hudson
Woman's World (1954) with Van Heflin, Cornel Wilde, and Lauren Bacall
The Diamond Queen (1953) with Michael Ansara, Fernando Lamas, and Gilbert Roland
Jamaica Run (1953) with Ray Milland and Wendell Corey
Here Come the Girls (1953) with Bob Hope and Rosemary Clooney
Sangaree (1953) with Fernando Lamas
Desert Legion (1953) with Alan Ladd and Richard Conte
Caribbean (1952) with John Payne
Inside Straight (1951) with David Brian, Mercedes McCambridge, and Lon Chaney Jr.
No Questions Asked (1951) with Barry Sullivan, Jean Hagen, and Mari Blanchard
The Outriders (1950) with Joel McCrea and Barry Sullivan
Watch the Birdie (1950) with Red Skelton and Ann Miller
Three Little Words (1950) with Fred Astaire and Red Skelton
Ambush (1949) with Robert Taylor and John Hodiak
Reign of Terror (1949) with Robert Cummings and Richard Basehart
Scene of the Crime (1949) with Van Johnson
A Southern Yankee (1948) with Red Skelton, Brian Donlevy, and John Ireland
The Bride Goes Wild (1948) with Van Johnson and June Allyson
My Wild Irish Rose (1947) with Dennis Morgan and George O'Brien
TELEVISION SERIES
One Life to Live, long-running ABC daytime drama. Dahl portrayed Lucinda Schenck Wilson from 1981-1984.
Opening Night, 1958 TV series. Dahl served as the host of this dramatic anthology.
Pepsi-Cola Playhouse, 1953-1955 TV Series. Dahl served as the host of this anthology series during the 1953 season.
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This page premiered June 19, 2002.
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