Cleo Moore (1924-1973)

biography

Born Cleouna Moore in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on October 31, 1924 (some sources cite 1923, 1928, and 1930 as her year of birth), lovely actress Cleo Moore made her way to Hollywood in the late 1940s. Her first film appearance was in the 15-chapter Columbia serial Congo Bill in 1948. To supplement her fledgling movie career, Moore modeled extensively and was the subject of numerous cheesecake photographs. Prior to her film career, in 1944 Moore was married to the son of Louisiana governor Huey Long, but the union lasted just a few weeks. Interestingly, in 1954 Moore announced her intention to run for the governorship of Louisiana but never followed through with it.

Cleo Moore made her film debut in the 15-chapter Columbia serial Congo Bill in 1948. By 1950, she had become a starlet at RKO Studios, which installed her in several film noir classics, such as This Side of the Law and Gambling House. She also appeared in two 1950 short-feature westerns with Tim Holt: Dynamite Pass and Rio Grande Patrol. By 1950, her film career was in full swing, as she made six appearances in films that year. However, her roles were mostly small ones until she landed a contract with Columbia Studios in 1952. Moore landed starring roles in a series of low budget Columbia film, beginning with Strange Fascination in 1952. She made a number of pictures at Columbia, often directed by and co-starring Hugo Haas.

At Columbia, Cleo Moore finally had starring roles in films, although her films with Haas were of a lower budget than the ones she made at RKO. However, the films directed by Haas gave Moore her "bad girl" reputation in films for which she is fondly remembered today. Along with Strange Fascination, Haas directed her in Thy Neighbor's Wife (1953), One Girl's Confession (1953), The Other Woman (1954), Bait (1954), Hold Back Tomorrow (1955), and Hit and Run (1957). Moore's "bad girl" persona got her a plum role in possibly her best film, Women's Prison (1955).

the films of cleo moore

Strange Fascination (1952)

One Girl's Confession (1953)

Bait (1954)

The Other Woman (1954)

Hold Back Tomorrow (1955)

Women's Prison (1955)

Over-Exposed (1956)

Hit and Run (1957)

the cleo moore gallery

later years

With the death of the studio system in the late 1950s, like many other actors Cleo Moore was released from her contract in 1956. Moore's last film was the campy film noir thriller Hit and Run (1957; with Vince Edwards). In late 1959, Moore was seriously injured in a car wreck in Los Angeles. The injuries to her neck and spine required her to be in traction for three months. Fully recuperated, she married her second husband in 1961 and settled in to the role of wife and mother with the birth of her daughter in 1963. Sadly, Moore passed away on October 25, 1973, at age 48 from a heart attack. She was survived by her husband, Herbert Heftler, her daughter, and her sister, actress Mara Lea.

cleo moore films available from movies unlimited

Tim Holt Western Classics Collection, Vol. 3 [DVD] DVD
Cowhand Holt tries to stop a lynch-happy ranch foreman from inciting a range war in "Storm Over Wyoming" (1950). Richard Martin, Noreen Nash co-star. When a blackmail over a gold mine claim leads to double-crosses, Tim rides to keep peace in "Rider from Tucson" (1950). Martin, Veda Ann Borg co-star. Tim must stop the owlhoots after an earthquake relief fund in "Border Treasure" (1950). With Inez Cooper. Tim goes after smugglers with the "Rio Grande Patrol" (1950). With Cleo Moore. Counterfeiters best beware when Texas Ranger Tim enforces the "Law of the Badlands" (1951). With Joan Dixon. Holt must stop a phony inspector's cattle swindle in "Saddle Legion" (1951). With Dorothy Malone. Holt must discover why a dead man's son is covering for a killer in "Gunplay" (1951). Dixon co-stars. To help an ex-con escape blackmailing buddies, Holt serves up "Hot Lead" (1951). With John Dehner. Tim next plays the "Road Agent" (1952) facing down a landowner overcharging for right-of-way. Lastly, Holt takes on a corrupt land agent in "Target" (1952). 10 hrs. total on five discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
Bright Leaf [DVD](1950) DVD
Directed by Michael Curtiz ("Casablanca"), this romantic drama set in 1894 stars Gary Cooper as a businessman who returns to his Southern hometown years after he was banished by an area tobacco tycoon. Determined to succeed and re-establish his family's reputation, he announces his plans to produce cigarettes as beauties Lauren Bacall and Patricia Neal vie for his affections. Jack Carson, Donald Crisp co-star. 110 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 3 [DVD] DVD
A Mexican and an American agent team up to take on a California rancher who's been exploiting illegal Mexican farmworkers, in "Border Incident" (1949). Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy star. A professional gambler (Robert Mitchum) and a beautiful singer (Jane Russell) get caught up in a deported crime lord's plan to get back into the U.S., in "His Kind of Woman" (1951). With Vincent Price, Raymond Burr. "YOU look into the gun of a fear-maddened killer" in "Lady in the Lake" (1947), director/star Robert Montgomery's "subjective camera" adaptation of the Raymond Chandler mystery about Detective Philip Marlowe's return to sleuthing. "On Dangerous Ground" (1952) focuses on a hardened New York cop (Robert Ryan) who softens up when he meets a compassionate blind girl (Ida Lupino)...the sister of a murder suspect. "The Racket" (1951) depicts the struggle between the police and the gang of racketeers they hope to put out of business. Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Lizabeth Scott star. Also included in this six-disc set is the documentary "Film Noir: Bringing Darkness Into Light." 8 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English; audio commentary; bonus shorts "Women in Hiding" (1940), "You, The People" (1940); more.
The Pace That Thrills [DVD](1952) DVD
In this vintage actioner, a womanizing cyclist addicted to chasing thrills finds himself in a heart-stopping love triangle when a beautiful reporter struggles to choose between him and an engineer working for the same motorcycle company. But can he possibly put aside his reckless ways and pursue a relationship with the beauty? Bill Williams, Carla Balenda, Robert Armstrong star. 63 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English. Plays All Regions.
Bad Girls Of Film Noir, Vol. 2 [DVD] DVD
A "Night Editor" (1946) of a busy newspaper passes the time by relating the ripping crime yarn of a cop (William Gargan) whose affair with a beautiful woman (Janis Carter) gets complicated when they both witness a murder. With Jeff Donnell, Coulter Irwin. What's "One Girl's Confession" (1953) worth? A lot, when it's by a waitress (Cleo Moore) with a bead on $25,000. With Hugo Haas, Glenn Langan. The supervisor (Ida Lupino) of a "Women's Prison" (1955) uses her inadequacy with men as an excuse to torment her prisoners. Jan Sterling, Phyllis Thaxter co-star. An ambitious female photographer (Cleo Moore) gets seriously "Over-Exposed" (1956) after snapping a shot that eventually gets her in hot water with the mob. With Richard Crenna, Raymond Greenleaf. 5 hrs. total on two discs. Standard/Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English (SDH); theatrical trailers; bonus "All Star Theatre" episode.

cleo moore photos and posters available

filmography

FILM
Hit and Run (1957) with Vince Edwards and Hugo Haas
Over-Exposed (1956) with Richard Crenna
Hold Back Tomorrow (1955) with John Agar
Women's Prison (1955) with Ida Lupino and Jan Sterling
Bait (1954) with John Agar, Hugo Haas, and Bruno VeSota
The Other Woman (1954) with Lance Fuller and Hugo Haas
One Girl's Confession (1953) with Russ Conway and Glenn Langan
Thy Neighbor's Wife (1953) with Hugo Haas
The Pace That Thrills (1952) with Bill Williams and Robert Armstrong
Strange Fascination (1952) with Karen Sharpe and Hugo Haas
On Dangerous Ground (1951) with Ida Lupino and Robert Ryan
Gambling House (1951) with Victor Mature, Terry Moore, William Bendix, and Ann Doran
Hunt the Man Down (1950) with Gerald Mohr and Gig Young
Dynamite Pass (1950) with Tim Holt
Rio Grande Patrol (1950) with Tim Holt and Tom Tyler
This Side of the Law (1950) with Viveca Lindfors and Nita Talbot
Bright Leaf (1950)
Congo Bill (1948) with Don McGuire and Armida

cleo moore links

Cleo Moore: B Movie Queen
This website honors 1950s B movie star Cleo Moore and includes photos, a filmography, and Moore's obituary.

Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen: Cleo Moore
Visit the Glamour Girls site for an interesting biography of Cleo Moore.