This page is sponsored by:
Cornel Wilde
1915-1989
Updated 5/1/2008 with more films available on DVD.
biography
Born in New York in October 1915 to Hungarian immigrants, handsome Cornel Wilde gave up the chance to be an Olympic athlete when he chose acting over fencing in the 1930s. His fencing expertise would later come in handy when starting his acting career. As a college student Wilde studied medicine but abandoned the field when his interest in acting took over. Not long afterward, he married actress Patricia Knight, in 1937. Wilde toiled in the legitimate theatre for a few years and then went to Hollywood, where he soon was put under contract to Warner Bros. The studio gave Wilde smaller parts in several films but dropped his option in 1941. Wilde then signed with 20th Century-Fox, where he was cast as the lead in a number of swashbucklers and film noir thrillers.
LEFT: Studio photo of Cornel Wilde. RIGHT: With second wife Jean Wallace
Proving popular with audiences, Cornel Wilde starred in a number of Fox's A and B productions in the 1940s through the early 1950s. His marriage to Knight ended in divorce, and he later married actress Jean Wallace. Around the time of his second marriage, Wilde's contract with Fox lapsed; rather than signing with another studio, he elected to freelance. In the mid 1950s, Wilde started Theodora Productions, a film production company. From the mid 1950s on, he often produced and directed and sometimes wrote his own films, including Storm Fear (1955; with Dan Duryea and Lee Grant), Maracaibo (1958; with Michael Landon and Abbe Lane), and The Naked Prey (1966), in which Wilde sometimes cast his wife Jean Wallace. In addition to starring in his own productions, Wilde continued freelancing for other studios.
the films of cornel wilde
A Thousand and One Nights (1945)
From the comedic Columbia adventure A Thousand and One Nights. LEFT: On the set with Evelyn Keyes and her yo-yo. CENTER: With Adele Jergens. RIGHT: With Phil Silvers
Forever Amber (1947)
Wilde in his dressing room during the shooting of Forever Amber
Suspense (CBS radio series, 1950)
Press photo from the December 28, 1950 CBS radio broadcast of Suspense, episode A Ring for Marya
At Sword's Point (1952)
From RKO's At Sword's Point
Woman's World (1954)
With Lauren Bacall in the 20th Century Fox release Woman's World
Beyond Mombasa (1956)
From the Columbia adventure flick Beyond Mombasa with Donna Reed
Hot Blood (1956)
With Jane Russell in the Columbia musical Hot Blood
Omar Khayyam (1957)
Maracaibo (1958)
With Jean Wallace in the drama Maracaibo, which was produced and directed by Cornel Wilde
Lancelot and Guinevere (1963)
Wilde looks remarkably youthful as Sir Lancelot in the adventure Lancelot and Guinevere, which was directed by Cornel Wilde
The Naked Prey (1966)
From Wilde's thrilling adventure The Naked Prey. Shot mostly in South Africa, this film was directed by Wilde on a budget of $900,000
Sharks' Treasure (1975)
Lobby card from Sharks' Treasure with Yaphet Kotto
later years
As Wilde's film career slowed in the early 1960s, he turned to television, acting as occasional host for NBC's Kraft Mystery Theater. In 1963, he joined the cast of the series The Greatest Show on Earth, based on the 1952 film of the same name in which Wilde had starred. The hour-long show survived only one season. After this series was canceled, he made perhaps his best film, producing and directing the 1966 release The Naked Prey, shot in South Africa to save on production costs. Wilde followed up this film with the war picture Beach Red (1967) but appeared only sporadically in films through the late 1970s, when he retired. Sadly, Cornel Wilde passed away at age 74 in 1989.
High Sierra [DVD](1941) DVD
Humphrey Bogart is world-weary gangster "Mad Dog" Earle, recently released from prison, who hooks up with two young toughs for a jewel heist. But when his "final job" backfires, Earle finds himself hiding out in California's Sierra Mountains, in this classic crime drama. With Ida Lupino, Alan Curtis, Joan Leslie. 101 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; "making of" featurette; theatrical trailer.
Leave Her To Heaven [DVD](1945) DVD
A glossy and film noir-flavored melodrama fueled by Gene Tierney's performance as a calculating woman whose pathological jealousy drives her to cause her own miscarriage and even murder in order to have husband Cornel Wilde all to herself. With Jeanne Crain, Vincent Price, Darryl Hickman. 110 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English stereo, mono, Spanish mono, French mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; photo gallery; theatrical trailer; featurette; premiere footage.
The Greatest Show On Earth [DVD](1952) DVD
Ladies and gentlemen...Welcome to Cecil B. DeMille's Oscar-winning look at life under the big top. See lion-tamers and acrobats! Be amazed at death-defying stunts and incredible train wrecks! Witness superb acting by Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Cornel Wilde, Betty Hutton, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame, Lawrence Tierney! 152 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English.
Passion [DVD](1954) DVD
Rancher Cornel Wilde, accompanied by the twin sister of his murdered wife (both played by Yvonne De Carlo), sets out to tack down the outlaws responsible in this frontier thriller. Lon Chaney, Jr., Raymond Burr and Rodolfo Acosta also star. 84 min. Standard; Soundtrack: Dolby Digital mono; biographies; theatrical trailer; scene access.
The Big Combo [DVD](1955) DVD
Downbeat "noir" thriller whose violence raised a few eyebrows upon the film's release. Cornel Wilde plays a dedicated cop out to bring down crime boss Richard Conte who gets involved with icy blonde Jean Wallace, Conte's mistress. With Brian Donlevy, Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman. 88 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; scene access.
Constantine And The Cross [DVD](1962) DVD
Lavish historical saga stars Cornel Wilde as Constantine, who uses his military expertise to eventually become Emperor of Rome, and who was led by a vision to convert to Christianity and end the Roman persecution of the Church. With Christine Kaufmann, Belinda Lee. 120 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
The Sword Of Lancelot [DVD](1963) DVD
Grand-scale battles shot on location throughout England highlight this sword-swinging saga based on the Arthurian legend. Sir Lancelot (Cornel Wilde) must choose between his love for Guinevere and his loyalty to the king. 116 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo.
The Naked Prey [DVD](1966) DVD
Thrilling adventure classic stars Cornel Wilde as a safari guide in Africa who is captured by a warrior tribe. Stripped of his weapons and clothes, hunter becomes hunted in a desperate race for survival. Co-written and directed by Wilde; with Gert Van den Bergh, Ken Gampu, Patrick Mynhardt. 96 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; audio commentary; interview; theatrical trailer; more.
Beach Red [DVD](1967) DVD
Cornel Wilde produced, directed, co-wrote, and stars in this gritty and honest World War II tale that intercuts poignant flashbacks with intense battle scenes to illustrate the horrors of war experienced by a squad of Marines, and their Japanese counterparts, as they face one another on a small island in the Pacific. Rip Torn, Burr DeBenning, Patrick Wolfe also star. 104 min. Standard and Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.
The Fifth Musketeer [DVD](1979) DVD
In actuality an exciting, swashbuckling reworking of Alexandre Dumas' "The Man in the Iron Mask." Beau Bridges takes on a dual role as two royal brothers involved in romance, adventure and swordplay in 17th-century France. Sylvia Kristel, Cornel Wilde, Alan Hale, Jr., Ursula Andress, Rex Harrison co-star. 104 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital Surround.
filmography
Flesh and Bullets (1985) with Yvonne De Carlo, Aldo Ray, and Cesar Romero
The Fifth Musketeer (1979) with Sylvia Kristel, Ursula Andress, Beau Bridges, and Lloyd Bridges
The Norseman (1978) with Lee Majors, Jack Elam, and Denny Miller
Sharks' Treasure (1975) with Yaphet Kotto
Gargoyles (1972) with Grayson Hall, Bernie Casey, Scott Glenn, and Jennifer Salt
The Comic (1969) with Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney
Beach Red (1967) with Rip Torn and Jean Wallace
The Naked Prey (1966) directed by Cornel Wilde
Lancelot and Guinevere (1963) with Jean Wallace and Brian Aherne; directed by Cornel Wilde
Constantine and the Cross (1962) with Massimo Serato
Edge of Eternity (1959) with Mickey Shaughnessy, Jack Elam, and Dabbs Greer
Maracaibo (1958) with Jean Wallace, Abbe Lane, and Michael Landon
The Devil's Hairpin (1957) with Jean Wallace and Mary Astor
Omar Khayyam (1957) with Debra Paget, Michael Rennie, Raymond Massey, and John Derek
Beyond Mombasa (1956) with Donna Reed and Christopher Lee
Hot Blood (1956) with Jane Russell
Storm Fear (1956) with Jean Wallace, Dan Duryea, and Lee Grant
The Scarlet Coat (1955) with Anne Francis, George Sanders, and Michael Wilding
The Big Combo (1955) with Brian Donlevy, Richard Conte, Lee Van Cleef, and Jean Wallace
Passion (1954) with Yvonne De Carlo, Lon Chaney Jr., and Raymond Burr
Woman's World (1954) with Arlene Dahl, Fred MacMurray, Clifton Webb, Van Heflin, Lauren Bacall, and June Allyson
Saadia (1953) with Mel Ferrer and Rita Gam
Star of India (1953) with Jean Wallace and Herbert Lom
Main Street to Broadway (1953) with Agnes Moorehead, Herb Shriner, Rosemary DeCamp, and dozens of cameos
Treasure of the Golden Condor (1953) with Anne Bancroft, George Macready, Leo G. Carroll, and Fay Wray
Operation Secret (1952) with Steve Cochran, Phyllis Thaxter, and Anthony Eisley
California Conquest (1952) with Teresa Wright and Lisa Ferraday
At Sword's Point (1952) with Maureen O'Hara and Nancy Gates
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) with Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Betty Hutton, and Dorothy Lamour
Two Flags West (1950) with Joseph Cotten, Linda Darnell, and Jeff Chandler
Swiss Tour (1949) with Simone Signoret
Shockproof (1949) with Patricia Knight
The Walls of Jericho (1948) with Linda Darnell, Anne Baxter, and Kirk Douglas
Road House (1948) with Ida Lupino and Celeste Holm
The Homestretch (1947) with Maureen O'Hara and Glenn Langan
Stairway for a Star (1947)
It Had to Be You (1947) with Ginger Rogers and Spring Byington
Forever Amber (1947) with Linda Darnell, George Sanders, John Russell, Glenn Langan, and Anne Revere
Centennial Summer (1946) with Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, and Constance Bennett
The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946) with Edgar Buchanan and George Macready
Leave Her to Heaven (1945) with Gene Tierney, Jeanne Crain, and Vincent Price
A Thousand and One Nights (1945) with Evelyn Keyes, Phil Silvers, Adele Jergens, and Shelley Winters
A Song to Remember (1945) with Paul Muni and Merle Oberon
Wintertime (1943) with Sonja Henie, Cesar Romero, Carole Landis, and Jack Oakie
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty (1942) with Monty Woolley and Ida Lupino
Manila Calling (1942) with Lloyd Nolan and Carole Landis
Kisses for Breakfast (1941) with Dennis Morgan and Jane Wyatt
The Perfect Snob (1941) with Charlotte Greenwood, Charles Ruggles, and Lynn Bari
Knockout (1941) with Arthur Kennedy and Anthony Quinn
High Sierra (1941) with Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino
TELEVISION SERIES
The Greatest Show on Earth, 1963-1964 ABC TV series
Kraft Mystery Theater, 1961 NBC TV series
Click on the logo to go back to Brian's Drive-In Theater
This page premiered March 13, 2003.
Copyright and Disclaimer Information
