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Mari Blanchard
1927-1970
Updated 1/27/2008 with more films available on DVD.
biography
Born in April 1927 (some sources cite 1932 as her date of birth), California native Mari Blanchard was a beautiful blonde actress who almost exclusively appeared in B movies. In 1950, Blanchard was discovered by a producer who had seen her in a bubble bath ad. In the late 1940s, Blanchard had been a successful print model and film extra, and her beautiful features made her a natural for films.
Universal-International cheesecake stills of Mari Blanchard
Blanchard soon found success as an actress as well. From 1951 to 1952, she took small roles in a number of films at MGM, RKO, and Paramount, until she was signed by Universal-International in 1952. Her first film at the studio was Back at the Front (1952; with Tom Ewell and Harvey Lembeck). Throughout her film career, Blanchard excelled at playing bad girls and ladies of ill-repute. She concentrated her efforts primarily in comedies and westerns but acted in a variety of film genres. In the early to mid 1950s, she dated a string of men, including Greg Bautzer, once Joan Crawford's paramour. Later, she dated Mel Torme before marrying Vince Conte.
the films of mari blanchard
Back at the Front (1952)
With Harvey Lembeck and Tom Ewell in the Universal-International comedy Back at the Front
Abbott and Costello Go To Mars (1953)
The Veils of Bagdad (1953)
LEFT: With Victor Mature in the lively Universal action-adventure The Veils of Bagdad. RIGHT: As harem girl Selima
Rails into Laramie (1954)
John Payne falls prey to Mari Blanchard in the Universal-International western Rails into Laramie
Destry (1954)
Blanchard as Brandy in Destry, a remake of the classic 1939 western Destry Rides Again starring Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart. In this Universal-International release, Audie Murphy is cast in Stewart's role, and Blanchard substitutes for Dietrich
Black Horse Canyon (1954)
From the Universal-International western Black Horse Canyon with Joel McCrea
The Crooked Web (1955)
With Frank Lovejoy and Richard Denning in the Columbia film noir release The Crooked Web
Stagecoach to Fury (1956)
With Forrest Tucker in the 20th Century Fox western Stagecoach to Fury
Jungle Heat (1957)
She Devil (1957)
In the science fiction film She Devil, Blanchard has been injected with a serum that allows her to change her appearance at will
No Place to Land (1958)
As Iris Lee LaVonne in the Republic drama No Place to Land
later years
After abandoning her film career upon the release of her final film, McLintock! in 1963, Blanchard retired, acting in just a few TV programs afterward. She was diagnosed with cancer in the 1960s and, after a long struggle, passed away at age 43 in May 1970.
The Best Of Bud Abbott And Lou Costello, Vol. 3 [DVD] DVD
The laughs are out of this world as "Abbott & Costello Go to Mars" (1953); they star as wrestling promoters who get involved with a sexy spy in "Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion" (1950); "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein" (1948) while trying to dodge Bela Lugosi (as Dracula); it takes a doctor's invisibility serum to help catch a crook in "Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man" (1950); Bud and Lou suspect a swami of murder in "Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff" (1949); the fellows search for gold in backwoods Kentucky in "Comin' Round the Mountain" (1951); they get "Lost in Alaska" (1952) while trying to help a prospector; and a stock scheme sends the duo south of the border in "Mexican Hayride" (1948). 10 3/4 hrs. on two discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: Spanish, French.
On The Riviera [DVD](1951) DVD
Danny Kaye shines in a dual role as Henri Duran, a wealthy, womanizing French industrialist, and Jack Martin, an American entertainer with a spot-on impression of him. With Duran in London on business, Martin is tapped to impersonate him at a big party. But things spiral out of control when the hapless Yank encounters a succession of Duran's ladies and his most bitter professional rival. Delightful comedy also stars Gene Tierney, Corinne Calvet, Jean Murat. 90 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital stereo, Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; featurettes; photo gallery; theatrical trailer.
Rawhide: Season 2 Pack [DVD] DVD
Includes "Rawhide: The Second Season, Vol. 1" and "Rawhide: The Second Season, Vol. 2."
Twist Around The Clock (1961)/Don't Knock The Twist [DVD](1962) DVD
First, in "Twist Around the Clock," a music manager discovers the fun fad and--with the help of several rockers--makes it a national sensation. John Cronin, Mary Mitchell star; with performances by Chubby Checker ("The Twist"), Dion ("The Wanderer"), and The Marcels ("Blue Moon"). Then, "Don't Knock the Twist" focuses on the drama and fun that revolve around the production of a TV special covering the Twist dance craze. Lang Jeffries, Mari Blanchard star; with performances by Checker, The Dovells, Vic Dana, Linda Scott, and The Carroll Brothers. 169 min. total on two discs. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Portuguese, Japanese, French.
Tales Of Terror (1962)/Twice-Told Tales [DVD](1963) DVD
In "Tales of Terror," three chilling short stories by Edgar Allan Poe come to the screen in grand fashion under director Roger Corman: "Morella," "The Black Cat" and "The Case of M. Valdemar." Scares are served in generous portions by stars Peter Lorre, Vincent Price and Basil Rathbone. And, a chilling trio of the best stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne is adapted in the awesome anthology "Twice-Told Tales." "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," "Rappaccini's Daughter" and "The House of the Seven Gables" are brought to full, frightening life by Price, Sebastian Cabot, Mari Blanchard, Brett Halsey. 3 1/2 hrs. total. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish.
McLintock! [DVD](1963) DVD
Rousing western-comedy starring John Wayne as a feisty cattleman who finds his life suddenly complicated with the arrival of estranged wife Maureen O'Hara. Seeking a divorce and wanting custody of their teenage daughter, she carries on a battle with Wayne that leads to a famous drag-down muddy brawl. Yvonne DeCarlo, Stefanie Powers, Jerry Van Dyke and Jack Kruschen star in this Movies Unlimited favorite. 126 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English; Subtitles: English; scene access.
From Movie Goods
Original and Reproduction Mari Blanchard Posters Available From Movie Goods
filmography
FILM
Twice-Told Tales (1963) with Vincent Price, Beverly Garland, and Brett Halsey
McLintock! (1963) with John Wayne, Yvonne De Carlo, Maureen O'Hara, Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Chill Wills, Jerry Van Dyke, Edgar Buchanan, and Bruce Cabot
Don't Knock the Twist (1962) with Lang Jeffries and Chubby Checker
Machete (1958) with Albert Dekker and Lee Van Cleef
No Place to Land (1958) with John Ireland, Jackie Coogan, and Gail Russell
Jungle Heat (1957) with Lex Barker, Rhodes Reason, and Glenn Langan
She Devil (1957) with Albert Dekker, Jack Kelly, John Archer, and Blossom Rock
The Cruel Tower (1956) with Steve Brodie, Alan Hale Jr., and John Ericson
Stagecoach to Fury (1956) with Forrest Tucker
The Crooked Web (1955) with Richard Denning and Frank Lovejoy
The Return of Jack Slade (1955) with John Ericson, Neville Brand, Max Showalter, and Angie Dickinson
Son of Sinbad (1955) with Vincent Price, Dale Robertson, and Sally Forrest
Black Horse Canyon (1954) with Joel McCrea
Destry (1954) with Audie Murphy, Lori Nelson, Lyle Bettger, Alan Hale Jr., and Mary Wickes
Rails Into Laramie (1954) with John Payne, Dan Duryea, Lee Van Cleef, and Myron Healey
The Veils of Bagdad (1953) with Victor Mature, Virginia Field, Guy Rolfe, James Arness, and Gregg Palmer
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) with Bud Abbott, Lou Costello and Martha Hyer
Assignment: Paris (1952) with Dana Andrews and George Sanders
Back at the Front (1952) with Tom Ewell, Richard Long, Russell Johnson, and Harvey Lembeck
The Brigand (1952) with Anthony Dexter
Something to Live for (1952) with Ray Milland and Joan Fontaine
No Questions Asked (1951) with Arlene Dahl, Barry Sullivan, and Jean Hagen
The Overland Telegraph (1951) with Tim Holt, George Nader, and Hugh Beaumont
The Unknown Man (1951) with Barry Sullivan and Dawn Addams
Ten Tall Men (1951) with Burt Lancaster, Gilbert Roland, Kieron Moore, and Gerald Mohr
On the Riviera (1951) with Danny Kaye, Gene Tierney, Corinne Calvet, and Joi Lansing
TELEVISION SERIES
Klondike (1960-1961) This short-lived, half-hour CBS-TV series also featured Joi Lansing. Blanchard portrayed Kathy O'Hara
SELECTED TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
It Takes a Thief, episode Totally By Design, originally aired February 20, 1968
The Virginian, episode Doctor Pat, originally aired March 1, 1967
Burke's Law, episode Nightmare in the Sun, originally aired October 20, 1965
Perry Mason, episode The Melancholy Marksman, originally aired March 24, 1962
The Detectives, episode Night on the Town, originally aired January 26, 1962
Hawaiian Eye, episode The Kapua of Coconut Bay, originally aired October 4, 1961
Gunslinger, episode Road of the Dead, originally aired March 30, 1961
Rawhide, episode Incident of the Big Blowout, originally aired February 10, 1961
Seahunt, episode Prima Dona, originally aired 1960-1961
Bronco, episode Montana Passage, originally aired April 5, 1960
Mr. Lucky, episode I Bet Your Life, originally aired April 2, 1960
Laramie, episode Rope of Steel, originally aired February 16, 1960
Rawhide, episode Incident of the Stalking Death, originally aired November 13, 1959
Bat Masterson, episode License to Cheat, originally aired February 4, 1959
Casablanca, episode Siren Song, originally aired 1955
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