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Paula Raymond
1924-2003
Updated 3/30/2009 with more TV episodes and films available on DVD!
biography
Born Paula Ramona Wright in San Francisco on November 23, 1924, beautiful Paula Raymond had done some acting, mostly on stage, as a child. An early marriage to a Marine ended soon after Raymond gave birth to her only child, a daughter, in 1946. Newly single and with a daughter to support, she embarked upon a career as a model before first signing with Paramount and then Columbia in 1947, where she appeared in such films as Blondie's Secret (1948; with Arthur Lake and Penny Singleton) and Challenge of the Range (1949; with Charles Starrett). After a few years in supporting roles, Raymond left Columbia for MGM to try her luck in 1949. She fared well at MGM in bigger roles and better films, including Crisis (1950; with Cary Grant and Gilbert Roland), The Tall Target (1951; with Dick Powell and Marshall Thompson), and The Sellout (1952; with John Hodiak). Despite good notices, Raymond did not appear in the bona fide hit film she deserved, and the studio dropped her contract in 1952. Afterward, Raymond freelanced in pictures and on television.
Early 1950s MGM photo of Paula Raymond
Earlier in her career, Raymond acted in film noir thrillers such as City That Never Sleeps (1953; with Gig Young and Marie Windsor), but later in her career she developed a horror film reputation, starting with The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953; with Paul Christian and Lee Van Cleef). In 1955, Raymond called it quuits and took a three-year break from acting, preferring to work at a more traditional job but eventually tired of the daily grind and resumed her career in the late 1950s. This time, however, Raymond concentrated on television, where she guest-starred on many popular TV series including multiple appearances on 77 Sunset Strip and Hawaiian Eye. Indeed, some of Raymond's strongest performances were on television, particularly in her five appearances on Perry Mason (1957-1966 CBS series; with Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, and William Hopper). In the early 1960s, she returned to films in the horror/sci-fi flicks The Flight That Disappeared (1961; with Craig Hill), Hand of Death (1962; with John Agar), and Blood of Dracula's Castle (1967; with Alexander D'Arcy and John Carradine).
the films of paula raymond
Crisis (1950)
From the MGM thriller Crisis with Cary Grant
Devil's Doorway (1950)
From the MGM western Devil's Doorway with Robert Taylor
Grounds for Marriage (1951)
Van Johnson begins to chicken out of marrying Paula Raymond in the MGM comedy Grounds for Marriage
The Tall Target (1951)
From MGM's period adventure The Tall Target. LEFT: With Ruby Dee and Marshall Thompson. RIGHT: A behind-the-scenes photo of Paula Raymond
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
From the science fiction classic The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, with effects by Ray Harryhausen. LEFT: With Paul Christian and Cecil Kellaway. RIGHT: With Kenneth Tobey, Donald Woods, Paul Christian, and Cecil Kellaway
The Human Jungle (1954)
With Gary Merrill in the Allied Artists film noir release The Human Jungle
The Flight That Disappeared (1961)
Raymond stars as Marcia Paxton in the intriging science fiction release The Flight That Disappeared. LEFT: With Craig Hill and Dayton Lummis. RIGHT: With love interest Craig Hill
Hand of Death (1962)
From the low budget horror flick Hand of Death, directed by Gene Nelson
Blood of Dracula's Castle (1967)
Images from Al Adamson's horror favorite Blood of Dracula's Castle. LEFT: Paula Raymond as the Countess, a vampire. RIGHT: With Alexander D'Arcy near the end of the film
later years
Paula Raymond's career was interrupted again in August 1962 when she was involved in a serious car crash; nearly dying in the accident, she suffered severe facial injuries and had to undergo a number of plastic surgery procedures. Although the surgeries were successful, Raymond did not look quite the same afterward. She resumed her acting career fifteen months after the accident but retired from the screen not long afterward. With the exception of an appearance in Fred Olen Ray's Mind Twister (1994; with Telly Savalas) and a brief stint on a soap opera, Raymond's career ended with a pair of Al Adamson flicks, Blood of Dracula's Castle (1969; with Alexander D'Arcy and John Carradine) and Five Bloody Graves (1970; with Robert Dix and Scott Brady). Sadly, Paula Raymond died on December 31, 2003, at the age of 79.
The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp: From Ellsworth To Tombstone [DVD] DVD
An assortment of 26 episodes from the program's run--including "Wyatt Earp Becomes a Marshal," "Dodge City Gets a New Marshal," "When Sherman Marched Through Kansas," "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," and "The Outlaws Cry Murder"--are collected in a four-disc set. 11 1/3 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English; biography; interviews; featurette. **26 episodes on 4 discs. 11 1/3 hrs.**
Have Gun Will Travel: The Complete Third Season [DVD](1959) DVD
All 39 episodes from season three--including "First, Catch a Tiger," "Shot by Request," "Charley Red Dog," "The Campaign of Billy Banjo," "The Search," and "Lady with a Gun" featuring Paula Raymond--are collected in a seven-disc set. 14 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: Spanish; biographies; more.
Perry Mason: 50th Anniversary Edition [DVD] DVD
Twelve of the series's best episodes--including "The Case of the Wary Wildcatter," "The Case of the Treacherous Toupee," "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank," "The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe," and "The Case of the Final Fade-Out"--have been collected in this four-disc set. Also included is "Perry Mason Returns" (1985), the TV movie that finds the legal eagle (Raymond Burr), now a judge, stepping down from the bench to defend former secretary Della Street (Barbara Hale) when she's accused of murder. 12 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; featurette; interviews; photo gallery; TV spots; screen tests; more.
Perry Mason: Season 2, Vol. 2 [DVD](1959) DVD
The remaining 15 episodes from the second season--including "The Case of the Fraudulent Foto," "The Case of the Jaded Joker," "The Case of the Lost Last Act," "The Case of the Spanish Cross," and "The Case of the Lame Canary"--are featured in a four-disc set. 13 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English. **15 episodes on 4 discs. 13 hrs.**
Perry Mason: Season 3, Vol. 1 [DVD](1959) DVD
The first 13 episodes from the series's third season--including "The Case of the Spurious Sister," "The Case of the Blushing Pearls," "The Case of the Bartered Bikini," "The Case of the Lucky Legs," and "The Case of the Wayward Wife"--are featured in a three-disc set. 10 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
The Untouchables: Season 2, Vol. 1 [DVD](1960) DVD
The first 16 episodes from the second season--including "The Rusty Heller Story," "The Mark of Cain," "The Purple Gang," "Kiss of Death Girl," and "The Masterpiece"--are featured in a four-disc set. 13 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Portuguese, Spanish.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Complete Series [DVD] DVD
One of the coolest, most sophisticated spy shows ever, this 1964-68 NBC drama starred Robert Vaughn and David McCallum as secret agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, who use high-tech weaponry to battle THRUSH, an evil organization out to rule the world. The series also featured a host of guest stars as diabolical villains and Leo G. Carroll as Mr. Waverly, the head of U.N.C.L.E. All 105 episodes of the series's run--including "The Vulcan Affair," "The Project Strigas Affair," "The Ultimate Computer Affair," "The Batcave Affair," and the two-part "The Seven Wonders of the World Affair"--have been collected in a 41-disc set, packaged in a replica U.N.C.L.E. attache case. 93 2/3 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; color pilot episode; featurettes; interviews; photo gallery; TV excerpts; bonus short "The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R." (1967). Also includes the bonus feature "One Spy Too Many" (1966).
Adam's Rib [DVD](1949) DVD
Husband-and-wife lawyers Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn face the biggest case of their professional lives when they take opposite sides in the trial of a woman accused of trying to shoot her philandering husband. Witty "battle of the sexes" comedy from Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin also stars Judy Holliday, Tom Ewell, David Wayne. 100 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; theatrical trailer; scene access.
Tracy & Hepburn: The Signature Collection [DVD] DVD
Four-disc set includes "Woman of the Year," "Adam's Rib," "Pat and Mike," and the documentary "The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn."
East Side, West Side [DVD](1949) DVD
Glossy tale of the trials and tribulations of New York socialites, featuring Ava Gardner as a model who returns home to rock the boat of married couple Barbara Stanwyck and James Mason, with the boat getting even shakier when Stanwyck falls for war hero Van Heflin. Cyd Charisse, Gale Sondergaard and Nancy Davis also star in this superior soaper. 108 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH), French; bonus shorts "The Counterfeit Cat" (1949), "Stuff for Stuff" (1949); theatrical trailer.
Barbara Stanwyck: Signature Collection [DVD] DVD
Five-disc set includes "Annie Oakley" (1935), "My Reputation," "East Side, West Side," "To Please a Lady," "Jeopardy," and "Executive Suite."
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms [DVD](1953) DVD
Atomic testing in the Arctic revives a gigantic "rhedosaurus" frozen in the ice for millions of years, and soon the creature is cutting a path of destruction down the streets of New York. Classic sci-fi thriller, based on a Ray Bradbury story, features stop-motion animation by Ray Harryhausen. Paul Christian, Paula Raymond star. 79 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; audio commentary; theatrical trailers.
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953)/Them! (1954) [DVD] DVD
Atomic testing in the Arctic revives a gigantic "rhedosaurus" frozen in the ice for millions of years, and soon the creature is cutting a path of destruction down the streets of New York. Based on a Ray Bradbury story, "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" features stop-motion animation by Ray Harryhausen. Paul Christian, Paula Raymond star. And, the landmark sci-fi classic "Them!" chronicles how atomic testing in a New Mexico desert results in ordinary ants being mutated into behemoth killing machines. As the enlarged insects wreak murderous havoc across the Southwest, police sergeant James Whitmore teams with FBI agent James Arness to stop a pair of queen ants before they can give birth to another generation of terror. With Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon. 171 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; featurttes; theatrical trailers.
Five Bloody Graves (1970)/Nurse Sherri [DVD](1978) DVD
B-movie auteur Al Adamson's savage shoot-'em-up "Five Bloody Graves" stars Robert Dix (son of Richard) as a gunslinger hired to defend a group of gorgeous gals on a wagon train from a group of notorious outlaws. Dix has his hands full as the gals keep turning up tortured or dead! With Jim Davis, John Carradine, Vicki Volante, Paula Raymond and Darlene Lucht (the former "Miss Sun Fun"). AKA: "Gun Riders." And, "Nurse Sherri," Adamson's answer to Roger Corman's nurse movies, stars Jill Jacobson as the lady in white, possessed by a demon and stalking and killing patients at the hospital. The only way to stop the terror is to destroy the corpse of the ghoul that possesses her! With Geoffrey Land. AKA: "Beyond the Living," "Black Voodoo," "Hospital of Terror," "The Possession of Nurse Sherri." Includes both the theatrical and an alternate version of "Nurse Sherri." Standard; Soundtrack: English; audio commentary; theatrical trailers. Two-disc set.
paula raymond films available from amazon.com
filmography
FILM
Mind Twister (1994) with Telly Savalas, Gary Hudson, Richard Roundtree, and Nels Van Patten; directed by Fred Olen Ray
Five Bloody Graves (1970) with Robert Dix, Scott Brady, Jim Davis, and John Carradine; directed by Al Adamson
Blood of Dracula's Castle (1967) with Alexander D'Arcy, Robert Dix, and John Carradine; directed by Al Adamson
The Spy with My Face (1965) with Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, Senta Berger, Leo G. Carroll, Donna Michelle, and Harold Gould; was originally an episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Hand of Death (1962) with John Agar, Stephen Dunne, Joe Besser, Butch Patrick, and Ruth Terry
The Flight That Disappeared (1961) with Craig Hill
The Gun That Won the West (1955) with Dennis Morgan and Richard Denning; directed by William Castle
The Human Jungle (1954) with Gary Merrill, Jan Sterling, Regis Toomey, and Chuck Connors
King Richard and the Crusaders (1954) with Rex Harrison, Virginia Mayo, George Sanders, and Laurence Harvey
City That Never Sleeps (1953) with Gig Young, Mala Powers, William Talman, Chill Wills, Marie Windsor, and Tom Poston
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (1953) with Paul Christian, Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey, Lee Van Cleef, and Steve Brodie
The Story of Three Loves (1953) with Pier Angeli, Ethel Barrymore, Leslie Caron, Kirk Douglas, Farley Granger, James Mason, Agnes Moorehead, and Zsa Zsa Gabor
The Bandits of Corsica (1953) with Richard Greene, Raymond Burr, Dona Drake, Lee Van Cleef, Nestor Paiva, and Clayton Moore
The Sellout (1952) with Walter Pidgeon, John Hodiak, Audrey Totter, Cameron Mitchell, Karl Malden, Frank Cady, Burt Mustin, and Whit Bissell
Texas Carnival (1951) with Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Howard Keel, Ann Miller, Keenan Wynn, Tom Tully, Glenn Strange, and Hans Conried
The Tall Target (1951) with Dick Powell, Adolphe Menjou, Marshall Thompson, Ruby Dee, Will Geer, and Leif Erickson
Inside Straight (1951) with David Brian, Arlene Dahl, Barry Sullivan, Mercedes McCambridge, Lon Chaney Jr., John Hoyt, Barbara Billingsley, and Hayden Rorke
Grounds for Marriage (1951) with Van Johnson, Kathryn Grayson, Barry Sullivan, and Lewis Stone
Devil's Doorway (1950) with Robert Taylor, Louis Calhern, Marshall Thompson, Edgar Buchanan, and Spring Byington
Duchess of Idaho (1950) with Esther Williams, Van Johnson, John Lund, Mel Tormé, Amanda Blake, and Tommy Farrell
Crisis (1950) with Cary Grant, José Ferrer, Signe Hasso, Ramon Novarro, and Gilbert Roland
East Side, West Side (1949) with Barbara Stanwyck, James Mason, Van Heflin, Ava Gardner, Cyd Charisse, Nancy Davis, Gale Sondergaard, and William Conrad
Adam's Rib (1949) with Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday, Tom Ewell, David Wayne, Jean Hagen, and Hope Emerson
Challenge of the Range (1949) with Charles Starrett, Smiley Burnette, and Billy Halop
Blondie's Secret (1948) with Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Jerome Cowan
Racing Luck (1948) with Gloria Henry, Stanley Clements, and David Bruce
Sealed Verdict (1948) with Ray Milland, Florence Marly, John Hoyt, and Broderick Crawford
Rusty Leads the Way (1948) with John Litel, Ann Doran, and Peggy Converse
Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948) with Edward G. Robinson, Gail Russell, John Lund, Virginia Bruce, William Demarest, and Jerome Cowan
TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
The Man from U.N.C.L.E., episode The Double Affair, originally aired November 17, 1964
Temple Houston, episode Miss Katherine, originally aired April 2, 1964
77 Sunset Strip, episode Queen of the Cats, originally aired February 7, 1964
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Capering Camera, originally aired January 16, 1964
Death Valley Days, episode The Wooing of Perilous Pauline, originally aired January 7, 1964
The Beachcomber, episode Home to Roost, originally aired August 7, 1962
Hawaiian Eye, episode Rx Cricket, originally aired May 2, 1962
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Angry Astronaut, originally aired April 7, 1962
Rawhide, episode The House of the Hunter, originally aired April 20, 1962
The New Breed, episode The Deadlier Sex, originally aired March 20, 1962
Hawaiian Eye, episode Year of Grace, originally aired January 24, 1962
The Bob Cummings Show, episode The Guns of Abalone, originally aired November 30, 1961
Hawaiian Eye, episode The Queen from Kern County, originally aired November 22, 1961
The Roaring 20's, episode Standing Room Only, originally aired October 28, 1961
Maverick, episode The Golden Fleecing, originally aired October 8, 1961
Surfside 6, episode The Bhoyo and the Blonde, originally aired May 15, 1961
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Torrid Tapestry, originally aired April 22, 1961
The Law and Mr. Jones, episode The Concert, originally aired March 10, 1961
77 Sunset Strip, episode A Face in the Window, originally aired February 24, 1961
Michael Shayne, episode Four Lethal Ladies, originally aired February 17, 1961
Hawaiian Eye, episode The Manabi Figurine, originally aired February 1, 1961
The Aquanauts, episode The Cavedivers, originally aired December 7, 1960
The Brothers Brannagan, episode The Baby Sitters, originally aired November 26, 1960
Bat Masterson, episode The Last of the Night Raiders, originally aired November 24, 1960
The Untouchables, episode The Mark of Cain, originally aired November 17, 1960
77 Sunset Strip, episode The Wide-Screen Caper, originally aired October 14, 1960
M Squad, episode Closed Season, originally aired May 31, 1960
Tightrope, episode Borderline, originally aired May 17, 1960
Have Gun - Will Travel, episode Lady with a Gun, originally aired April 9, 1960
Cheyenne, episode Home Is the Brave, originally aired March 14, 1960
Bourbon Street Beat, episode The House of Ledezan, originally aired February 22, 1960
Lock Up, episode Strange Summons, originally aired February 20, 1960
Bat Masterson, episode Mr. Fourpaws, originally aired February 18, 1960
Philip Marlowe, episode Poor Lilli, Sweet Lilli, originally aired January 19, 1960
The Deputy, episode Backfire, originally aired January 2, 1960
Lawman, episode The Hoax, originally aired December 20, 1959
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, episode The Paymaster, originally aired December 1, 1959
General Electric Theater, episode Signs of Love, originally aired November 8, 1959
77 Sunset Strip, episode Clay Pigeon, originally aired October 23, 1959
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Garrulous Gambler, originally aired October 17, 1959
Hawaiian Eye, episode Waikiki Widow, originally aired October 14, 1959
The Man and the Challenge, episode Maximum Capacity, originally aired September 19, 1959
Markham, episode Vendetta in Venice, originally aired June 27, 1959
Bat Masterson, episode A Matter of Honor, originally aired April 29, 1959
The Third Man, episode A Pocketful of Sin, originally aired April 20, 1959
The Rough Riders, episode The Double Dealers, originally aired March 19, 1959
Bachelor Father, episode A Phone for Kelly, originally aired February 15, 1959
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, episode Emergency Only, originally aired February 3, 1959
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, episode And Practically Strangers, originally aired January 30, 1959
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Borrowed Brunette, originally aired January 10, 1959
Peter Gunn, episode The Torch, originally aired December 8, 1958
M Squad, episode The Merits of the Case, originally aired November 14, 1958
Yancy Derringer, episode Gallatin Street, originally aired October 9, 1958
Mike Hammer, episode Letter of the Weak, originally aired September 14, 1958
State Trooper, episode Hardrock Man, originally aired September 10, 1958
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, episode You'll Have to Die Now, originally aired June 20, 1958
M Squad, episode The Woman from Paris, originally aired June 6, 1958
The Californians, episode Shanghai Queen, originally aired June 3, 1958
The Adventures of Ellery Queen, episode Night Visitors, originally aired July 1, 1955
Cavalcade of America, episode The Rescue of Dr. Beanes, originally aired June 21, 1955
Cavalcade of America, episode Petticoat Doctor, originally aired January 25, 1955
Fireside Theatre, episode Three Missions West, originally aired November 30, 1954
Four Star Playhouse, episode The Doctor and the Countess, originally aired April 29, 1954
The Ford Television Theatre, episode Lucky Tommy Jordan, originally aired February 4, 1954
Fireside Theatre, episode Let the Cards Decide, originally aired January 6, 1953
The Unexpected, episode High Adventure, originally aired October 15, 1952
Your Show Time, episode The Million Pound Bank Note, originally aired May 20, 1949
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This page premiered March 2, 2005.
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