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Virginia Leith
1932-
Updated 3/31/2008 with more films available on DVD.
biography
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in October 1932, gorgeous and talented Virginia Leith starred in all too few films, with her most productive period coming in the 1950s. Her first film appearance came in Stanley Kubrick's independent feature Fear and Desire (1953; with Frank Silvera). Fear and Desire was also director Stanley Kubrick's first feature-length film, which he shot on a shoestring budget of $13,000. The minimal budget did not allow for synchronized sound to be recorded when the film was shot, so it was filmed silent and later dubbed. This film is difficult to find today, as Kubrick buried it out of embarrassment later in his career, dismissing it as amateurish.
LEFT: Beautiful mid 1950s photo of Virginia Leith. CENTER A and B: Mid 1950s magazine covers featuring Virginia Leith. CENTER C: A 20th Century-Fox photo from 1955. RIGHT: Early 1960s photo
Leith signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox in 1954. Fox cast her in such films as White Feather (1955; with Jeffrey Hunter and Debra Paget) and On the Threshold of Space (1956; with Guy Madison). After Leith's contract with Fox ended in 1957, she worked in television and some low-budget independent features. Her best known film is also my personal favorite, The Brain That Wouldn't Die, shot in 1959 for about $60,000 but not released until 1962. This film has achieved a cult status and has been featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Leith left show business following her 1960 marriage to actor Donald Herron. After her divorce from Herron, in the 1970s Leith renewed her career and appeared in a few films and on popular TV shows, such as Starsky and Hutch, Barnaby Jones, and Baretta. She left the screen again in the early 1980s.
the films of virginia leith
Fear and Desire (1953)
A rare shot of Leith from her first film, Fear and Desire
Violent Saturday (1955)
With Richard Egan in the 20th Century-Fox film noir thriller Violent Saturday
A Kiss Before Dying (1956)
From the 20th Century-Fox film noir thriller A Kiss Before Dying with George Macready
On the Threshold of Space (1956)
With Guy Madison in Fox's On the Threshold of Space
Toward the Unknown (1956)
From Toward the Unknown with William Holden
The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)
LEFT and CENTER A: Leith in her most famous role as Jan Compton (aka Jan in the Pan) from the low-budget horror flick The Brain That Wouldn't Die. CENTER B and RIGHT: With character actor Jason Evers (billed as Herb Evers) and Leslie Daniels
Black Widow [DVD](1954) DVD
When a young actress is found murdered in a Broadway producer's apartment, a detective tries to figure out if the showman or a temperamental stage star's long-suffering husband is to blame. While the lawman struggles to uncover the killer's identity, the producer attempts to clear his name--uncovering some shocking secrets about the victim along the way. Classic nailbiter stars Ginger Rogers, Van Heflin, Gene Tierney, and George Raft. 95 min. Widescrean; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 4.0; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; art gallery; audio commentary; behind-the-scenes footage; featurettes; isolated music score; photo gallery; theatrical trailers.
White Feather [DVD](1955) DVD
Accompanying an army colonel (John Lund) as the U.S. military peacefully resettles a Cheyenne tribe away from valuable Wyoming land, a land surveyor (Robert Wagner) places the fragile truce between the whites and Indians in jeopardy when he falls in love with the daughter of tribesman Little Dog (Jeffrey Hunter). This scorching Western drama set in the 1870s also stars Debra Paget, Noah Beery, Jr., and Eduard Franz. 102 min. Standard and Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital Surround, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; photo gallery; theatrical trailer.
A Kiss Before Dying [DVD](1956) DVD
Moody and effective suspenser features a cast-against-type Robert Wagner as a psychotic charmer who kills his pregnant girlfriend and then begins a romance with her sister, who, unaware of Wagner's identity, is investigating the woman's mysterious death. Based on an Ira Levin novel; Virginia Leith, Jeffrey Hunter, Joanne Woodward and Mary Astor also star. 94 min. Widescreen (Enhanced) and Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; theatrical trailer.
The Brain That Wouldn't Die (Widescreen Version) [DVD](1963) DVD
A demented (but hopelessly romantic) surgeon keeps his fiancee's disembodied head alive after an auto accident while he searches for a body transplant "donor." Outrageously bad sci-fi shocker, available in its uncut version to show the full, bloody vengeance of the "pinhead in the closet." Herb (Jason) Evers, Virginia Leith star. 85 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; theatrical trailer; photo gallery.
The Brain That Wouldn't Die [VHS](1963) VHS
A demented (but hopelessly romantic) surgeon keeps his fiancee's disembodied head alive after an auto accident while he searches for a body transplant "donor." Outrageously bad sci-fi shocker, available in its uncut version to show the full, bloody vengeance of the "pinhead in the closet." Herb (Jason) Evers, Virginia Leith star. 89 min.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Brain That Wouldn't Die [DVD] DVD
Dr. F and Frank have picked a real winner for Mike's first experiment, but will the sci-fi saga of "Jan in the Pan" and her mad doctor boyfriend break Mr. Nelson and the bots? Standard; Soundtrack: English stereo; watch the complete movie without Mike and the bots; scene access.
Starsky & Hutch: The Complete Third Season [DVD](1977) DVD
All 23 episodes from season three--including the two-part "Starsky & Hutch on Playboy Island," "Fatal Charm," "The Collector," "Satan's Witches," and "Hutchinson: Murder One"--are included in a five-disc set. 18 3/4 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; TV spots.
This poster reproduction is available from Movie Goods
filmography
FILM
Curtains (1983) with John Vernon and Samantha Eggar
First Love (1977) with William Katt and Susan Dey
The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962) with Jason Evers; once featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000
Toward the Unknown (1956) with William Holden, Lloyd Nolan, Charles McGraw, James Garner, and Bob Hover
A Kiss Before Dying (1956) with Jeffrey Hunter, Robert Wagner, Joanne Woodward, Mary Astor, and George Macready
On the Threshold of Space (1956) with Guy Madison, Ken Clark, John Hodiak, Martin Milner, Dean Jagger, and Warren Stevens
White Feather (1955) with Jeffrey Hunter, Hugh O'Brian, Robert Wagner, and Debra Paget
Violent Saturday (1955) with Victor Mature, Richard Egan, Stephen McNally, Tommy Noonan, Lee Marvin, Margaret Hayes, J. Carrol Naish, Sylvia Sidney, Ernest Borgnine, and Billy Chapin
Black Widow (1954) with Ginger Rogers, Van Heflin, Gene Tierney, George Raft, and Peggy Ann Garner
Fear and Desire (1953) with Frank Silvera and Paul Mazursky
TELEVISION
Barnaby Jones, episode Gang War, originally aired October 27, 1977
Starsky and Hutch, episode Death in a Different Place, originally aired October 15, 1977
Baretta, episode Guns and Brothers, originally aired April 6, 1977
Alcoa Presents, episode The Bride Possessed, originally aired January 20, 1959
The Fireside Theatre, episode The Bravado Touch, originally aired April 17, 1958
The 20th Century Fox Hour, episode The Last Patriarch, originally aired November 28, 1956
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This page premiered July 19, 2002.
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