Jeanne Cooper (left) has reason to be worried about Barbara Hale (right). Image: dvdtalk.com
Dear Reader, we wish to unburden ourselves with a confession.
We (as in, yours truly) tend to be dismissive of typecast television actors. We may admire them in their particular TV role, but we may not appreciate – or care about – their full acting potential.
So imagine our chagrin when we screened The Houston Story starring two actors who became typecast in later years, and boy oh boy! Do we have egg on our face! Someone pass the moist towelettes, please.
The Houston Story is a thrifty 1956 film noir that stars Gene Barry as a self-centered, scheming oilworker who devises a plan to steal oil from Texas oilfields. Edward Arnold (in his final screen role) stars as an organized crime boss who provides the manpower and resources needed for this caper.
Now, don’t let this film’s economical budget put you off. Some of the dialogue seems abrupt and underdeveloped, and we’re well aware of how much mileage the filmmakers are getting out of the sets. Also: nobody talks like they’re from Texas.
However, we don’t care about that. The story is engrossing, the characters are interesting and the acting is really, really good. Especially when it comes to the two main female characters played by Jeanne Cooper and Barbara Hale.
Cooper was previously known to us only as the calculating, ultra-rich Katherine Chancellor from the daytime drama The Young and the Restless. Likewise, Hale, to us, was best known as the reliable, uber-efficient Della Street in the Perry Mason series/re-boots.
What we (as in, yours truly) refused to see, is that these women can ACT. The Houston Story shows us what these women are capable of.
Cooper plays Barry’s girlfriend before he makes millions siphoning off oil wells. She doesn’t have a lot of screen time, but she still gives us a likable, hard-working woman for whom we instantly cheer. Her character is smart, funny and energetic. Cooper never once lets us see her “acting”; she embraces her blue-collar character and we love her for it.
Hale plays the-rich-gangster girlfriend, because only rich men can afford Hale’s company. Hale is beautiful, spoiled and drenched in jewels. We first see her as a nightclub singer, performing Put the Blame on Mame. She growls the lyrics with such intensity, it makes the Rita Hayworth’s singing seem almost timid by comparison.
Well.
At the movie’s conclusion we sat, almost dumbfounded. Who were these women? Where did all that talent come from?
Then we realized that it must take talent to become typecast in the first place; that it can’t be easy to play the same character year after year in a television series; that it must be frustrating to know you had the chops to be great, but never had the chance.
The Houston Story has a script that moves along quickly, but director William Castle never hurries Cooper or Hale in their pivotal moments. He gives them the space they need to convey what the character is thinking. Because both these women are crucial to the plot, we need to see why they act the way they do.
There are many reasons to enjoy The Houston Story, but we encourage you to see two under-appreciated actresses dominate the screen – and make it look so easy.
Thanks to the lovely and talented Kristina at Speakeasy for putting this movie in our hands.
The Houston Story: starring Gene Barry, Barbara Hale, Edward Arnold, Jeanne Cooper. Directed by William Castle. Written by Irve Tunick. Columbia Pictures Corp., B&W, 1956, 80 mins.
Silver Screenings 
Yep, a lot of actors went on year after year turning out fine performances but never getting the recognition.
My favorite scene in Houston Story is Barbara singing “Put the blame on Mame” ( she vas dubbed, but it still looked good.)
Vienna’s Classic Hollywood
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SHE WAS DUBBED?! Oh boy. I was hoping it was actually her voice. Anyway, she made it look VERY good, as you’ve said.
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Barb was NOT dubbed (she also sang with Sinatra in “Higher& Higher) and she and Jeanne were BFFs in real life.
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Thanks for the shout out 🙂 glad you enjoyed, and for much the same reason I did; it’s fun to see those people you know so well from other things in something different. Kinda like seeing younger photos of your parents: “what, you mean they had a life before?” Jeanne Cooper especially has a real nice edge to her perfect for noirs, even though here she was a nicer girl. The talent these people had, but maybe didn’t have enough chance to display, in movies, was precisely what gave them the stamina and appeal for such looooong TV careers. Cheers
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Kristina, this line of yours is a classic: “Kinda like seeing younger photos of your parents…” LOL!! That is EXACTLY what it’s like.
After I watched this movie, I was very sad that I didn’t respect these wonderful women sooner.
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Ruth, first of all, I’m delighted to see my SPEAKEASY pal Kristina guest-starring in your superb film blog as well as THE DARK PAGES! Second, your review of THE HOUSTON STORY is even more of a treat with Jeanne Cooper and Barbara Hale as the leading ladies; it’s a great reminder that there’s more to Barbara Hale and Jeanne Cooper than their TV gigs — not that there’s anything wrong with that! 😀 BRAVA to all of you, my friends!
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Barbara Hale and Jeanne Cooper are a real treat in this film. It wouldn’t be half the movie it is without them.
As for our mutual pal Kristina, she is one in a million, isn’t she?
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Aw stop it some more! Mutual appreciation society ladies 🙂
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I’m not at all familiar with this film and, sorry to say, I know little of Jeanne Copper’s career. (Never was a fan of the soaps and only really became aware of her when she passed recently.) I recognized Barbara Hale immediately, though. Mom was a Perry Mason fan and I’d know Della anywhere. I’ve put this film on my list. It sounds like it will be a great way to spend a couple of hours. Thanks!
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Well, if you’re a Barbara Hale fan (or fan by association via your mother), then you really must see this. She is utterly fabulous here.
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My apologies. I do not know if Barbara was dubbed in her singing of Put The Blame on Mame. It would be nice to think she did her own singing.
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I like to think Barbara did sing…but she can be forgiven if she didn’t. Sometimes a person just can’t do it all. 🙂
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Another Noir I’ve not heard of by now want to desperately see. Especially with your thoughts in mind as I do. Love the things you find dear 🙂
Oh, and here is a moist towelette 🙂
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Ha ha! Thanks for the moist towelette, Sarah!
This is an interesting noir because it has an unusual setting in the Texas oilfields. Many noirs have a real urban setting, as you know, but I like that this film is in an unusual location.
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Good point! Even better because it’s different. Guess what? That fabulous library of mine has a copy of this too 🙂
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I love Barbara Hale. She’s a fine actress who definitely deserves more credit than she usually receives.
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She really does deserve more credit, darn it!
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She does! Not to mention the fact that she is just so pretty. That is another blog post entirely, though.
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Fantastic, giving attention to these talents and admitting your horrible practice! 😉 Great post to help everyone keep this in mind. I’ve never seen THE HOUSTON STORY either!
Aurora
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Ha ha — it IS a horrible practice. This blog is my confessional booth, wherein I resolve to do better.
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Here’s something you might get a kick out of – a clip from 2012 of Barbara Hale and, near the end, Jeanne Cooper signing autographs at a fan convention. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPTx2gxDywc
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Patricia, this is TOO FABULOUS! How on earth did you find it? I love that they`re both in this clip.
Doesn`t Barbara Hale have a great laugh? She looks SO GOOD in this clip!
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I was just wasting time on YouTube one day looking up Perry Mason clips. Specifically hoping for one from The Case of the Nervous Neighbor because guest star Jeanne Cooper wore the most amazing wardrobe and – lo and behold, there were our gals!
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I remember Barbara Hale from Perry Mason, but am not familiar with Jeane Cooper. Thanks for bringing this movie, and these actresses to our attention, Ruth. I hope I can find it.
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Ah, so you were not a “Young & Restless” fan? I watched it several years ago for a brief period of time…until I grew tired of the cyclical storylines.
I enjoyed “The Houston Story” much more than I thought I would. I really like that it takes place in the oilfields instead of LA.
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