While I am not sure if it was Cornel Wilde or The Big Combo that impressed me the most at the time , it’s this near classic title from 1955 that would be my first recollection of putting a face to the name. I do know that my first viewing of this film was in the early days of the VHS tape when public domain titles were turning up in local super market bargain bins next to the cassette tapes and latest LP releases.
I did know who Lee Van Cleef and Earl Holliman were and it was there participation that was my original reasoning for wanting to see this gritty noir effort that surrounded Wilde with the likes of Richard Conte, Brian Donlevy and Wilde’s then wife, Jean Wallace.
It’s my love of this film that put Mr. Wilde on my radar leading me to check out many of his titles in various genre’s over the coming years. Something I’m still doing today when given the opportunity.
“It’s my sworn duty to push too hard. ”
Wilde tangles with the stunning Gene Tierney in this classic tale of cold blooded murder that chills to the bone.
Picking up where Flynn left off.
The promise of adventure and Donna Reed.
In 1955 Wilde, directed Storm Fear, his first feature and wisely enlisted Dan Duryea to participate alongside Jean and himself.
He would continue to focus on directing himself in the years ahead.
This 1975 thriller was the last of eight features that Cornel directed. Seven of which he starred. No Blade of Grass being the only title he worked behind but not in front of the camera as well.
One from my personal collection of original posters is a film I saw early on. I was instantly caught up in Wilde’s harrowing struggle to survive against all odds on screen in a film that pulls few punches and one that has continued to find an audience over the years. Though I haven’t seen all of Cornel’s directed films, I suspect this 1965 release is his best effort.
Mike's Take On the Movies 
How did I know you owned a poster for The Naked Prey? That film is great, but it made me laugh because it as the first one I saw and after that I expected every film Wilde was in to have him wearing as little as possible just for the sake of the plot. Or the director when he directed himself. Hey, when you get older, wearing nothing around the house on some days is a “thing”… doing so on a movie set? Well… er… I guess it depends on the film, huh?
I always thought that it was a gutsy film. He was past the years of being the eye candy for the ladies but let it all “hang out” for this Run of the Arrow (Rod Steiger) styled film. Great film and a nice poster in the vault.
Add Road House to the list, with Ida Lupino and Richard Widmark.
I covered that one not long after I started the blog. A real good one.
https://mikestakeonthemovies.com/2014/05/19/road-house-1948/
Hey, I recognize that last poster!