I’ve just finished reading the newly released biography on Ray Milland from author Eric Monder titled The Ray Milland Story : Dashing to the End. It’s given me a better insight into the life and career of the one time leading man who morphed into what I have often referred to as a professional “cranky old bastard” in a good many roles down the final stretch of his lengthy career.

Sadly if one is only aware of his 1970’s output with the bald pate and nasty scowl on his face then you’d be missing out on a good many films where he played the light romantic figure opposite some legendary leading ladies such as Claudette Colbert, Jean Arthur and Ginger Rogers. Or how about the serious side of Ray one could see in films costarring Barbara Stanwyck, Hedy Lamarr and Marlene Dietrich.

From the late 1930’s to the late 1950’s Ray was on a great run and proved to be very versatile in films ranging from screwball comedies to westerns to noirs. Working for Billy Wilder and let’s not forget the Best Actor Oscar for 1945’s The Long Weekend. Did you know he even directed himself in five feature films?

Monder’s new book touches on every film and television role Ray took part in as well as keeping a steady hand on his personal life and marriage through the the highs and lows of his 79 years. Glad I picked up a copy.

I have featured Ray Milland previously with an eye on some of his later day horror themed TV films which you can check out here if you’re brave enough. Prior to that I even featured his self penned autobiography Wide Eyed In Babylon for those who may not have realized he took the time to release this back in 1974.

On to some Ray Milland poster art …

Playing alongside Dorothy Lamour for some role reversal in the universe belonging to Tarzan and Jane.

I could easily have seen Ray continue on in the Bulldog Drummond adventures but aside from this one film from 1937 it wasn’t meant to be. John Howard took over the title role for a total of seven films rapidly released over the next couple of years.

Playing the romantic interest opposite my personal favorite when it comes to the screwball comedy genre, Miss Jean Arthur.

Cheek to cheek with another leading lady of the day, Loretta Young.

The second of 3 films opposite Claudette Colbert. The others being The Gilded Lady and Skylark.

Enlisted by Billy Wilder to play straight man to the hilarious Ginger Rogers in 1942.

Step outside of the Universal Monsters catalog and be sure to check out this ghost story that Ray headlined in 1944. A classic of the genre.

Moving into the world of shadows with Fritz Lang at the helm.

Foreign art for 1948’s So Evil My Love.

Not your typical Noir when Ray takes the title role. “The last time I was here was quite exciting. City was on fire. Picked up quite a lot of recruits that night.”

By 1954 the romantic roles were coming to an end but there was still a classic awaiting with Hitchcock and Kelly.

Plainly put, Ray’s first directing effort gave us a damned good western, 1955’s A Man Alone.

Proving that Vincent Price wasn’t the only one working in the Corman/Poe cycle. “Can you possibly conceive it. The unendurable oppression of the lungs, the stifling fumes of the earth, the rigid embrace of the coffin, the blackness of absolute night and the silence, like an overwhelming sea.”

Another Corman classic and likely one of the most collectible of all posters featuring Ray Milland. ” I’ve come to tell you what I see. There are great darknesses. Farther than time itself. And beyond the darkness… a light that glows, changes… and in the center of the universe… the eye that sees us all.”

For Ray’s final directorial effort, he took on 1968’s Hostile Witness. A film adaptation of a play he was finding success in on the stage.

Some movies just need to be seen at least once and 1972’s The Thing With Two Heads fits the bill. And how about that poster art! “Is this some kind of joke!”

Keeping things in balance I always dip into my own poster collection and while I don’t have many with Ray front and center from his early years I do have a mint condition 1962 Panic In the Year Zero which once again saw him do double duty as star and director for the folks at A.I.P.

While reading the new bio I also thumbed through my own catalog of titles I have on the shelf here in the movie room at Mike’s Take. Turns out I have 75 movies that Ray either starred in or made a late career appearance. I watched a total of 6 over the course of the last couple weeks. Five of which I’d yet to see and one childhood fave.

Arise My Love (1940). The Major and the Minor (1942) and I’m not sure what took me so long to finally see this one. Ray directing himself in The Safecracker (1958). Hostile Witness (1968). Slavers (1977) which gave me pause wondering why he’d take on this role. I don’t want to judge but he carries out an act in this film that is so revolting I’d like to know if he had strong reservations prior to filming it or not. Would any name actor or is that just part of the career/job? Pretty rare film and despite the cast not a very good one. Finally I revisited a favorite I’ve seen a number of times since childhood, The Uncanny (1977). Truthfully that has more to do with Peter Cushing’s participation than cranky old Ray’s.

Ray Milland 1907 – 1986.