Silver Screen Icons: Gary Cooper

The Silver Screen Icons: Gary Cooper FOUR Gary Cooper FILMS

The Fountainhead (1949)

Ayn Rand's classic novel is vibrantly brought to life with a screenplay penned by the author herself. Brilliant, uncompromising architect Howard Roark (Gary Cooper) must fight to maintain his personal integrity when establishment critics attempt to coerce him to follow more traditional concepts and change his ideas for the "betterment of Society." Patricia Neal, Raymond Massey, Kent Smith also star; King Vidor directs. 112 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Friendly Persuasion (1956)

William Wyler's sensitive adaptation of the best-selling Jessamyn West novel stars Gary Cooper as Jess Birdwell, the patriarch of an Indiana Quaker family staunchly opposed to violence. But the Birdwells find their faith and love put to the test when eldest son Josh (Anthony Perkins) feels he must join the army and fight in the Civil War in order to prove his manhood. Dorothy McGuire, Marjorie Main, Robert Middleton also star. 137 min. C/Rtg: NR

Love In The Afternoon (1957)

Pretty Parisienne Ariane Chavasse (Audrey Hepburn) was intrigued that her private eye papa (Maurice Chevalier) had been hired to shadow the aging American playboy Frank Flannagan (Gary Cooper). When she learns her dad's client wants to settle things with a bullet, though, she sets out to covertly warn the at-risk roué, and romantic complications ensue. Billy Wilder's charming nod to Lubitsch co-stars John McGiver, Lise Bourdin. 130 min. BW/Rtg: NR

The Wreck of Mary Deare (1959)

Directed by Michael Anderson and starring Gary Cooper and Charlton Heston, and featuring Michael Redgrave, Cecil Parker, Richard Harris and John Le Mesurier. The screenplay by Eric Ambler was based on the 1956 novel of the same name by Hammond Innes. A disgraced merchant marine officer elects to stay aboard his sinking cargo ship in order to prove the vessel was deliberately scuttled and, as a result, vindicate his good name. Run Time: 105 minutes NR