The Films of Samuel Fuller: If You Die, I'll Kill You

263 Pages·2008·5.451 MB·English

by  Lisa Dombrowski

THE FILMS OF SAMUEL FULLER
A series from Wesleyan University Press
Edited by Jeanine Basinger
The new Wesleyan Filmseries takes a back-to-basics approach to the art of cin-
ema. Books in the series will deal with the formal, the historical, and the cul-
tural—putting a premium on visual analysis, close readings, and an understand-
ing of the history of Hollywood and international cinema, both artistically and
industrially. The volumes will be rigorous, critical, and accessible both to aca-
demics and to lay readers with a serious interest in film.
Series editor Jeanine Basinger, Corwin-Fuller Professor of Film Studies at Wes-
leyan University and Founder/Curator of the Wesleyan Cinema Archives, is the
author of such landmark books as The World War II Combat Film: Anatomy of
a Genre, A Woman’s View: How Hollywood Spoke to Women, 1930–1960,
Silent Stars,and The Star Machine.
Anthony Mann
by Jeanine Basinger
The Films of Samuel Fuller
If You Die, I’ll Kill You!
by Lisa Dombrowski
Physical Evidence
Selected Film Criticism
by Kent Jones
Action Speaks Louder
Violence, Spectacle, and the American Action Movie
Revised and Expanded Edition
by Eric Lichtenfeld
Hollywood Ambitions
Celebrity in the Movie Age
by Marsha Orgeron
The Films of
S A M U E L
F U L L E R
If You Die, I’ll Kill You!
Lisa Dombrowski
wesleyan university press
middletown, connecticut
Published by Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, CT 06459
www.wesleyan.edu/wespress
© 2008by Lisa Dombrowski
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dombrowski, Lisa.
The films of Samuel Fuller : if you die, I’ll kill you! / Lisa Dombrowski.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn-13: 978–0–8195–6866–3(cloth : alk. paper)
isbn-10: 0–8195–6866–X (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Fuller, Samuel, 1912–1997—Criticism and interpretation. I. Title.
pn1998.3.f85d66 2008
791.4302(cid:2)33092—dc22 2007037126
Cover illustration: Samuel Fuller on location. Chrisam Films, Inc.
For the kids in the screening room

Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
The Fuller Biographical Legend 4
Fuller as Storyteller 10
Movement and Conflict 17
Chapter One: The Lippert Years, 1948–1951 24
The Marketplace for Low-Budget Films 25
Early Experiments: I Shot Jesse James andThe Baron of Arizona 28
Establishing a Voice: The Steel Helmet 39
Chapter Two: The Fox Years, 1951–1956 52
The Trade-offs of Studio Filmmaking 54
Return to War: Fixed Bayonets 56
Complete Independence: Park Row 62
Brutality: Pickup on South Street 67
Classical Style: Hell and High Water and House of Bamboo 77
Chapter Three: The Globe Years, 1956–1961 93
The Challenges of Independence 94
No Holds Barred: Run of the Arrow,China Gate,Forty Guns,
and Verboten! 97
Sensational Style: The Crimson Kimono and Underworld, U.S.A. 121
Chapter Four: The Freelance Years, 1961–1964 141
Return to War: Merrill’s Marauders 142
Adult Exploitation: Shock Corridor and The Naked Kiss 148
Fuller Goes to Vietnam: The Rifle 168
viii contents
Chapter Five: The Final Battles, 1965–1997 171
Critical Recognition, Professional Frustration 171
Loose Ends: Shark!and Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street 177
A Personal Journey: The Big Red One 184
Inciting Controversy: White Dog 191
In Exile: Thieves After Darkand Street of No Return 196
Conclusion 203
Notes 207
Filmography 227
Bibliography 233
Index 239
Illustrations
Samuel Fuller in Italy during World War II 5
Publicity still for Park Row 11
Drawing by Fuller for Park Row 15
Production still for Forty Guns 19
Frame enlargements from Underworld, U.S.A. 22
Publicity still for I Shot Jesse James 32
Publicity still for The Baron of Arizona 37
Publicity still for The Steel Helmet 47
Darryl Zanuck and Samuel Fuller 53
Production still for Fixed Bayonets 61
Production still contact sheet for Park Row 66
Publicity still for Pickup on South Street 73
Publicity still for Hell and High Water 80
Production still for House of Bamboo 88
Production still for Run of the Arrow 101
Publicity still for China Gate 105
Frame enlargements from Forty Guns 114
Publicity still for Verboten! 118
Frame enlargements from The Crimson Kimono 127
Frame enlargements from Underworld, U.S.A. 140
Production still for Merrill’s Marauders 145
Frame enlargements from Shock Corridor 155
Advertisement mat for Shock Corridor 157
Production still and frame enlargements from The Naked Kiss 161
François Truffaut and Samuel Fuller 173
Production still for Shark! 179
Frame enlargement from Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street 183
Production still for The Big Red One 188
Production still for White Dog 195