Mari Blanchard

Mari Blanchard

Born: April 13, 1923
Died: May 10, 1970
in Long Beach, California, USA
Petite, attractive Mari Blanchard rarely managed to get the lucky breaks. The daughter of an oil tycoon and a psychotherapist, she suffered from severe poliomyelitis from the age of nine, which denied her a hoped-for dancing career. For several years, she worked hard to rehabilitate her limbs from paralysis, swimming and later even performing on the trapeze at Cole Brothers Circus. At the urging of her parents, she then attended the University of Southern California, where she studied international law before dropping out nine units short of a degree. Her university studies did not lead to a career either. Sometime in the late 1940s, she joined the Conover Agency as an advertising model and, at the same time, was promoted by famed cartoonist and writer Al Capp, becoming the inspiration for one of his Li'l Abner characters.

As the result of an advertisement on the back page of the Hollywood Reporter, Mari was signed to a contract with Paramount. However, her early experience in the movie business proved an unhappy one, most of her roles being walk-ons and bit parts. Ten Tall Men (1951), for example, limited her to a token stroll down a street, twirling a parasol and smiling seductively at members of the Foreign Legion. It wasn't until Mari joined Universal that her fortunes improved somewhat, with a co-starring role (opposite Victor Mature) in The Veils of Bagdad (1953). After that, it was all downhill again. Burt Lancaster, co-producer and star (with Gary Cooper of the excellent A-grade western Vera Cruz (1954), had requested Mari as his leading lady, but Universal refused her release to United Artists and forbade her to accept the lucrative role (Denise Darcel ended up getting the part). Mari then lost the lead in a much lesser picture,Saskatchewan (1954), to Shelley Winters. Instead, she was cast as Venusian Queen Allura in one of the least exciting outings by Universal's leading comic duo, Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953).

Mari did end up with a respectable starring role in the western Destry (1954) opposite Audie Murphy. A remake of the classic Destry Rides Again (1939), she was cast in the Marlene Dietrich part and took great pains to affect a totally different look, darkening her hair so as not to be compared to the great star. Even the name of her character was changed from 'Frenchy' to 'Brandy'. "Destry" was not all smooth sailing. There was tension between her and director George Marshall (who had also directed the original version) and Mari suffered a facial injury as the result of a fight scene. The film was critically well received, but unfortunately Universal failed to renew its contract with Miss Blanchard, and her career then went into free fall.

Freelancing for lesser studios, she played a TB victim injected with a serum turning her into a Mr. Hyde-like killer in the lurid She Devil (1957) (during filming she nearly died of acute appendicitis). Mari then appeared for Republic in the eminently forgettable No Place to Land (1958) before briefly starring in her own short-lived adventure series Klondike (1960). Her last role of note was as the cheerful and likeable town madam in the rollicking John Wayne western comedy McLintock! (1963). Sometime that year, Mari Blanchard developed the cancer which was to claim her life in 1970 at the age of just 47.

Movies for Mari Blanchard...

McLintock!
Title: McLintock!
Character: Camille Reedbottom
Released: November 12, 1963
Type: Movie
Ageing, wealthy, rancher and self-made man, George Washington McLintock is forced to deal with numerous personal and professional problems. Seemingly everyone wants a piece of his enormous farmstead, including high-ranking government men, McLintock's own sons and nearby Native Americans. As McLintock tries to juggle his various adversaries, his wife—who left him two years previously—suddenly returns. But she isn't interested in George; she wants custody of their daughter.
bee
Title: Burke's Law
Character: Mrs. Vasquez
Released: September 20, 1963
Type: TV
Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on CBS in the 1990s. The show starred Gene Barry as Amos Burke, millionaire captain of Los Angeles police homicide division, who was chauffeured around to solve crimes in his Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II.
bee
Title: Breaking Point
Released: September 16, 1963
Type: TV
Breaking Point is an American medical drama that aired on ABC from September 16, 1963, to April 27, 1964, continuing in rebroadcasts until September 7. The series, which was a spinoff of Ben Casey, stars Paul Richards and Eduard Franz. The series was created by Meta Rosenberg.
bee
Twice-Told Tales
Title: Twice-Told Tales
Character: Sylvia Ward
Released: September 1, 1963
Type: Movie
3 horror stories based on the writings of Nathaniel Hawthorne. In the 1st story titled "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment", Heidegger attempts to restore the youth of three elderly friends. In "Rappaccini's Daughter", a demented father is innoculating his daughter with poison so she may never leave her garden of poisonous plants. In the final story "The House of the Seven Gables", The Pyncheon family suffers from a hundred year old curse and while in the midst of arguing over inheritance, a stranger arrives.
bee
Title: The Virginian
Character: Marie Coulter
Released: September 19, 1962
Type: TV
The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Henry Garth, the Grainger brothers, and Colonel Alan MacKenzie. It is the setting for a variety of stories, many more based on character and relationships than the usual western.
bee
Don't Knock the Twist
Title: Don't Knock the Twist
Character: Dulcie Corbin
Released: April 13, 1962
Type: Movie
A TV executive tries to create a musical special to save his network.
bee
Title: The Roaring 20's
Released: October 15, 1960
Type: TV
The adventures of a newspaper reporter covering the world of cops and gangsters in 1920s Chicago.
bee
Title: Klondike
Character: Kathy O'Hara
Released: October 10, 1960
Type: TV
Klondike is a 17-episode half-hour American Western television series starring Ralph Taeger and James Coburn that aired on NBC. The series premiered on October 10, 1960 and ran until February 13, 1961, facing stiff competition from The Danny Thomas Show on CBS and the second half of the first-season detective series Surfside 6 starring Troy Donahue on ABC. Klondike followed Dale Robertson's Tales of Wells Fargo on the NBC schedule.
bee
Title: Mr. Lucky
Released: October 24, 1959
Type: TV
Mr. Lucky is a CBS adventure/drama television series that aired from October 24, 1959, to June 18, 1960, with repeats until September 3. Blake Edwards developed the program as a retooling of his Willie Dante character from Four Star Playhouse, where the role was played by studio boss Dick Powell. In the 1960–1961 season, Howard Duff assumed the role of Willie Dante in the NBC adventure/drama series Dante. Mr. Edwards directed and co-wrote the first episode of Mr. Lucky, and the credits of the first eighteen episodes included "Entire production supervised by Blake Edwards." Jack Arnold produced the show and directed fifteen of the thirty-four episodes. Henry Mancini's smooth theme music for the show reached Number 21 in the US singles charts. He released two successful LP's based on the show, Mr. Lucky and Mr. Lucky Goes Latin.
bee
Title: Not for Hire
Released: October 23, 1959
Type: TV
bee
Title: The Detectives
Released: October 16, 1959
Type: TV
The Detectives is an American crime drama series which ran on ABC during its first two seasons, and on NBC during its third and final season. The series, starring motion picture star Robert Taylor, was produced by Four Star Television.
bee
Title: Hawaiian Eye
Released: October 7, 1959
Type: TV
Private Eyes Tom Lopaka and Tracy Steele are based out of Hawaiian Village Resort where they work both hotel security and are hired by others to look into various matters. They're helped by their trusty right-hand man Kazuo Kim who runs a taxi company and is always eager to help them.
bee
Title: Rawhide
Character: Laura Carter
Released: January 9, 1959
Type: TV
The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across the old west. Along the way they meet up with adventure and drama.
bee
Machete
Title: Machete
Character: Jean Montoya
Released: December 1, 1958
Type: Movie
This 1959 film-noir take on "Othello," filmed in Puerto Rico, stars Mari Blanchard as flirtatious Jean, who marries an older man, plantation owner Don Luis, for financial security and finds herself falling for his virile foster son, Carlos. Fearing that Jean will inherit Luis's money, his greedy cousin, Miguel, poisons the bridegroom against his new wife, informing him about her passion for another.
bee
Title: 77 Sunset Strip
Released: October 10, 1958
Type: TV
Stu Bailey and Jeff Spencer are the wisecracking, womanizing private-detective heroes of this Warner Brothers drama. They work out of an office located at 77 Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, California, right next door to a snazzy restaurant where Kookie works as a valet. The finger-snapping, slang-talking Kookie occasionally helps Stu and Jeff with their cases, and eventually becomes a full-fledged member of the detective agency. Rex Randolph and J.R. Hale also join the firm, and Suzanne is their leggy secretary.
bee
No Place to Land
Title: No Place to Land
Character: Iris Lee LaVonne
Released: October 3, 1958
Type: Movie
A cropduster pilot finds himself caught between two women—one who loves him and the other, who doesn’t handle rejection well, who’s out to destroy him.
bee
Title: The Texan
Released: September 29, 1958
Type: TV
The Texan was a Western television series starring popular B movie actor Rory Calhoun, which aired on the CBS television network from 1958 to 1960.
bee
Title: Bronco
Released: September 23, 1958
Type: TV
Bronco is a Western series on ABC from 1958 through 1962. It was shown by the BBC in the United Kingdom. The program starred Ty Hardin as Bronco Layne, a former Confederate officer who wandered the Old West, meeting such well-known individuals as Wild Bill Hickok, Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Theodore Roosevelt, Belle Starr, Cole Younger, and John Wesley Hardin.
bee
Title: Sea Hunt
Released: January 4, 1958
Type: TV
Sea Hunt is an American adventure television series that aired in syndication from 1958 to 1961 and was popular in syndication for decades afterwards. The series originally aired for four seasons, with 155 episodes produced. It stars Lloyd Bridges as ex-Navy frogman Mike Nelson, and was produced by Ivan Tors.
bee
Karasu
Title: Karasu
Character: Nevin
Released: January 1, 1958
Type: Movie
bee
Title: Perry Mason
Character: Irene Chase
Released: September 21, 1957
Type: TV
The cases of master criminal defense attorney Perry Mason and his staff who handled the most difficult of cases in the aid of the innocent.
bee
Title: Sugarfoot
Character: Adah Isaacs Menken
Released: September 17, 1957
Type: TV
Sugarfoot is an American western television series that aired on ABC from 1957 to 1961. The series stars Will Hutchins as Tom Brewster, an Easterner who comes to the Oklahoma Territory to become a lawyer. Jack Elam is cast in occasional episodes as sidekick Toothy Thompson. Brewster was a correspondence-school student whose apparent lack of cowboy skills earned him the nickname "Sugarfoot", a designation even below that of a tenderfoot.
bee
Jungle Heat
Title: Jungle Heat
Character: Ann McRae
Released: July 22, 1957
Type: Movie
Japanese communists attempt to take over Hawaii and only Dr. Jim Ransom can stop them.
bee
She Devil
Title: She Devil
Character: Kyra Zelas
Released: April 1, 1957
Type: Movie
Biochemists give fruit-fly serum to a dying woman, with side effects.
bee
Stagecoach To Fury
Title: Stagecoach To Fury
Character: Barbara Duval
Released: December 13, 1956
Type: Movie
A group of stagecoach passengers are held hostage by bandits waiting for a shipment of gold they plan to steal.
bee
The Cruel Tower
Title: The Cruel Tower
Character: Mary 'The Babe' Thompson
Released: October 28, 1956
Type: Movie
The story of a bunch of hard-drinking steeplejacks.
bee
Basket of Mexican Tales
Title: Basket of Mexican Tales
Character: Gladys Winthrop
Released: May 17, 1956
Type: Movie
Strong-willed Luisa attracts lots of men, but her intelligence and sharp tongue often sends them running. When she meets Carlos, who is equally cagey, sparks fly. The two of them marry, and quickly begin clashing on a daily basis, humiliating each other as they try to teach one another lesson after lesson.
bee
The Crooked Web
Title: The Crooked Web
Character: Joanie Daniel
Released: November 30, 1955
Type: Movie
Following WWII, ex-G.I. Stan opened up a drive-in restaurant. His girlfriend, Joanie, is one of the car hops. They want to get married someday, but the less-than-stellar business the restaurant takes in puts a hold on that plan. One day, Joanie's ne’er-do-well brother Frank blows into town with a money-making scheme. She's against it, but Stan - an inveterate gambler - finds the promise of riches too seductive to resist…
bee
The Return of Jack Slade
Title: The Return of Jack Slade
Character: Texas Rose
Released: October 9, 1955
Type: Movie
To redeem his father's wrongdoings, Ericson joins the law to fight outlaws.
bee
Son of Sinbad
Title: Son of Sinbad
Character: Chistina
Released: June 2, 1955
Type: Movie
Legendary pirate and adventurer Sinbad is in single-minded pursuit of two things: beautiful women and a substance called Greek Fire--an early version of gunpowder.
bee
Title: The Millionaire
Character: Policewoman Laura Hunter
Released: January 19, 1955
Type: TV
An anthology series that explored the ways sudden and unexpected wealth changed life for better or for worse. It told the stories of people who were given one million dollars from a benefactor who insisted they never know him, with one exception.
bee
Destry
Title: Destry
Character: Brandy
Released: December 1, 1954
Type: Movie
Western remake of "Destry Rides Again", starring Audie Murphy, Mari Blanchard, Thomas Mitchell, Lori Nelson and Lyle Bettger.
bee
Title: Climax!
Released: October 7, 1954
Type: TV
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
bee
Black Horse Canyon
Title: Black Horse Canyon
Character: Aldis Spain
Released: June 1, 1954
Type: Movie
The story of a wild black stallion and the cowboys who set out to capture him.
bee
Rails Into Laramie
Title: Rails Into Laramie
Character: Lou Carter
Released: April 14, 1954
Type: Movie
A federal agent arrives in Laramie to try to find out who is behind the efforts to stop the construction of a new railroad track.
bee
The Veils of Bagdad
Title: The Veils of Bagdad
Character: Selima
Released: October 6, 1953
Type: Movie
Antar is sent by Suleiman, head of the Ottoman Empire, to Bagdad to prevent Hammam, Pasha of Bagdad, from purchasing the services of local leader Mustapha to unite the hill tribes and overthrow the emperor. The intrigue mounts as Antar falls in love with dancer Selima, who tries to avenge her father's death against Hammam's right-hand-man Kasseim, whose wife Rosanna has fallen in love with Antar!
bee
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
Title: Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
Character: Allura
Released: April 6, 1953
Type: Movie
Lester and Orville accidentally launch a rocket which is supposed to fly to Mars. Instead it goes to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. They are then forced by bank robber Mugsy and his pal Harry to fly to Venus where they find a civilization made up entirely of women, men having been banished.
bee
Title: Terry and the Pirates
Released: November 25, 1952
Type: TV
Terry and the Pirates is a short-lived American adventure series based on Milton Caniff's popular comic strip, was telecast from June 26, 1953 to November 21, 1953. The syndicated series ran for 18 episodes and was produced by Don Sharpe Enterprises. Canada Dry Ginger Ale was the show's original sponsor.
bee
Back at the Front
Title: Back at the Front
Character: Nina - Johnny Redondo's Accomplice
Released: October 1, 1952
Type: Movie
Further misadventures of comic soldiers Willie and Joe, now in Japan.
bee
Assignment: Paris
Title: Assignment: Paris
Character: Wanda Marlowe (scenes deleted)
Released: September 4, 1952
Type: Movie
Paris-based New York Herald Tribune reporter Jimmy Race (Andrews) is sent by his boss (Sanders) behind the Iron Curtain in Budapest to investigate a meeting involving the Hungarian ambassador.
bee
The Brigand
Title: The Brigand
Character: Dona Dolores Castro
Released: June 24, 1952
Type: Movie
Carlos Delargo, the banished son of a royal princess of Mandorra, is returned to the kingdom to be tried for a murder change. However, he is freed by King Lorenzo, whom bears a remarkable resemblance to Delargo. When the king is wounded by assassins sent by Napoleon, Delargo takes over the throne at the request of the Prime Minister in a plot to thwart the traitors. He also falls in love with Princess Teresa, the king's fiancée.
bee
Something to Live For
Title: Something to Live For
Character: Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
Released: March 7, 1952
Type: Movie
Advertising executive Alan Miller, a recovered alcoholic who now does interventions on behalf of Alcoholics Anonymous, is called to help Broadway actress Jenny Carey whose developing career is threatened by an increasing dependence on alcohol. Alan's growing interest in Jenny strains his marriage to Edna, with whom he has two children.
bee
Overland Telegraph
Title: Overland Telegraph
Character: Stella
Released: December 15, 1951
Type: Movie
Not to be confused with the 1929 film The Overland Telegraph, this Western from director Lesley Selander stars Tim Holt as a cowboy appropriately named Tim Holt. In order to hinder the construction of a new telegraph line for his own financial gain, scheming shopkeeper Paul Manning (George Nader) enlists the assistance of a gang of outlaws led by Brad Roberts (Hugh Beaumont in one of his many pre-Leave it to Beaver roles). Unfortunately for the bad guys, Holt and his cohort Chito Rafferty (Richard Martin) sense that there's foul play afoot and embark on an investigation.
bee
The Unknown Man
Title: The Unknown Man
Character: Sally Tever
Released: November 9, 1951
Type: Movie
A scrupulously honest lawyer discovers that the client he's gotten off was really guilty.
bee
Ten Tall Men
Title: Ten Tall Men
Character: Marie DeLatour
Released: October 26, 1951
Type: Movie
Sgt. Mike Kincaid of the French Foreign Legion learns, from a Riff prisoner, that an attack will soon be made by the villainous Hussin on the Legion's outpost of Tarfa. Kincaid volunteers to lead nine other Legionnaires on a mission to delay Hussin's attack till reinforcements arrive. When he discovers that Hussin plans to marry Mahla, a girl from a rival tribe, in order to build a coalition against the French, Kincaid kidnaps Mahla. Hussin forcefully takes her back, but by now his planned attack on Tarfa is crumbling and Mahla has begun to fall in love with Kincaid.
bee
Bannerline
Title: Bannerline
Character: Eloise
Released: October 12, 1951
Type: Movie
A young crusading reporter in a small town tackles civic corruption.
bee
No Questions Asked
Title: No Questions Asked
Character: Natalie
Released: June 15, 1951
Type: Movie
A young lawyer's primrose path to success gets him framed for murder.