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Post by neferetus on Dec 21, 2004 13:42:49 GMT -5
 Although not dealing with the Alamo specifically, the 1951 film, THE IRON MISTRESS, starring Alan Ladd and Virginia Mayo, covers an interesting and integral part of Jim Bowie's life: The creation of the Bowie Knife! Set in New Orleans and Natches in Louisiana, upon the Mississippi River and in Washington Arkansas, THE IRON MISTRESS is a wonderful period piece that transforms the viewer back to a point in history where a slight to one's honor was settled in cold steel in a duel to the death. Bowie's designing of his famous knife and the making of it by smithy James Black hearkens back to the mythological allure of King Arthur and his Excalibur. And the Vidalia Sandbar duel, in which Bowie gets run through by the sword cane of his antagonist, Norris Wright, is presented for the first and last time on film. Due to a time constraint, "THE IRON MISTRESS" story ends with Bowie's marriage to Ursula de Verimendi in San Antonio. (Curiously, another Bowie film that came out only four years later (Last Command) picks up the story from where IRON MISTRESS leaves off!) The release of IRON MISTRESS caused a lot of viewers to become knife enthisiasts and experts, among whom is Joseph Musso. With an impressive collection of historical and film prop Bowie Knives in his collection, Mr. Musso owns all of the IRON MISTRESS knives used in the Ladd film. One of the knives in Mr. Musso's collection went on to be used by Scott Forbes in the "Adventures Of Jim Bowie" TV show, by Sterling Hayden, in "Last Command" and Richard Widmark, in John Wayne's "The Alamo". Hard to find on VHS, THE IRON MISTRESS is even scarcer located on DVD. It deserves wider distribution and a prominent place on your history of the Alamo video shelf. |
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Post by neferetus on Dec 21, 2004 14:37:20 GMT -5
 Here's a French Poster for "Iron Mistress". |
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Post by neferetus on Dec 21, 2004 14:40:40 GMT -5
 Alan Ladd, as Jim Bowie and Virginia Mayo, as Bowie's love interest, Judalon DuBournay, from "The Iron Mistress" (1951) |
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Post by neferetus on Dec 21, 2004 15:48:01 GMT -5
I just saw a German bootleg DVD of IRON MISTRESS on eBay for $32.00, plus $12.00 shipping and handling. I think 1'll just wait...
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Post by Bromhead24 on Dec 21, 2004 20:18:40 GMT -5
If i remember correctly, Alan Ladd was only about 5 feet tall and had to stand on platforms to make him look taller...
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Post by neferetus on Dec 22, 2004 11:38:46 GMT -5
If i remember correctly, Alan Ladd was only about 5 feet tall and had to stand on platforms to make him look taller... Ladd was supposed to have been about five foot four. Notwithstanding, his leading lady, Virginia Mayo, must've been a tiny woman, indeed. Hollywood trick photography at the time was surprisingly simple---and surprizingly effective. Yes, at times Ladd would have to stand upon some sort of rise in order to appear taller on screen. Another clever optical illusion was created by having the shorter actor stand in the foreground and the taller actor, some several feet back and facing the opposite direction. When the camera filmed the two it would give the illusion that the two actors were standing straight across from each other, with the shorter actor now appearing taller. (Ladd hated the idea of elevator shoes.) |
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Post by Bromhead24 on Dec 24, 2004 11:49:13 GMT -5
He should of been arround in the 70's when "Platform Shoes" were the hip thing to wear.. ;D
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Post by neferetus on Jan 19, 2005 11:07:50 GMT -5
Alan Ladd, as Jim Bowie and Virginia Mayo, as Bowie's love interest, Judalon DuBournay, from "The Iron Mistress" (1951) Word has just arrived in these quarters that IRON MISTRESS star, Virginia Mayo died this week at the age of 82. Rest In Peace, Virginia. Another link to my Alamo past---and my youth---gone.  |
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Post by Greg C. on Jan 19, 2005 20:22:54 GMT -5
my prayers go out to her family.  |
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Post by neferetus on Apr 6, 2005 18:18:32 GMT -5
 Alan Ladd, as Jim Bowie, with Norris Wright's sword cane protruding from his chest during the Vidalia Sandbar Duel. |
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Post by Greg C. on Apr 13, 2005 16:43:09 GMT -5
is there anything mentioned about the alamo in there?
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Post by neferetus on Jan 19, 2006 19:45:03 GMT -5
Unfortunately, no. Had the film encompassed the complete novel, it would've had to have run for at least 3 1/2 hours---not that that would have been a bad thing. In IRON MISTRESS, we get a fleeting glimpse of what is supposed to be San Antonio, when Bowie is visiting with Ursula de Verimendi and her family. The final scene of the film shows Bowie and Ursula's wedding in a large church. (The San Fernando Church?) One nice thing for those out there who are pining for a more, or less 'definitive' biography of Bowie on film, it is well to note that the film LAST COMMAND, with Sterling Hayden, picks up the story at just about the point where IRON MISTRESS leaves off. (Bowie is returning to Texas to visit with Ursula.) Now, if ony they had gotten Alan Ladd to reprise his role as Bowie in this one, the dream may've been realized. Oh well...cest la vie!  |
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Post by neferetus on Jul 18, 2006 0:16:26 GMT -5
  Cathcing a card shark at cheating on a riverboat. |
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Post by neferetus on Jul 18, 2006 0:28:40 GMT -5
 Nefarious Ned Huthmacher with the Iron Mistress knife and the Arkansas Toothpick used by Blood Jack Sturde- vant in the film. Both blades are part of the Joseph Musso collection. |
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Post by neferetus on Feb 16, 2007 23:07:03 GMT -5
Has anyone seen this on DVD? I mean not a bootleg version?
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Post by tman56 on Feb 23, 2007 16:49:56 GMT -5
I can just imagine if they had filmed the Alamo for IRON MISTRESS. There could have been a scene at the end of young, wide-eyed Enrique Esparza running after Bowie as he rides toward the Alamo yelling: "Santiago, don't go! I love you, Santiago!". Oh, wait, that's a different movie...
tman56
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Post by neferetus on Apr 4, 2007 14:54:42 GMT -5
 The Bowie Brothers and their mother discuss local Louisiana politics. |
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Post by neferetus on Apr 4, 2007 14:56:09 GMT -5
 Bowie's knife fight with Bloody Jack Sturdevant. |
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Post by neferetus on Apr 4, 2007 14:57:32 GMT -5
 Bowie, with the lovely Judalon Du Bournay. |
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Post by neferetus on Apr 5, 2007 14:46:56 GMT -5
There's a new DVD called IRON MISTRESS set for release on 04/10/2007. But, unless you're a fan of Chinese period martial-arts films, don't go running to your video store just yet. For It has absoulutely nothing to do with either the knife, or the 1951 film of the same name. Made me do a double-take, though.
Here's the synopsis:
Plenty of bloodletting and violence ensues as Northern China turns into a battleground in IRON MISTRESS. A group of rebels, led by the Iron Mistress, find themselves under siege as Genghis Khan's warriors attempt to cut their lives short. Betrayal and broken friendships are also stirred into the mix, making this a heady brew for martial arts fans.
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