This week’s mystery movie was the 1955 Warner Bros. picture “I Died a Thousand Times,” with Jack Palance, Shelley Winters, Lori Nelson, Lee Marvin, Gonzalez Gonzalez, Lon Chaney, Earl Holliman, Perry Lopez, Richard Davalos, Howard St. John, Olive Carey, Ralph Moody, James Millican and Bill Kennedy. In CinemaScope and WarnerColor.
Written by W.R. Burnett (“High Sierra”), photographed by Ted McCord, art direction by Edward Carrere, set decoration by William L. Kuehl, wardrobe by Moss Mabry. Second unit director Russ Saunders, second unit assistant Al Alleborn, second unit photographer Edwin DuPar, dialogue supervisor Eugene Busch, makeup supervisor Gordon Bau, orchestrations by Maurice de Packh and Gus Levene, assistant director Chuck Hansen, music by David Buttolph, produced by Willis Goldbeck and directed by Stuart Heisler.
“I Died a Thousand Times” is available on DVD from Warner Archive.
New York Times movie critic Bosley Crowther (and I’ll bet you know where this is going) wrote a blistering review of “I Died a Thousand Times” in the New York Times (Nov. 10, 1955), calling the film “antique and absurd” and “a total cliche.” He also says Shelley Winters was “piteously without skill.” Crowther also notes that Roy Earle had become an antique since Humphrey Bogart played the role in “High Sierra.”
I don’t usually reproduce the New York Times reviews of the mystery movies, but this one is worth a read. When Crowther didn’t like a movie, he really didn’t like it.
The plot is definitely musty in places. I mean, really? In 1955?
For Monday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: This is the beardless Paul Brinegar.
For Tuesday, we have two mystery women. Our leading man has been cropped out due to his complete lack of mysteriousness. This is mystery woman No. 1.
Update: This is Peggy Maley.
… and mystery woman No. 2.
Update: This is Karolee Kelly.
Brain Trust roll call: Sarah (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery bus driver).
For Wednesday, we have mystery gents No. 1 and 2 …
Update: This is Ralph Moody and Dub Taylor, with Lori Nelson and Mystery Movie Emerita Olive Carey in the background.
… mystery gent No. 3 …
Update: This is James Millican.
… and mystery gent No. 4.
Update: This is Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez.
Brain Trust roll call: Sarah (Tuesday’s mystery woman No. 2).
For Thursday, we have not-terribly-mysterious-gent No. 1….
Update: This is Nick Adams.
… not-terribly-mysterious-gent No. 2 …
Update: This is Perry Lopez.
… and not-terribly-mysterious-gent No. 3.
Update: This is Dennis Hopper.
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery bus driver and Wednesday’s mystery gents Nos. 2 and 4), David Inman (Wednesday’s mystery gent No. 2), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery bus driver, Tuesday’s mystery woman No. 2, and Wednesday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (Wednesday’s mystery gent No. 2), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Gary (Wednesday’s mystery gent No. 2), Anne Papineau (mystery movie, mystery bus driver and Wednesday’s mystery gents Nos. 2 and 4), Sylvia E. (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery woman No. 2 and Wednesday’s mystery gents), L.C. (mystery movie with mystery cast), Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery bus driver, Tuesday’s mystery woman No. 2, and Wednesday’s mystery guests), and Benito (Wednesday’s mystery gent No. 2).
For Friday, we have two utterly non-mysterious gents.
Update: This is Earl Holliman and Lee Marvin.
And this may be the strangest shot in the entire mystery movie.
Update: This is Shelley Winters and Jack Palance.
Brain Trust roll call: Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s not-terribly-mysterious gents), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s not-terribly-mysterious gents), Gary (mystery movie — I know, were they ever that young?), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s not-terribly-mysterious gents), Chrisbo (mystery movie), Beach Gal (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery bus driver, Tuesday’s mystery woman No. 2, Wednesday’s mystery guests No. 2 and No. 4, and Thursday’s not-terribly-mysterious gents), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery bus driver, Tuesday’s mystery women Nos. 1 and 2, Wednesday’s mystery gents and Thursday’s not-terribly-mysterious gents Nos. 1 and 3) and Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s not-terribly-mysterious gents).
And by popular demand …
Update: This is Jack Palance and Lon Chaney Jr. in some very odd framing.
ladailymirror.com 
Johnny Silver.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Tony Carbone
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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This is Paul Brinegar in “I Died a Thousand Times.”
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“Some Came Running”?
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Right era, but, alas, wrong studio.
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Al Stetson “Midnight Cowboy”.
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An interesting guess! But it’s a different bus — and a different studio, alas.
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Since I’m on a roll, I’ll guess that the second mystery actress on Tuesday is Karolee Kelly.
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Milton Frome on Monday and WHO’S MINDING THE STORE?
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A good guess, but, alas, too recent and the wrong studio.
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Looks like Roscoe Ates in the bus
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Interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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“I Died a Thousand Times”
I recognize Paul Brinegar, Dub Taylor, and Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez
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Today’s mystery gent number two is Dub Taylor. Is the movie “A Hole in the Head”? And maybe Connie Sawyer as Tuesday’s mystery woman number two?
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I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES
Monday: Paul Brinegar
Tuesday: Myrna Fahey; Karolee Kelly
Wednesday: Ralph Moody & Dub Taylor; James Millican; Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez
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Toothsome Dub Taylor
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Paul Brinegar, Karolee Kelly, Dub Taylor, Ralph Moody, James Millican and Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez in I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES.
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Ralph Moody, Dub Taylor, James Millican, and Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez in I Died a Thousand Times.
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Dub Taylor and …uh…
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I’m wondering if this is You Can’t Run Away From It with a young Henny Youngman as the bus driver?
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Right era, wrong studio. 🙂
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Am hoping that the bus driver is Paul Brinegar. Looks like Dub Taylor as Mystery Gent No. 2 and Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez as Mystery Gent No. 4. Might this be “I Died a Thousand Times?”
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Well, I recognize Wednesday’s gent #2 (Dub Taylor.) The hunt is on!
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I Died a Thousand Times 1955 is the movie (I think)
No guess for Monday
Tuesday’s cropped out mystery guy I’m guessing is Jack Palance, but I’m not sure of mystery woman #1. Mystery woman #2 looks like she’s selling cigars, so she’s probably Karolee Kelly
Wednesday – Ralph Moody (maybe), Dub Taylor, James Mllican and Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez
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Continuing (and going back)
Monday – Paul Brinegar (didn’t recognize him without the “Rawhide” beard.
Tuesday – still not sure of the woman, but maybe LaRue Farlow???
Thursday – Nick Adams, Perry Lopez in the FG with Earl Holliman in BG (stealing stuff) and ‘cropped out mystery man with a gun pointed at Perry’ , Jack Palance, and finally, Dennis Hopper
Friday – Earl Holliman & Lee Marvin, Shelley Winters & Jack (revealed at last), Jack and Lon Chaney Jr.
This was fun. Thanks
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I Died A Thousand Times (1955) w/Jack Palance, Shelley Winters, Dub Taylor, Lori Nelson, Pedro Gonzales Gonzales, etc…
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I DIED A THOUSAND TIMES. Paul Brinegar Monday, Mary Benoit and Karolee Kelly Tuesday, then Ralph Moody and Dub Taylor, James Millican, and Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez today.
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Dub Taylor is codger no. 2
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Nick Adams, Perry Lopez, and Dennis Hopper
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Nick Adams, Perry Lopez, and Dennis Hopper. Fay Baker Monday.
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I Died a Thousand Times …even though the juvenile cast reads like Rebel Without a Cause.
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Nick Adams, Perry Lopez and Dennis Hopper cavorting.
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I Died a Thousand Times
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This week’s film is I Died A Thousand Times.
Monday’s bus driver is Paul Brinegar
Gent #2 on Wed is Dub Taylor
Tues woman #2 is Karolee Kelly
Wed gent #2 is Dub Taylor
Wed gent #4 is Gonzalez Gonzalez
Thurs gent #1 is Nick Adams. Gent #2 is Perry Lopez. Gent #3 is Dennis Hopper.
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Friday we should see Jack Palance, Shelley Winters and possibly Lee Marvin
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Tues mystery actress #1 might be LaRue Farlow.
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For Friday we have Richard Davalos & Lee Marvin, Shelley Winters with Jack Palance (and doggie), Lon Chaney Jr with Jack Palance.
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Mystery woman #1 on Tues must be Lori Nelson
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The movie is “I Died a Thousand Times.” Monday’s guest is Paul Bringer
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Tuesday’s guests (not 100% sure): 1- Myrna Fahey, 2- Karolee Kelly
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Wednesday: 1- Ralph Moody, 2- Dub Taylor, 3- James Millican, 4- Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez?
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Thursday: 1- Nick Adams, 2- Stuart Heisler, 3- Dennis Hopper
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Nick Adams, Perry Lopez, Dennis Hopper.
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Myrna Fahey on Tueaday, Earl Holliman and Lee Maravin, and Shelley Winters and Jack Palance today.
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No shot of Lon Chaney Jr.?
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Earl Holliman, Lee Marvin; Shelley Winters, Jack Palance.
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Earl Holliman, Lee Marvin, Shelley Winters, Jack Palance and Lon Chaney, Jr.
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Earl Holliman, Lee Marvin, Shelley Winters, Jack Palance, and Lon Chaney, Jr.
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Thursday #2 guest: Perry Lopez? Friday: Earl Holliman and Lee Marvin, Shelley Winters and Jack Palance ( I don’t know the dog’s name), and finally, Lon Chaney Jr.
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