Foxfire (1955)

1955's "Foxfire" has several things going for it -- mainly the star power of Jane Russell and Jeff Chandler. They are very sexy together and their chemistry permeates this film. Their performances are subtle yet resonate with honest emotion. Both actors have a natural style of acting which allows the viewer to swallow the script's melodramatic clichés without rejecting the whole scenario of a New York socialite impulsively marrying an Arizona miner. Here Russell once again shows that she was in the ranks of Mitchum & Gable -- two of her screen co-stars -- and that she knew how to make her acting look effortless and completely natural. However, given all the salacious publicity she received, rarely was her talent or her charismatic screen presence truly appreciated during her heyday. Here her usual tough and hard-boiled persona is toned downed and she gives a performance showing sensitivity and vulnerability. She is completely believable in a role that was originally intended for June Allyson! Chandler too is quite good: silent yet complex and he shows these characteristics without the histrionics typically used by actors in similar roles (i.e. Robert Stack). The gorgeous Technicolor enhances the Arizona scenery and the great Dan Duryea offers fine support as an alcoholic doctor in love with Russell. Mara Corday also shines in the small role of Duryea's nurse. "Foxfire" is not as stylistic or as over-the-top fun as Douglas Sirks' classic Universal sudsers, but very good in it's own right. The opening credits with Chandler singing the theme song (co-written by Chandler and Henry Mancini) sets the tone for a very good romantic drama starring two of the 1950s most underrated and sexiest stars. This film needs to be released on DVD!!

This is one of 3 best movies Russell ever made: the other being gentleman prefer blonds with Marilyn and His Kind of Woman with Robert Mitchem...she is so beautiful, charming and totally a match of these two co-stars it is a pleasure to see them. Chandler is wonderful, what a shame dying at 42 from a bungled spinal operation(blood poisoning), or they would have surely made more movies together..check it out, a true spark between them...and ditto for she and Robert Mitchem in His Kind of Love 1955..they became lifelong friends until his death, Great interview by Robt Osbourne on Turner with the two of them. Louise ONeill

Originally I read Foxfire before I saw the movie. When I was sixteen I read Anya Seton's novel Foxfire. I enjoyed it immensely. My mother told me that there was a movie based on the novel & I began watching the listings in the TV Guide, searching for the listing for Foxfire. When I finally got to see the movie I was greatly impressed. I was terribly romantic, this movie's theme was a revelation to me of the pettiness of some people. I always found bigotry & prejudice to be very offensive. The way that this was conveyed in the movie brought sympathy to both lead characters. Dartland, J. Chandler's role,was so over sensitized to prejudice & his wife was so naive as to its existence, that the confrontation between the two, made the audience think. There are many sides to ugliness in society & this story embraced many of the facets of prejudice & bigotry. Perhaps love does concur all, at least that, in my opinion, is the theme of this story. I would rate this story as a two hanky classic. Love this film!

On vacation, Jane Russell meets and falls for a local guy and wants to marry him. She finds she doesn't understand him fully but pursues to investigate him in order to make a success of their marriage. Enjoyable scenery, lovely gowns and Jane looks great in her short hair.