End Credits #103: Cinema's 2021 Lost Treasures Joan Didion, Arlene Dahl, Dean Stockwell, Jane Powell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Ed Asner, Jane Withers, Robert Downey Sr.

These are some of Cinema's sad departures of 2021 taken from my personal notes soon after the events took place:

The exceptional novelist and screenwriter Joan Didion died at age 87. She was known in the motion picture world for her incisive screenplays often pertaining to psychologically troubled individuals and written with her husband John Gregory Dunne including The Panic in Needle Park (1971, from the book by James Mills), the under seen and even more under appreciated Play It As It Lays (1972, adapted from her own novel), A Star Is Born (1976, along with director Frank Pierson), True Confessions (1981, taken from her husband’s novel) and Up Close & Personal (1996, adapted from a book by Alanna Nash). Since then, two of Joan’s novels have been adapted by others for the screen The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) and A Book of Common Prayer (currently in pre-production). Joan Didion (December 5, 1934 - December 23, 2021) R.I.P.

The captivating Arlene Dahl died at age 96. She was one of the very few enduring actresses who graced the classic film noir period with her beautiful, talented and enchanting presence. Her first credited role was in My Wild Irish Rose (1947, for Warner Bros. playing Rose Donovan). Soon thereafter, she signed with MGM, making The Bride Goes Wild (1948, with stars Van Johnson and June Allyson). More substantial roles followed in The Black Book aka Reign of Terror (1949, a prominent period noir directed by Anthony Mann, see picture), Scene of the Crime (1949, reunited with Van Johnson only this time another intriguing film noir), Ambush (1950, a notable western with Robert Taylor), MGM’s musical Three Little Words (1950, starring alongside Fred Astaire), the little known Inside Straight (1951, written by Guy Trosper), Jamaica Run (1953, costarring Ray Milland), Here Come the Girls (1953), Slightly Scarlet (1956, another noir sensation based on the novel "Love's Lovely Counterfeit" by James M. Cain) and the fantasy adventure Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959). Her last film appearance was in Night of the Warrior (1991, playing the mother of actor Lorenzo Lamas, her real life son). Arlene Dahl (August 11, 1925 - November 29, 2021) R.I.P.

Actor extraordinaire Dean Stockwell died at age 85. Dean made his stage debut at age 7, was spotted by a talent agent and soon became a successful child star in motion pictures such as Anchors Aweigh (1945, alongside Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson and Gene Kelly), The Green Years (1946, actor Tom Drake’s character as a child), The Mighty McGurk (1947, with Wallace Beery), The Arnelo Affair (1947), Song of the Thin Man (1947, with William Powell and Myrna Loy and Stockwell as Nick Charles Jr.), Gentleman’s Agreement (1947, as Tommy Green, son of Gregory Peck’s character), The Boy with Green Hair (1948, as the title character), Down to the Sea in Ships (1949, as Jed Joy), Stars in My Crown (1950) and Kim (as the title character based on Rudyard Kipling’s novel). As a young man, Stockwell made a smooth transition into such prestigious dramas as Compulsion (1959, the actor receiving, along with co-stars Orson Welles and Bradford Dillman, a “collaborative” acting award at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival), Sons and Lovers (1960, based on the novel by D.H. Lawrence) and Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962, with Stockwell portraying a semi-fictional version of the original stage play’s author Eugene O’Neill). Still later roles of distinction were performed in Paris Texas (1984), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Blue Velvet (1986, as actor Dennis Hopper’s friend Ben, see picture), Married to the Mob (1988), Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988, as Howard Hughes), The Player (1992), Air Force One (1997), The Rainmaker (1997), Buffalo Soldiers (2001) and The Manchurian Candidate (2004). Regular TV viewers may remember him most for his role as Admiral Al Calavicci in the TV series Quantum Leap (1989-1993). Dean Stockwell (March 5, 1936 - November 7, 2021) R.I.P.

Another of our previous “Enduring Stars” passed away: Jane Powell at age 92. She performed on the radio and theatre before making her teenage motion picture debut in Song of the Open Road (1944, with Edgar Bergen, Bonita Granville and W.C. Fields). Jane went on to be featured in other musical/romance/comedies such as Delightfully Dangerous (1945), Holiday in Mexico (1946), Three Daring Daughters aka The Birds and the Bees (1948), A Date with Judy (1948), Luxury Liner (1948), Nancy Goes to Rio (1950), Two Weeks with Love (1950), Royal Wedding (1951, costarring Fred Astaire and directed by Stanley Donen, see picture), Rich, Young and Pretty (1951), Three Sailors and a Girl (1953), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954, perhaps her most cherished role as Milly, again directed by Stanley Donen), Hit the Deck (1955) and The Girl Most Likely (1957). She made a couple of impressive dramatic turns in The Female Animal (1958) and Enchanted Island (1958) before moving on to stage and TV appearances. Jane Powell (April 1, 1929 - September 16, 2021) R.I.P.

Actor Michael Kenneth Williams died at age 54. After making some brief but strong impressions in various TV series and films, Williams was especially forceful in Ben Affleck’s feature-length directorial debut Gone Baby Gone (2007, as Devin) and as Omar Little in the acclaimed TV series The Wire (2002 - 2008). He continued his vivid and carefully considered characterisations in The Road (2009, see picture), 12 Years a Slave (2013), RoboCop (2014), Inherent Vice (2014), The Gambler (2014), Ghostbusters (2016), Assassin's Creed (2016), Superfly (2018) and Arkansas (2020). Perhaps Williams’ most memorable role was as Chalky White in the TV series Boardwalk Empire (2010 - 2014) although viewers who saw his commanding performances in the TV Mini Series’ The Night Of (2014) or When They See Us (2019) or the fairly recent TV series Lovecraft Country (2020) for example, might disagree. Michael Kenneth Williams (November 22, 1966 - September 6, 2021) R.I.P.



French superstar Jean-Paul Belmondo died at age 88. His breakthrough role occurred fairly early in his career playing a small-time thief in director Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless aka À bout de souffle (1960). He appeared in a variety of diverse films such as Classe Tous Risques (1960, a CC “Hidden Gem”, see picture), Seven Days… Seven Nights (1960), Two Women (1960), Une Femme est une Femme (1961), Léon Morin, prêtre (1961), Cartouche aka Swords of Blood (1962), Le Doulos (1962, another of his more prestigious films), That Man from Rio (1964), Pierrot le Fou (1965), Is Paris Burning? (1966), The Brain (1969), Mississippi Mermaid (1969), Borsalino (1970), The Burglars (1971), Stavisky (1974, also producer), Fear Over the City aka The Night Caller aka Peur sur la ville (1975), Incorrigible (1975), Le Professionnel (1981), Le Marginal (1983), Hold-Up (1985), Itinerary of a Spoiled Child (1988, a César Award recipient for Best Actor), Les Misérables (1995), Désiré (1996) and his last motion picture appearance in A Man and His Dog (2008). Jean-Paul Belmondo (April 9, 1933 - September 6, 2021) R.I.P.

Distinguished motion picture character actor, political activist and author Ed Asner died at age 91. Between numerous TV appearances, he contributed some strong characterisations in the motion pictures Kid Galahad (1962, although uncredited), The Satan Bug (1965), The Slender Thread (1965), The Venetian Affair (1966), the excellent Howard Hawks western El Dorado (1966, see picture), Gunn (1967), They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970), The Todd Killings (1971), Fort Apache the Bronx (1981), JFK (1991), Hard Rain (1998), Elf (2003), The Commission (2003), Up (2009, as the voice of Carl Fredricksen) and Citizens United (2015). He was probably best known for his newspaper editor Lou Grant, first on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970 - 1977) and for which later resulted in his own spin off series Lou Grant (1977 - 1982). Asner was the recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series for his portrayal of Axel Jordache on Rich Man, Poor Man (1976) and Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series for playing Captain Thomas Davies in Part 1 of Roots (1977). Ed Asner (November 15, 1929 - August 29, 2021) R.I.P.

Actress Jane Withers died at age 95. During the depression, many of the major studios went looking for the next Shirley Temple or child superstar who could produce amazing box office results. 20th Century Fox “discovered” the talented Jane Withers (by age 3 she was taking singing and dancing lessons) but since this was the same studio that had Temple under contract, Withers first found herself playing a subordinate role to Shirley, most memorably in Bright Eyes (1934, as Joy Smythe). She also played a supporting part in The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935, Henry Fonda’s first film appearance directed by Victor Fleming). Withers enjoyed starring roles of her own as a child actress in Ginger (1935), Little Miss Nobody (1936), Pepper (1936) and 45 Fathers (1937, see picture) amongst others. As a teen, Withers made memorable appearances in We’re in the Army Now aka Pack Up Your Troubles (1939, with The Ritz Brothers), Shooting High (1940, with Gene Autry), A Very Young Lady (1941), My Best Gal (1944) and many more. She also appeared in such notable films as Lewis Milestone’s The North Star (1943), Giant (1956) and Captain Newman, M.D. (1963). Jane Withers (April 12, 1926 - August 7, 2021) R.I.P.

New York City born actor/director/writer Robert Downey Sr. died at age 85. He was at the forefront of the ‘60s independent cinema movement. Some of the choice films he wrote and directed include Chafed Elbows (1966), one of the CC’s Top Ten Guilty Treasures: Putney Swope (1969), Pound (1970) and Greaser's Palace (1972). As an actor, he gave memorable performances in To Live and Die in L.A. (1975, also with Dean Stockwell, see above), The Family Man (2000) and Tower Heist (2011) amongst others. Robert Downey Sr. (June 24, 1936 - July 7, 2021) R.I.P.