The Carol Ohmart Appreciation Chapter One: THE SCARLET HOUR (1956)

 

 

Carol Ohmart was an actress who I think deserves more appreciation or respect. I was fascinated how Paramount had spent over 2 million dollars (an enormous sum of money for 1955 or thereabouts) to promote her. Carol was dubbed, "The Female Brando" in this article:

Her debut film THE SCARLET HOUR is very good, but the movie was a box office dud, panned by critics for the most part, and within a couple years, Carol Ohmart, almost disappeared. Here is a Los Angeles Times article from 1971 posted on twitter.

Paramount canceled her contract and she struggled the rest of her career. She did appear in episodes of various tv shows and she did make a total of 10 movies but her very best film in my opinion is still THE SCARLET HOUR.

The film has a high rating on IMDb and people besides me want it to be released on Blu Ray DVD,THE SCARLET HOUR. 

I thought Carol had a dangerous and interesting look, a great figure, and had a commanding presence in the film. Very strong and independent.

A very wild and exotic look but sophisticated as well.

The movie had a fantastic supporting cast with Tom Tryon, James Gregory, Edward Binns, E.G. Marshall, Elaine Stritch, Jody Lawrance, David Lewis, and a special musical appearance by Nat King Cole. Love the movie and I'm shocked it was so poorly received. You can watch the film on youtube at this link. The Scarlet Hour

I hope you take time to watch the film.

Carol Ohmart gave a great performance in this film. As Carol stated in an interview: "Audrey Hepburn got to start her career with playing a Princess in ROMAN HOLIDAY and got an Academy Award, Shirley MacLaine got to begin in a Alfred Hitchcock light comedy film THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY where as I played an unsympathetic character in THE SCARLET HOUR and was the villain".

Regardless of fate or history, Carol did a great job playing said villain.

I find Carol Ohmart mesmerizing in THE SCARLET HOUR!