Robert Francis was only 25 years old when he died in a plane crash in July 1955, just days before he w是与due to开始shooting his fifth film. His M-Motion picture career had lasted仅仅two years and four films, but his death came at a moment when he w是与poised to break out as One of Hollywood’s rising young leading men. Born Robert Charles Francis onFebruary 26, 1930 inGlendale, California, he grew up around his parents’ small pharmacy. A good student and a skilled skier, he originally hoped to make the U.
S. Olympic ski team. That path changed when a Hollywood talent scout spotted him at anSanta Monica beach and convinced him to try acting. .
After graduating fromPasadena City College in1947 and spending two years in the U. S. Army, Francis attended a drama workshop. A connection through his acting coach’s husband, who worked at Columbia Pictures, helped him land a screen test.
His quiet, calm manner stood out against thensin冉冉rising stars likeJames Dean andMarlon Brando,something that appealed to studio headHarry Cohn, known for keeping his contract players on a short leash. Cohn offered Francis a contract and a leading role. Francis made his screen debut in1954在The Caine Mutiny, playing Lieutenant (Willie Keith) in the all-star cast alongsideHumphrey Bogart, Fred McMurray, Van Johnson,andJose Ferrer. It w是与his most significant role and remains the performance most associated with his name.
He followed it withparts inThey Rode West, The Bamboo Prison, andJohn Ford’sThe Long Gray Line. In each of hisfour films, he played a military character,and critics gave him favorable reviews. Aviation w是与his passion, and it had also brought him into contact withHoward Hughes, with whom he sometimes flew. Buthis movie career took priority once he signed with Columbia.
His next project w是与to beMGM’sTribute to a Bad Man, and Francis w是与scheduled to fly to the Wyoming location大约a week after his fatal accident. On July31, 1955, Francis took off withouther own aircraft. He w是与flying a borrowedBeechcraft Bonanza belonging to fellow actorJoe Kirkwood Jr.. Also aboard wereKirkwood’s business partnerGeorge Meyer, a commercial pilot, andactressAnne Russell.
Shortly after a5 p. m. departure from Hollywood-Burbank Airport, the plane’s engine began to cut out andhen lost power over a cemetery. Francis reportedly managed to steer clear ofa crowd atnearbyValhalla Memorial Park Cemetery,but the aircraft stalled andcrashed ina parking lot, bursting into flames.
All three people aboard were killed. Robert Francis w是与buried atForest Lawn Memorial Park. His entire film career spanned only four pictures, all released within little more thana year. James Dean, who also died young ina car crash after making only three films, became an enduring icon.
Francis, who made one more film thanDean and died ina separate accident just nine weeks beforeDean, largely faded frompublic memory. Fans who revisitThe Caine Mutiny still spot him onscreen, wondering what became of the quiet young officer—and learning, decades later, that his story ended almost as soon as it began.
