The Cruel Tower, Blonde Bombshell Corrupts He-Men

You ever wonder how those huge water towers are cleaned? No? Me neither. Or those big smokestacks that need repair? Yeah...me neither. Why not make a movie about it? To get people to watch it we stick in a blonde bombshell who does none of the climbing or cleaning! She merely corrupts the hunks that do all the work and climbing. Mari Blanchard! What a doll! Blonde bombshell, indeed. Together with some hunks she will introduce us to the world of steeplejacks. Our feature today is 1956's "The Cruel Tower," directed by Lew Landers.

Steeplejack? You had to ask. These are the men who climb up tall things, like water towers and industrial smokestacks, to do repairs. They spend their waking hours hundreds of feet up in the air. Unfortunately, gravity often ends their careers as they splat on the ground below. Tom (John Ericson), escaping from his life, is thrown off a freight train by irate hobos. We can all relate to this. He's picked up by half-wit Joss (Peter Whitney), brought back to a trailer, and nursed back to health by The Babe, or Mary (Blanchard). He's in love...and so are we! Uh oh, Mary is Stretch's (Charles McGraw) gal. Stretch is the boss of a steeplejack contacting outfit and his crew goes from one tall structure to the next. Now Stretch convinces Tom to join them. Stretch, who is married, seems like a good guy, but Mary is his girlfriend. Tom wants to run off with Mary...see what is happening?

Much of this film takes place hundreds of feet straight up with The Babe looking up from the ground. Casey (Steve Brodie) is a friend to everyone and Stretch's right-hand man...though he is also boinking Stretch's wife. Joss? A big galoot who was left a half-wit after a steeplejack accident. He's a religious fanatic and points out sin wherever it appears. He knows Mary is a floozie.  Eventually "the skipper" (Alan Hale, Jr.) joins the crew. Now Stretch figures out Tom wants Mary. He also figures out Casey is messing around with his wife. 200 feet straight up is prime territory for...accidents, and they begin happening. Ropes break. Scaffolding breaks. Gravity rears its ugly head. Mary kisses Tom. Now the happy steeplejack company may be the deadliest job a big strong hobo-wannabe can get.

Is there any chance Tom can end up with Mary and it all goes well?  Is Stretch responsible for the unfortunate "accidents" that occur atop huge water towers? Is Mary an angel of love, or the spawn of Satan? This is a good one and seeing men ruined by a pretty blonde with great big...er, a great big smile is a classic theme that never gets old.  See "The Cruel Tower" and admire the beauty of a blonde bombshell who actually answered all her fan mail, Mari Blanchard.