Five Card Stud (1968) Now on BluRay!

Vinegar Syndrome released a Blu-ray of the 1968 western Five Card Stud earlier this year. VS restored the film into 4K from its 35 mm camera negative and the results are stunning! The Blu-ray includes a commentary track with film historian Brian Hannan and short features on Henry Hathaway and Marguerite Roberts. The movie has always been an enjoyable western but the enhanced quality of the Blu-ray gave me a new appreciation for the love scenes between Dean Martin and Inger as well as the action scenes featuring Dean and Robert Mitchum.

Inger and the Blue Ribbon 400 in 1969

Inger talks to Mrs. Jonathan Larsen at the Blue Ribbon 400 party.

Inger was a member of the Blue Ribbon 400, a group of socialites and celebrities that supported L.A.'s Performing Arts Council. The Blue Ribbon 400 gathered at Mrs. Ingrid Orbach's home for a garden party on Wednesday, June 11, 1969. And who was Mrs. Ingrid Orbach? None other than Swedish actress Ingrid Goude whom Inger posed with for Life Magazine in 1957.

Ingrid Goude (later Orbach), Inger Stevens, and Mai Britt. 1957.

Director George Cukor, actress Rosalind Russell, and actress/dancer Marge Champion gave speeches during the event. In attendance were Polly Bergen, Natalie Trundy, Hope Lange, Shirlee Fonda, and Inger Stevens, of course. The Blue Ribbon 400 aimed for 400 women to pledge to give or raise $1,000 annually to the Los Angeles Music Center. It was revealed during the gathering that the Blue Ribbon 400 had raised over a million dollars to support the arts in less than a year. 

Ingrid Goude Orbach speaks to a guest at the party.