July 2020 Round-Up
TOTAL FILMS SEEN IN JULY: 27
(see the film posters at the bottom of the post, arranged in watching order)
NEW-TO-ME: 27
REWATCHES: 0
SEEN ON THE BIG SCREEN: 0
MOST WATCHED ACTOR: Richard Dix (6 in total)
MOST WATCHED ACTRESS: Norma Shearer (4 in total)
One significant occurrence marked the month of July: Olivia de Havilland left us at the age of 104 and many fans were very saddened by the news, including me. (I dedicated a little post to her here.)
Because my sabbatical came to an end, this is also the month that I went back to work (to my old employer). Though my free time was limited again, I still managed to watch a total of 27 films. My beloved Filmoteca had opened its doors but then had to close again due to Covid cases rising in Barcelona. Unfortunately I still haven't visited the cinema to see a classic film on the big screen.
No Marriage Ties (with Elizabeth Allan and Doris Kenyon)
Ace of Aces (with Elizabeth Allan and Ralph Bellamy)
It Happened In Hollywood (with Fay Wray)
The Marines Fly High (with Chester Morris and Lucille Ball)
The Lost Squadron (with Mary Astor, Joel McCrea, Robert Armstrong, Erich von Stroheim and Dorothy Jordan)
Eyes of the Underworld (with Wendy Barrie and Lon Chaney Jr.)
It Happened in Hollywood was a very nice surprise and of the Dix films watched this month I enjoyed it the most. I didn't have any expectations but it turned out to be a feel-good movie with a good and natural performance from Dix. His character is just about the nicest guy you can come across — sweet, laid-back and with his heart in the right place. It's a shame Fay Wray's part isn't bigger but her romance with Dix is sweet and they have good chemistry. I love how concerned they are for each other's well-being. The party with the Hollywood stand-ins (they were the real doubles for the stars) is really great and Irene Dunne's look-a-like is striking. One major flaw: the ending! There were just about three minutes left of the film's runtime and all of a sudden Dix decides to rob a bank to get some quick cash. Why this seemed like a good idea is beyond me. To make it even more ridiculous, right at that moment the bank is robbed for real and Dix happens to have his gun on him (the one he wanted to use to rob the bank) and saves the day and comes away as a hero. This can only happen in Hollywood!
I also really enjoyed The Lost Squadron but was a bit disappointed how small Mary Astor's role is and on top of that she isn't that likeable. In this aviation film Richard Dix, Joel McCrea and Robert Armstrong play veteran WWI pilots who go to Hollywood to do airplane stunts for an Erich von Stroheim film. I didn't really like Von Stroheim's performance, he's playing a caricature of himself and it was a bit over the top. Dorothy Jordan (she would play decades later in The Searchers) is underused here, like Astor. What I like is the camaraderie between the men, and the sequence after Von Stroheim sabotaged Armstrong's plane brings some thrills and is a bit darker in comparison with the rest of the film. Poor Dix, losing two girls in one film and then meeting his end like he does.
In Eyes of the Underworld Dix is paired with Wendy Barrie (I'm beginning to warm up to her more) as his faithful secretary and they have nice chemistry. Lon Chaney Jr. as Dix's chauffeur is a bit of a loose cannon. Still enjoyable but nothing special.
MOST WATCHED ACTOR: Richard Dix (6 in total)
MOST WATCHED ACTRESS: Norma Shearer (4 in total)
Because my sabbatical came to an end, this is also the month that I went back to work (to my old employer). Though my free time was limited again, I still managed to watch a total of 27 films. My beloved Filmoteca had opened its doors but then had to close again due to Covid cases rising in Barcelona. Unfortunately I still haven't visited the cinema to see a classic film on the big screen.
Breaking the 27 watched films down in decades:
1910s - 0
1920s - 0
1930s - 21
1940s - 5
1950s - 1
1960s - 0
My most watched actor is Richard Dix with 6 films seen. Largely forgotten by modern audiences and I think also by the classic film community, Dix is not really an actor I'm interested in, yet I like him well enough. My most watched actress is Norma Shearer with four films seen this month and she is someone I really like. I also love her style, hairdo and dress sense very much. Furthermore I watched 4 Fredric March and 3 Robert Montgomery films. There were many actors with 2 films watched: Chester Morris, Clark Gable, Lionel Barrymore, Joel McCrea, Frances Dee, Elizabeth Allan, Warner Baxter, Wendy Barrie and Edmund Lowe.
Too bad I only managed to watch 3 Olivia de Havilland films after the news of her passing. I meant to watch a lot but the month was nearly over when she passed away and I just didn't find the time. I will maybe continue in the coming month since I'm close to finishing her pre-1970 filmography.
Let's first start with the 6 Richard Dix films, here arranged in watching order:
Ace of Aces (with Elizabeth Allan and Ralph Bellamy)
It Happened In Hollywood (with Fay Wray)
The Marines Fly High (with Chester Morris and Lucille Ball)
The Lost Squadron (with Mary Astor, Joel McCrea, Robert Armstrong, Erich von Stroheim and Dorothy Jordan)
Eyes of the Underworld (with Wendy Barrie and Lon Chaney Jr.)
It Happened in Hollywood was a very nice surprise and of the Dix films watched this month I enjoyed it the most. I didn't have any expectations but it turned out to be a feel-good movie with a good and natural performance from Dix. His character is just about the nicest guy you can come across — sweet, laid-back and with his heart in the right place. It's a shame Fay Wray's part isn't bigger but her romance with Dix is sweet and they have good chemistry. I love how concerned they are for each other's well-being. The party with the Hollywood stand-ins (they were the real doubles for the stars) is really great and Irene Dunne's look-a-like is striking. One major flaw: the ending! There were just about three minutes left of the film's runtime and all of a sudden Dix decides to rob a bank to get some quick cash. Why this seemed like a good idea is beyond me. To make it even more ridiculous, right at that moment the bank is robbed for real and Dix happens to have his gun on him (the one he wanted to use to rob the bank) and saves the day and comes away as a hero. This can only happen in Hollywood!
I also really enjoyed The Lost Squadron but was a bit disappointed how small Mary Astor's role is and on top of that she isn't that likeable. In this aviation film Richard Dix, Joel McCrea and Robert Armstrong play veteran WWI pilots who go to Hollywood to do airplane stunts for an Erich von Stroheim film. I didn't really like Von Stroheim's performance, he's playing a caricature of himself and it was a bit over the top. Dorothy Jordan (she would play decades later in The Searchers) is underused here, like Astor. What I like is the camaraderie between the men, and the sequence after Von Stroheim sabotaged Armstrong's plane brings some thrills and is a bit darker in comparison with the rest of the film. Poor Dix, losing two girls in one film and then meeting his end like he does.
Two films have Elizabeth Allan as Dix's leading lady: No Marriage Ties and Ace of Aces. I liked them both and I also like Allan. In No Marriage Ties Dix plays a drunkard getting fired from his reporter job and then turning ruthless business man in the insurance branch. He has nice chemistry with Allan. Their playful banter is the highlight of this film. In Ace of Aces Dix is a sculptor turning fearless fighter pilot, claiming fame for shooting down a record amount of enemy planes. The film has some impressive aerial scenes. Also with Ralph Bellamy.
In Eyes of the Underworld Dix is paired with Wendy Barrie (I'm beginning to warm up to her more) as his faithful secretary and they have nice chemistry. Lon Chaney Jr. as Dix's chauffeur is a bit of a loose cannon. Still enjoyable but nothing special.
The Marines Fly High ranks at the bottom of the list of the 6 Dix films seen in terms of me liking it. It's not so surprising Dix and Chester Morris are competing for Lucille Ball's love in this aviation film, because Ball is the best thing this film has to offer. I like her this young, in 1930s and early 1940s films and in a non-comedy role, and she looks good in her riding outfit. The bit where pilot Dix exchanges paper messages (attached to a wrench) with his buddies in danger on the ground is quite thrilling.
The four films starring Norma Shearer are (in watching order):
Riptide (with Herbert Marshall and Robert Montgomery)
The Divorcee (with Chester Morris and Robert Montgomery)
A Free Soul (with Leslie Howard, Lionel Barrymore and Clark Gable)
Strange Interlude (with Clark Gable, Robert Young and Maureen O'Sullivan)
Of these films A Free Soul is my favourite and I love the father-daughter relationship a lot. Lionel Barrymore is great as Shearer's father, an alcoholic lawyer, and he even won an Oscar for his performance. Shearer's acting is natural most of the time, but now and then her gestures are too theatrical and recall her silent era days. Also her posing with hands on hips in those beautiful Adrian gowns looks like she's posing for a George Hurrell portrait. It was nice to see Clark Gable and Leslie Howard sharing scenes pre-Gone-With-the-Wind. The ending with the trial and Barrymore's closing speech is a bit far-fetched — the speech is great acting, though — but I didn't mind so much because I had a truly good time with this. Great cinematography by William H. Daniels by the way, especially the shot when Gable is shot and the phone call afterwards.
Riptide has a really great opening sequence with a hilarious meet-cute where Herbert Marshall and Norma Shearer are both dressed in bug costumes (I was actually laughing out loud, especially because of Marshall's Insect Man). They are going to share a ride to a party (with an uncredited Walter Brennan as their chauffeur) but then decide against it and change clothes for a date together. I love the moment when they see each other out of their costumes, momentarily speechless because of the other's appearance, both looking beautiful and dressed to the nines. What comes after the opening doesn't live up to its promise and it's a crying shame it didn't turn into a delightful screwball comedy. Instead it changes into drama and gets a bit heavy-handed when later on Marshall can't forgive his wife Shearer for her adulterous fling with Robert Montgomery. Shearer looks luminous and acts naturally, but I found Montgomery's character a tad annoying. Marshall looks stiff compared to flamboyant Montgomery, yet I'd choose him in a heartbeat. I love Herbert Marshall! Glad Shearer shared her happy ending with him.
The four films starring Norma Shearer are (in watching order):
Riptide (with Herbert Marshall and Robert Montgomery)
The Divorcee (with Chester Morris and Robert Montgomery)
A Free Soul (with Leslie Howard, Lionel Barrymore and Clark Gable)
Strange Interlude (with Clark Gable, Robert Young and Maureen O'Sullivan)
Of these films A Free Soul is my favourite and I love the father-daughter relationship a lot. Lionel Barrymore is great as Shearer's father, an alcoholic lawyer, and he even won an Oscar for his performance. Shearer's acting is natural most of the time, but now and then her gestures are too theatrical and recall her silent era days. Also her posing with hands on hips in those beautiful Adrian gowns looks like she's posing for a George Hurrell portrait. It was nice to see Clark Gable and Leslie Howard sharing scenes pre-Gone-With-the-Wind. The ending with the trial and Barrymore's closing speech is a bit far-fetched — the speech is great acting, though — but I didn't mind so much because I had a truly good time with this. Great cinematography by William H. Daniels by the way, especially the shot when Gable is shot and the phone call afterwards.
Riptide has a really great opening sequence with a hilarious meet-cute where Herbert Marshall and Norma Shearer are both dressed in bug costumes (I was actually laughing out loud, especially because of Marshall's Insect Man). They are going to share a ride to a party (with an uncredited Walter Brennan as their chauffeur) but then decide against it and change clothes for a date together. I love the moment when they see each other out of their costumes, momentarily speechless because of the other's appearance, both looking beautiful and dressed to the nines. What comes after the opening doesn't live up to its promise and it's a crying shame it didn't turn into a delightful screwball comedy. Instead it changes into drama and gets a bit heavy-handed when later on Marshall can't forgive his wife Shearer for her adulterous fling with Robert Montgomery. Shearer looks luminous and acts naturally, but I found Montgomery's character a tad annoying. Marshall looks stiff compared to flamboyant Montgomery, yet I'd choose him in a heartbeat. I love Herbert Marshall! Glad Shearer shared her happy ending with him.
With The Divorcee I was a bit underwhelmed, I had expected more. But good for Shearer for taking no shit from Chester Morris in this pre-code where double standards are being explored. A man cheats on his wife and all is well with the world, but the other way around and the man gets on his high horse. Morris' leading man didn't do anything for me, I didn't care for his character at all. I preferred Robert Montgomery who basically plays the same kind of role as in Riptide, but here I didn't find him annoying at all, just really handsome in his suit and tuxedo. Shearer is good, but I didn't see why her performance won her an Oscar, maybe the other contestants were less impressive. Still, she's the best thing this film has to offer and looks radiant again. She should never have gone back to Morris, though. By the way, I love their kitchen!
Strange Interlude was the least enjoyable of the Shearer films seen this month. Or actually, it was kind of enjoyable, but also pretty bad and a bit weird. It's a drama yet unintentionally funny and there were several scenes which made me laugh out loud. Based on a play by Eugene O'Neill, this film can't help but feel stagy, with inner thoughts spoken out loud (as voice-overs) only adding to the stiltedness. It was really laughable. The film itself is too melodramatic, but Shearer looks beautiful again, though less glamourous. Her old-age makeup is done really well, at times she was even hard to recognise. I thought I had read Frank Morgan's name in the credits and was surprised how different he looked, apparently lost weight, and even his voice sounded a bit different. After the film I found out it was Ralph Morgan, Frank's brother. Duh. Also with Clark Gable (with bad old-age makeup), May Robson (the scene where she tells Shearer about insanity in the family is very funny and I'm sure it wasn't meant to be), Robert Young (looking good rowing shirtless) and Maureen O'Sullivan. Some nice photography by Lee Garmes.
Furthermore I watched 4 Fredric March films, they are in watching order:
The Eagle and the Hawk (with Cary Grant and Carole Lombard)
The Road to Glory (with Warner Baxter, Lionel Barrymore and June Lang)
Sarah and Son (with Ruth Chatterton)
Trade Winds (with Joan Bennett, Thomas Mitchell, Ralph Bellamy and Ann Sothern)
Two of those are really good: The Eagle and the Hawk and The Road to Glory.
Strange Interlude was the least enjoyable of the Shearer films seen this month. Or actually, it was kind of enjoyable, but also pretty bad and a bit weird. It's a drama yet unintentionally funny and there were several scenes which made me laugh out loud. Based on a play by Eugene O'Neill, this film can't help but feel stagy, with inner thoughts spoken out loud (as voice-overs) only adding to the stiltedness. It was really laughable. The film itself is too melodramatic, but Shearer looks beautiful again, though less glamourous. Her old-age makeup is done really well, at times she was even hard to recognise. I thought I had read Frank Morgan's name in the credits and was surprised how different he looked, apparently lost weight, and even his voice sounded a bit different. After the film I found out it was Ralph Morgan, Frank's brother. Duh. Also with Clark Gable (with bad old-age makeup), May Robson (the scene where she tells Shearer about insanity in the family is very funny and I'm sure it wasn't meant to be), Robert Young (looking good rowing shirtless) and Maureen O'Sullivan. Some nice photography by Lee Garmes.
The Eagle and the Hawk (with Cary Grant and Carole Lombard)
The Road to Glory (with Warner Baxter, Lionel Barrymore and June Lang)
Sarah and Son (with Ruth Chatterton)
Trade Winds (with Joan Bennett, Thomas Mitchell, Ralph Bellamy and Ann Sothern)
Two of those are really good: The Eagle and the Hawk and The Road to Glory.
The Eagle and the Hawk is an anti-war film that I've been meaning to see for a while and it turned out to be a very compelling watch with a strong performance by March. His emotional speech towards the end of the film is a great piece of acting and makes us ponder the futility of war. Cary Grant can be seen here too, in one of his better dramatic performances, and the ending where his character makes an important decision is amazing. It's heartbreaking and moved me to tears, just like March's speech did. Carole Lombard has a very small part but I think it's totally superfluous. Great cinematography by Harry Fischbeck.
The Road to Glory I chose to watch for March, and his performance didn't disappoint. He acts so naturally and there's an intensity in his play that I like. This WWI film has two other great actors besides March: Warner Baxter and Lionel Barrymore, playing father and son, and doing a great job. I love their relationship, and especially the ending where they fulfill their last military operation together is very emotional. When Barrymore blew the trumpet, I choked up a bit. This film has a long and shocking battle scene with thousands of explosions and it makes you realise how these soldiers were all sitting ducks, totally defenseless. The weak link here is June Lang. I didn't particularly like her and it also annoyed me that she isn't wearing a nurse's uniform when on duty, like she wants to look pretty all the time. The love triangle is handled with care, though, and I also liked the relationship between March and Baxter and how they respected one another. I think Howard Hawks portrays men's relationships really well, like he does here. Great photography by the master Gregg Toland.
Trade Winds is not very good and a bit uneven in tone. I had expected a thriller/mystery but it leans more towards comedy. I found the characters annoying at first (except Joan Bennett) but they sort of grew on me and in the end Ralph Bellamy and Ann Sothern elicited some chuckles. I love Fredric March but I don't think he's believable as a womaniser. This is the film where Bennett goes from blond to brunette and with her dark hair she would embark on a different career path, namely starring in numerous film noirs. I was supersleepy towards the end of the film so I had to watch the last twenty or so minutes several times. It's not the best way to watch a film and might have affected my enjoyment. Also with Thomas Mitchell in a very small part as the chief of police. Script co-written by Dorothy Parker, but lacking in the acerbic wit Parker is known for.
My first instinct was to turn the film Sarah and Son off, as soon as Ruth Chatterton opened her mouth and I heard the dreadful German accent. But I'd chosen to watch this for Fredric March, so at least I wanted to wait till he made his appearance. He does so after about half an hour, and I was happy to see him (never seen him this young and he looks handsome) and I decided to watch the whole thing. The film itself is heavy on the drama and there's little chemistry between Chatterton and March. Also, their relationship is poorly developed and I was surprised to hear them suddenly exchange I love you's. But really the biggest problem with this film is Chatterton herself. She's pretty awful. (Normally I like her and I love her in Dodsworth.) The Academy obviously thought she was great because they awarded her with a nomination for Best Actress. Apart from the TERRIBLE accent (at times it was really difficult to understand what Chatterton was saying) her performance is too theatrical and heavy-handed. Maybe this being an early talkie had something to do with Chatterton's mannered speech but March's acting and speech is natural, in fact he is like a breath of fresh air every time he's on screen (which is unfortunately not enough). Needless to say I struggled my way through this film — it was a miracle I stayed awake — and only near the end there was something exciting happening when Chatterton and her son almost drowned. By the way, I like Chatterton's plain and impoverished looks in the beginning of the film. By far the worst of these 4 March films and also the worst film seen this month, period.
Let's take a look at the 3 films I watched with Olivia de Havilland. They are in watching order:
Raffles (with David Niven)
Wings of the Navy (with George Brent and John Payne)
Call It a Day (with Ian Hunter, Anita Louise, Roland Young and Frieda Inescort)
Call It a Day is a surprisingly entertaining comedy with a likeable ensemble cast, about the romantic adventures/misadventures of the Hilton family during a spring day. Olivia de Havilland plays one of the three children and is rather hysterical, being in love with a married painter. Her role is quite small but I really didn't mind because I was charmed by Ian Hunter and Frieda Inescort as the parents. I love them both and their roles here. Also Roland Young is delightful, as he always is. Further support by Anita Louise, Alice Brady and Bonita Granville. Based on a play by Dodie Smith, the films feels stagy, yet it has some great dialogue.
Raffles is also enjoyable but Olivia is underused and her role is small. Fortunately she looks lovely this young. David Niven has the most screen time and he makes good use of it. I really like him here. The film is a remake of the 1930s Raffles with Ronald Colman and Kay Francis and I recognised scenes from that one, and I believe it's largely a scene-by-scene remake.
Wings of the Navy has Olivia in a rather thankless role again. Just playing the love interest in a love triangle with George Brent and John Payne who play brothers. If you're into planes and aerial scenes, then this film might be something for you because there are plenty of those. Some of them are even quite thrilling. At least Olivia looks lovely again and I like Brent too, even though his acting leaves a lot to be desired. Frank McHugh's comic support becomes a bit annoying and I almost missed John Litel in a very small role. These three Olivia films are minor films in her filmography and show little of her acting skills.
With 17 films already covered, we have 10 more films to go, beginning with the ones I liked most.
The Silver Cord (with Irene Dunne, Joel McCrea, Frances Dee, Eric Linden and Laura Hope Crews)
Ride the Pink Horse (with Robert Montgomery and Wanda Hendrix)
Happy Land (with Don Ameche and Frances Dee)
Turn of the Tide (with Geraldine Fitzgerald and Niall MacGinnis)
My Dream is Yours (with Doris Day, Jack Carson, Lee Bowman and Eve Arden)
Night of the Demon aka Curse of the Demon (with Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins)
The Silver Cord is my highest rated film of the month and stands out from the rest of the films seen. I really loved it. The best ending possible would have been Irene Dunne and Frances Dee leaving by themselves while the two mama's boys stay behind with their overbearing and possessive mother. This pre-code gem has great performances all around, Joel McCrea's being the least impressive (but he has some fierce competition). I love Dunne, this is my 10th film of hers and it was about time. She's a great comedienne but she's equally good in dramas. I also love the way she looks here. Laura Hope Crews as the mother is so good that you instantly hate her and want to wring her neck. Still, she brings just enough nuance in her portrayal to leave room for pity. A nice piece of trivia is that Dee and McCrea would become romantically involved during the making of this film and married in 1933. They had one of the longest marriages in Hollywood until McCrea's death in 1990.
Ride the Pink Horse was also good, though I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't the great film I was anticipating. I guess the story isn't very exciting, having a lead character on a revenge mission and nothing much else. But it's still very enjoyable to see things unfold, despite it being a slow burn. The atmosphere is good and captivating, thanks to the beautiful cinematography by Russell Metty. Some reviewers online have commented they would have preferred Dick Powell in the leading role and I can understand that. Yet Robert Montgomery (also directing) is doing a good job of playing this unlikeable and racist character, very unlike his elegant gentleman roles in those 1930s fluffy movies. I especially liked him in the scenes after he's knived down and thus more vulnerable. I never cared much for Wanda Hendrix, but here she's memorable as the girl who tries to help Montgomery. Fortunately her fake accent didn't bother me so much. Scripted by Charles Lederer and Ben Hecht, it's no surprise this film has some great dialogue. This is one of the three Montgomery films I've seen this month, the other two being Riptide and The Divorcee, listed among the Norma Shearer films.
Happy Land I watched for Francis Dee. This slice of Americana is a sentimental tale of a couple losing their only son in the war, and the father (Don Ameche) starts pondering the question whether his son's short life had been worthwhile. At times reminiscent of It's a Wonderful Life with Harry Carey as the dead grandfather showing Ameche his son's life in flashbacks. The most poignant moment comes at the end of the film when Harry Morgan, a friend of the deceased son, visits the grieving parents. Admittedly, the scene's content is too sentimental and corny but the three actors perform wonderfully in that moment, just the look on the parents' faces when Morgan tells how the son died almost had me in tears. I especially love Dee's struggle to restrain her emotions.
Turn of the Tide is a lovely lesser-known British film that I watched for Geraldine Fitzgerald. The simple story of two rivalling fishermen families set in a North Yorkshire coastal village is beautifully put on screen by cinematographer Franz Planer. At times it has a documentary feel because of the location shooting, the images of the rough sea and the beautiful portrait photography of the villagers. The courting of Fitzgerald and Niall MacGinnis (belonging to the competing families) is sweet. Fitzgerald is really young here and looks beautiful. Apparently the characters speak with real Yorkshire accents and I was glad it wasn't difficult to understand.
I watched My Dream Is Yours because I read a positive review of Romance on the High Seas on Letterboxd and suddenly craved a full Technicolor Doris Day film. Not as good and entertaining as Romance, I still had a good time with this. Doris sings a couple of nice songs (love the title song and Cuttin' Capers, a favourite song from my childhood) and the dream sequence with her and Jack Carson in bunny outfits with Bugs Bunny and Tweety in animation is cute and cheerful. Carson and Day have good chemistry and I like how their relationship developed, though I was a bit worried at first about the lack of attraction between them and then Lee Bowman becoming Day's love interest. But of course all ends well. Support by Eve Arden, Adolphe Menjou and S.Z. Sakall.
Night of the Demon I watched with my sister and I was hoping for a scary watch but it wasn't really. It was entertaining enough and the mood was good, with great visuals. I loved the arrival of the demon, the rolling burst of smoke and fire, but when the demon materialises in bodily form, he looks a bit ridiculous. (At least director Jacques Tourneur didn't think too well of the physical monster either and objected to the inclusion of these monster shots). Dana Andrews gives a solid performance but I'd rather see him in a good film noir. Too bad I didn't see this on the big screen, it would definitely have made more of an impression then.
Four more films to mention, all B-films. I like watching B-films, because they have a short runtime and are easy to digest. And here the lead players are appealing. The films are in watching order:
Exposed (with Glenda Farrell and Otto Kruger)
Barricade (with Warner Baxter, Alice Faye and Charles Winninger)
The Witness Vanishes (with Edmund Lowe and Wendy Barrie)
The Great Impersonation (with Edmund Lowe, Valerie Hobson and Wera Engels)
Exposed stars Glenda Farrell and Otto Kruger. On paper they seem like an odd and unlikely couple and admittedly they are not the best match made in Hollywood but somehow they are okay together. Nothing special and totally forgettable but I enjoyed this film. The same goes for Barricade. I chose to watch it for Warner Baxter and it turned out to be entertaining enough, even has some more exciting moments in the second part. Baxter and Alice Faye lack a bit in the chemistry department, though, and their romance is not very convincing. Faye's Russian accent really sucks, and I was glad she dropped it and I didn't have to listen to it the entire film. Charles Winninger has the best role here, as the forgotten man, a very likeable character. Baxter and Faye also played together in King of Burlesque. Might check that out as well soon.
I really like Edmund Lowe and I watched two films with him this month. Finding out his role in The Witness Vanishes is quite small and not even the heroic one, I was a bit disappointed to say the least. It was actually more Wendy Barrie's film, considering the screen time she got. At the start of the film I thought Lowe and Barrie would be the romantic couple here, so when they first appeared together on screen with other characters and they weren't introduced to one another and Lowe didn't even acknowledge Barrie, I knew there was not going to be any romance between the two. That was a bummer. Too bad the film didn't develop into something more exciting. I liked Barrie, though. Fortunately Lowe has more screen time in The Great Impersonation, playing a double role (only in the film's beginning). I had read about the twist beforehand but it didn't ruin the film for me, I was actually glad with the knowledge. It was nice to see Lowe in a suave role again and a more substantial one. Some nice Old Dark House atmosphere and moody photography by Milton Krasner.
So that's another round-up! Hopefully with the next one I have visited the Filmoteca again. The August program has Detective Story, Lonely Are the Brave, Lolita and The General scheduled so I hope it's not going to be cancelled and nothing will happen to interfere with my intention of going.
Wings of the Navy has Olivia in a rather thankless role again. Just playing the love interest in a love triangle with George Brent and John Payne who play brothers. If you're into planes and aerial scenes, then this film might be something for you because there are plenty of those. Some of them are even quite thrilling. At least Olivia looks lovely again and I like Brent too, even though his acting leaves a lot to be desired. Frank McHugh's comic support becomes a bit annoying and I almost missed John Litel in a very small role. These three Olivia films are minor films in her filmography and show little of her acting skills.
With 17 films already covered, we have 10 more films to go, beginning with the ones I liked most.
The Silver Cord (with Irene Dunne, Joel McCrea, Frances Dee, Eric Linden and Laura Hope Crews)
Ride the Pink Horse (with Robert Montgomery and Wanda Hendrix)
Happy Land (with Don Ameche and Frances Dee)
Turn of the Tide (with Geraldine Fitzgerald and Niall MacGinnis)
My Dream is Yours (with Doris Day, Jack Carson, Lee Bowman and Eve Arden)
Night of the Demon aka Curse of the Demon (with Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins)
The Silver Cord is my highest rated film of the month and stands out from the rest of the films seen. I really loved it. The best ending possible would have been Irene Dunne and Frances Dee leaving by themselves while the two mama's boys stay behind with their overbearing and possessive mother. This pre-code gem has great performances all around, Joel McCrea's being the least impressive (but he has some fierce competition). I love Dunne, this is my 10th film of hers and it was about time. She's a great comedienne but she's equally good in dramas. I also love the way she looks here. Laura Hope Crews as the mother is so good that you instantly hate her and want to wring her neck. Still, she brings just enough nuance in her portrayal to leave room for pity. A nice piece of trivia is that Dee and McCrea would become romantically involved during the making of this film and married in 1933. They had one of the longest marriages in Hollywood until McCrea's death in 1990.
Ride the Pink Horse was also good, though I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't the great film I was anticipating. I guess the story isn't very exciting, having a lead character on a revenge mission and nothing much else. But it's still very enjoyable to see things unfold, despite it being a slow burn. The atmosphere is good and captivating, thanks to the beautiful cinematography by Russell Metty. Some reviewers online have commented they would have preferred Dick Powell in the leading role and I can understand that. Yet Robert Montgomery (also directing) is doing a good job of playing this unlikeable and racist character, very unlike his elegant gentleman roles in those 1930s fluffy movies. I especially liked him in the scenes after he's knived down and thus more vulnerable. I never cared much for Wanda Hendrix, but here she's memorable as the girl who tries to help Montgomery. Fortunately her fake accent didn't bother me so much. Scripted by Charles Lederer and Ben Hecht, it's no surprise this film has some great dialogue. This is one of the three Montgomery films I've seen this month, the other two being Riptide and The Divorcee, listed among the Norma Shearer films.
Happy Land I watched for Francis Dee. This slice of Americana is a sentimental tale of a couple losing their only son in the war, and the father (Don Ameche) starts pondering the question whether his son's short life had been worthwhile. At times reminiscent of It's a Wonderful Life with Harry Carey as the dead grandfather showing Ameche his son's life in flashbacks. The most poignant moment comes at the end of the film when Harry Morgan, a friend of the deceased son, visits the grieving parents. Admittedly, the scene's content is too sentimental and corny but the three actors perform wonderfully in that moment, just the look on the parents' faces when Morgan tells how the son died almost had me in tears. I especially love Dee's struggle to restrain her emotions.
I watched My Dream Is Yours because I read a positive review of Romance on the High Seas on Letterboxd and suddenly craved a full Technicolor Doris Day film. Not as good and entertaining as Romance, I still had a good time with this. Doris sings a couple of nice songs (love the title song and Cuttin' Capers, a favourite song from my childhood) and the dream sequence with her and Jack Carson in bunny outfits with Bugs Bunny and Tweety in animation is cute and cheerful. Carson and Day have good chemistry and I like how their relationship developed, though I was a bit worried at first about the lack of attraction between them and then Lee Bowman becoming Day's love interest. But of course all ends well. Support by Eve Arden, Adolphe Menjou and S.Z. Sakall.
Night of the Demon I watched with my sister and I was hoping for a scary watch but it wasn't really. It was entertaining enough and the mood was good, with great visuals. I loved the arrival of the demon, the rolling burst of smoke and fire, but when the demon materialises in bodily form, he looks a bit ridiculous. (At least director Jacques Tourneur didn't think too well of the physical monster either and objected to the inclusion of these monster shots). Dana Andrews gives a solid performance but I'd rather see him in a good film noir. Too bad I didn't see this on the big screen, it would definitely have made more of an impression then.
Four more films to mention, all B-films. I like watching B-films, because they have a short runtime and are easy to digest. And here the lead players are appealing. The films are in watching order:
Exposed (with Glenda Farrell and Otto Kruger)
Barricade (with Warner Baxter, Alice Faye and Charles Winninger)
The Witness Vanishes (with Edmund Lowe and Wendy Barrie)
The Great Impersonation (with Edmund Lowe, Valerie Hobson and Wera Engels)
Exposed stars Glenda Farrell and Otto Kruger. On paper they seem like an odd and unlikely couple and admittedly they are not the best match made in Hollywood but somehow they are okay together. Nothing special and totally forgettable but I enjoyed this film. The same goes for Barricade. I chose to watch it for Warner Baxter and it turned out to be entertaining enough, even has some more exciting moments in the second part. Baxter and Alice Faye lack a bit in the chemistry department, though, and their romance is not very convincing. Faye's Russian accent really sucks, and I was glad she dropped it and I didn't have to listen to it the entire film. Charles Winninger has the best role here, as the forgotten man, a very likeable character. Baxter and Faye also played together in King of Burlesque. Might check that out as well soon.
So that's another round-up! Hopefully with the next one I have visited the Filmoteca again. The August program has Detective Story, Lonely Are the Brave, Lolita and The General scheduled so I hope it's not going to be cancelled and nothing will happen to interfere with my intention of going.
PHOTOS/GIFS IN THIS POST FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
*Olivia de Havilland (1 July 1916 – 25/26 July 2020);
*It Happened in Hollywood (1937) with Fay Wray;
*It Happened in Hollywood (1937) with Richard Dix and Fay Wray;
*The Lost Squadron (1932) with Mary Astor, Erich von Stroheim and Richard Dix;
*The Lost Squadron (1932) with Joel McCrea and Dorothy Jordan;
*No Marriage Ties (1933) with Richard Dix and Doris Kenyon;
*No Marriage Ties (1933) with Elizabeth Allan;
*Ace of Aces (1933) with Richard Dix and Elizabeth Allan;
*Eyes of the Underworld (1942) with Richard Dix, Wendy Barrie and Lon Chaney Jr.;
*The Marines Fly High (1940) with Richard Dix, Lucille Ball and Steffi Duna;
*Norma Shearer, most watched actress of the month, photographed by George Hurrell, 1932;
*A Free Soul (1931) with Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer; (gif by me)
*A Free Soul (1931) with Norma Shearer and Clark Gable; (gif by me)
*Riptide (1934) with Norma Shearer, Robert Montgomery and Herbert Marshall;
*The Divorcee (1930) with Norma Shearer;
*Strange Interlude (1932) with Clark Gable and Norma Shearer;
*The Eagle and the Hawk (1933) with Fredric March and Carole Lombard;
*The Eagle and the Hawk (1933) with Fredric March and Cary Grant;
*The Road to Glory (1936) with Warner Baxter, June Lang and Fredric March;
*Trade Winds (1938) with Fredric March and Joan Bennett;
*Sarah and Son (1930) with Ruth Chatterton and Fredric March;
*Call It a Day (1937) with Olivia de Havilland and Walter Woolf King;
*Call It a Day (1937) with Ian Hunter and Frieda Inescort;
*Raffles (1939) with David Niven and Olivia de Havilland;
*Wings of the Navy (1939) with Olivia de Havilland and George Brent;
*Wings of the Navy (1939) with Olivia de Havilland and John Payne;
*The Silver Cord (1933) with Joel McCrea and Irene Dunne;
*Frances Dee and husband Joel McCrea attend an event in Los Angeles in December 1937;
*Ride the Pink Horse (1947) with Robert Montgomery and Wanda Hendrix;
*Happy Land (1943) with Don Ameche and Frances Dee;
*Turn of the Tide (1935) with Geraldine Fitzgerald and Niall MacGinnis; (screenshot by me)
*My Dream Is Yours (1949), publicity still with Doris Day, Jack Carson and Lee Bowman;
*Night of the Demon (1957), the monster is coming!;
*Night of the Demon (1957) with Dana Andrews and Peggy Cummins;
*Exposed (1938) with Glenda Farrell, Otto Kruger and Lorraine Krueger;
*Barricade (1939) with Warner Baxter and Alice Faye;
*The Witness Vanishes (1939) with Edmund Lowe, Wendy Barrie and Bruce Lester;
*The Great Impersonation (1935) with Wera Engels and Edmund Lowe.