Swing High, Swing Low(1937). Romantic/musical starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. This is the second film adaptation, after The Dance of Life (1929) and before When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948).
While traveling by cruise ship, Maggie King, masquerading as a hairdresser to pay her way to California, meets a soldier named, Skid Johnson. After they arrive, Skid offers to drive Maggie and her friend Ella into Panama City and introduces them to his roommate, Harry. Skid, gets into a fight defending Maggie, at a night club and they both land in jail.
After they go before a judge the next morning, Maggie's, ship has sailed on without her. Harry and Skid, invite her to move in with them. Skid, gambles away his trumpet and Maggie convinces Murphy, the owner of a cafe, to give her the money to buy back Skid's trumpet and then hire him to play at the club.
After Maggie, becomes angry with Skid, who spent the night with Anita, a girl who works at the club. Skid, decides to marry to Maggie.
A New York agent, tells Skid about a job in New York at the El Greco. Skid is a big hit, with Anita's help, but.. he keeps putting off sending money for Maggie's ticket to join him. Concerned Maggie, borrows money from Murphy and sends a telegram to Skid, but .. Anita, sees it first and tosses it out. When Maggie, arrives in New York, with no one to meet her, she calls Anita's room and Skid answers the phone. Heartbroken, Maggie files for divorce, will Maggie have a change of heart and get back together with Skid?
The lead was originally offered to Gary Cooper, who turned it down, then to Bing Crosby, who also turned it down, then to Fred Mac, who took it.
I loved the night club scene with Anthony Quinn. Wonderful little movie for all Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray fans.
Jean Dixon (July 14, 1896 – February 12, 1981). While living in France, she studied dramatics under Sarah Bernhardt. She was on the Broadway stage a number of years before Hollywood called her in 1929. She mostly played the streetwise, smart-mouthed friend of the leading lady. Her most famous performance was in the film, My Man Godfrey (1936).
Filmography: The Lady Lies (1929) The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933) Sadie McKee (1934) I’ll Love You Always (1935) She Married Her Boss (1935) My Man Godfrey (1936) You Only Live Once (1937) Swing High, Swing Low (1937) Holiday (1938) Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
Carole Lombard and Mae West, were both wonderful comedians and both well known for their witty dialogs, in their classic movies.
Carole Lombard (October 6, 1908 – January 16, 1942). Was best known for her comedic roles of the 1930s. A couple of her better known films were: Nothing Sacred(1937). A comedy about a newspaper reporter Wally Cook, who tries to pass off an African-American as an African nobleman during a charity event. Cook is then demoted to writing obituaries.
Wally, is sent out of town to interview Hazel Flagg, a woman who thinks that she is dying of radium poisoning.
They hold a parade in her honor and the key to the city and when it is finally discovered that Hazel is not really dying, what will city officials decide to do.
Maybe, one of the funniest movies from the 30's. Full of humor and very easy to watch from start to finish.
To Be Or Not To Be(1942). Comedy about a troupe of actors in Nazi-occupied Warsaw who use their talents to fool the occupying troops. The dialogue is so quick and witty that you may want to watch it for a second time, to make sure you hear all of the lines.
Mae West (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980). Known for her double innuendos. West, made a name for herself in Vaudeville and on the stage in New York before moving to Hollywood to become a comedienne, actress and writer. A couple of films she is well known for are:
She Done Him Wrong(1933). Comedy/romance film set in New York in the 1890s, where Lady Lou, sings in the Bowery barroom saloon of, Gus Jordan, who drapes her in diamonds. But Lou, is not a one man woman.
What she does not know is that Gus runs prostitution and counterfeiting ring, who also works with Russian Rita and Serge Stanieff. Dan Flynn, drops hints to Lou that Gus is up to no good and promises to take care of her once Gus is in jail.
She becomes attracted to, Captain Cummings, who really is an undercover Federal agent working to expose the illegal activities in the bar.
She goes to the prison to reassure Chick, but he threatens to kill her if she double-crosses him. She is lying when she says that she has been faithful to him.
Chick, escapes from jail and goes straight to Lou's dressing room and starts to strangle her, but can not bring himself to kill her.. Lou, promises that she will go with him when she finishes her next number.
After Sergei gives Lou a diamond pin belonging to Rita, the two get into a fight and Rita is accidentally killed. Lou has her bodyguard Spider, get rid of Rita's body. She then tells Spider to bring Chick, back to her dressing room.
Then, while performing on stage she gives a signal to Dan Flynn, to go to her room to wait for her, even though she knows Chick is in there with a gun. Chick kills Dan and the gunfire bring in the police. Cummings, reveals himself as "The Hawk," a well-known Federal agent, as he arrests Gus and Serge. Chick, still lurking in Lou's room, is about to kill Lou for double crossing him, will Cummings get there in time?
There is magic in the air when Grant and West get together that is for sure. Mae drips with diamonds, funny sayings and fabulous gowns.
I'm No Angel (1933) Is Mae West's third film. A young Cary Grant plays her leading man for the second time. Being Pre-Code, this was one of the few Mae West movies that was not subjected to heavy censorship.
Tira sings in the sideshow of Big Bill Barton's Wonder Show, while her boyfriend, pickpocket "Slick", works the audience. One of her customers meets with her later, Slick barges in and hits him over the head with a bottle. Mistakenly, thinking he has killed the man, is thrown in jail.
Thinking.. that Slick will put the blame on her, Tira asks Big Bill for a loan to hire lawyer. He agrees.. on condition that she does her lion taming act, promising her that it will get her to the "Big Show".
Tira's act takes her to New York City, where she catches the eye of wealthy Kirk Lawrence, even though he is engaged to socialite Alice Hatton. Kirk's cousin, Jack Clayton, with plans to ask Tira to break it off with Kirk, he ends up engaged to her, himself.
Not wanting to lose his best act, he has Slick, recently released from prison, sneak into Tira's penthouse suite, where he finds Jack. Not wanting any more trouble, Jack break off their engagement. Heartbroken, Tira sues Jack for breach of promise. In court the judge allows her to cross examine the witnesses and she wins over the judge and jury and Jack.
There are many wonderful comic complications, but.. Mae West always gets her man. If you've never seen a Mae West movie but have always wondered what made her a great star, this is the film to see!
Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, first met when they worked together in their only film, No Man of Her Own(1932). The story begins when, Gambler Babe Steward is in trouble with the law and decides to hide out in a small town. There he meets librarian Connie Randall. They flip a coin to decide whether or not to get married, which of course it does. Babe, meanwhile, continues his gambling while Connie believes that he has a respectable job working on Wall Street. Then one day, Connie finds Babe's marked cards in his desk. She shuffles the cards and when Babe plays a game of poker, he loses. Angry, Babe leaves for Rio de Janeiro. But, realizing that he loves Connie, he gives himself up to serve his jail sentence. Will the couple be reunited when he is free?
After filming was over Carole Lombard gave Clark Gable a ham with his picture on it.
Gable makes a very charming card shark and Lombard makes a very playful librarian, with a bit of a wild side. They both performed well together. I'm very surprised they only did one film together.
They met again and fell in love in 1936 while attending the Mayfair Ball hosted by Lombard. Gable, at the time, was married to oil heiress, Rhea Langham. It was major factor in Gable accepting the role of Rhett Butler in Gone With the Wind, Louis B. Mayer sweetened the deal for Clark Gable by giving him enough money to settle a divorce agreement with Langham and marry Lombard. Gable divorced Langham on March 7, 1939 and proposed to Lombard in a telephone booth at the Brown Derby.
Gable and Lombard drove out to Kingman, Arizona on March 29, 1939 and were married. They bought a ranch previously owned by director Raoul Walsh in Encino, California, where they raised chickens and horses.
Unfortunately, On January 16, 1942, Lombard was a passenger on Trans-World Airlines Flight 3. She had just finished her 57th movie, To Be or Not to Be, and was on her way home when the flight's DC-3 airliner crashed into a mountain near Las Vegas, Nevada, killing all aboard. Clark Gable was never the same.
My Man Godfrey (1936). Comedy. Directed by Gregory LaCava. It was adapted from the novel 1101 Park Avenue by Eric Hatch and Morrie Ryskind, with uncredited contributions by Gregory La Cava. Cast: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Mischa Auer and Alan Mowbray. The 1957 remake starred June Allyson and David Niven.
The story is about two New York socialites Cornelia and Irene Bullock, both on a scavenger hunt to find a "forgotten man". At the city dump they find a down on his luck, Godfrey Parke. Insulted by Cornelia handing him five dollars, Godfrey pushes her to the ground. But, he is charmed by her sister Irene and decides to play along. Godfrey does not care for attitude of their friends and says it is a pleasure to return home to his friends. Irene not wanting him to go back to where she found him, hires Godfrey as the families butler.
During a tea party one of the guests, Tommy Gray, recognizes Godfrey as an old college mate. In order to keep his past a secret, Tommy claims Godfrey was his valet and is married with five children. Irene, is heartbroken and out of spite, suddenly announces her engagement to Charlie Van Rumple.
Meanwhile, when everything she does to make Godfrey's life miserable falls short, Cornelia sneaks into his room and plants her pearl necklace under his mattress. She then calls the police to report her "missing" jewelry. To Cornelia's surprise, the pearls are not where she planted them. Mr. Bullock realizes his daughter has made up the whole thing and sees the policemen out. Godfrey, takes it upon himself to help the Bullock family, even with everything they put him through.
The actors are wonderful. William Powell, plays the the straight man very well. Carole Lombard, also gives a wonderful performance. Gail Patrick, plays the part perfectly as Lombard's conniving sister. Eugene Pallette is great as their father. Alice Brady, steals the show as the mother. Look for cameos by Franklin Pangborn and Grady Sutton.
Video: Full Movie.
Fun Facts:
Jane Wyman has an uncredited part.
William Powell suggested his ex-wife 'Carole Lombard' for the leading role with the explanation that his real life romance with Lombard had been much the same as it was for the characters of Godfrey and Irene.
Alice Brady (November 2, 1892 – October 28, 1939). Her father, William A. Brady, was an important theatrical producer, and her mother was Rose Marie Rene who died in 1896 when little Alice was four. Alice first went on the stage when she was 14 and got her first job on Broadway in 1911 at the age of 18, in a show her father was associated with. She continued to perform there for the next 22 years. In 1931 she appeared in the premiere of, Mourning Becomes Electra. Her step mother was the Broadway star Grace George (1879–1961). Her half-brother was William A. Brady Jr, the son of her father, Grace George.
Brady's father moved into movie production and presentation in 1913, with his World Film Corporation, and Brady soon followed along after him, making her first silent feature appearance in, As Ye Sow (1914). She appeared in 53 films in the next 10 years.
In 1923, she stopped appearing in films to concentrate on stage acting, and did not appear on the screen again until 1933, when she made the film, When Ladies Meet, her first talking picture. From then on she worked frequently until her death, making another 25 films in seven years. Her final film was, Young Mr. Lincoln (1939).
Brady was married to actor James Crane from 1919 to 1922, when they divorced. They co-starred in three silent films together His Bridal Night(1919), Sinners(1920) and A Dark Lantern(1920).
Carole Lombard made her film debut at the age of twelve after she was seen playing baseball in the street by director Allan Dwan. He cast her as a tomboy in A Perfect Crime (1921). In the 1920s, she was credited as 'Jane Peters', then later as 'Carol Lombard'. Her friend Miriam Cooper helped Lombard land small roles in her husband Raoul Walsh's films. She became a well-known actress and made a smooth transition to sound films, starting with High Voltage (1929).
In 1934, director Howard Hawks hired her for his film, Twentieth Century. That same year, she also starred in Bolero with George Raft. The following year she starred in, Hands Across the Table which helped to establish her as a top comedy actress. 1936 proved to be a big year for Lombard with her casting in the screwball comedy My Man Godfrey alongside ex-husband William Powell. Her performance earned Lombard an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. It was followed by Nothing Sacred in 1937, casting her opposite Fredric March . It was Lombard's only film in Technicolor.
In 1938, Lombard performed in, Fools for Scandal and moved on to dramatic films for the next few years. In 1939, Lombard wanted to be cast as Scarlett O'Hara in the epic Gone with the Wind, but was not even tested for the part. Her new husband, Clark Gable, was chosen to portray Rhett Butler. She took roles opposite James Stewart in, Made for Each Other (1939) and Cary Grant in , In Name Only (1939). She also starred in the dramatic film, Vigil in the Night (1940).
She then returned to comedy, teaming with director Alfred Hitchcock in Mr. Mrs. Smith (1941). She followed with what was to be her last film and one of her most successful, To Be or Not to Be (1942).
My Carole Lombard Halloween movie pick: Supernatural (1933). Cast: Carole Lombard, Alan Dinehart, Vivienne Osborne and Randolph Scott. The story begins in New York city after Ruth Rogan is convicted of killing 3 of her lovers and is sentenced to be executed. Soon after spiritualist shares with millionaries Roma a message from her dead brother. He has a rigged seance that leaves Roma confused. Then out of know where, Ruth Rogan's spirit takes over Roma's body. Roma runs off with the fake spiritualist under Ruth Rogan's control. Grant tries to find Roma and return her soul. It's a beautifully shot and unusual story. It does have a chilling ending when the real killer returns.
On TCM: Wednesday, October 6, 2010. Carole Lombard Birthday Tribute:
No More Orchids (1932). A wealthy woman opposes her uncle to marry a poor man. Cast: Carole Lombard, Lyle Talbot, Walter Connolly. Dir: Walter Lang.
Virtue (1932). A taxi driver falls for a sassy New York con girl. Cast: Carole Lombard, Pat O'Brien, Mayo Methot. Dir: Edward Buzzell.
Lady By Choice (1934). To improve her image, a fan dancer "adopts" an old woman to be her mother. Cast: Carole Lombard, May Robson, Walter Connolly. Dir: David Burton.
Fools For Scandal (1938). A Hollywood star falls for a broken down aristocrat. Cast: Carole Lombard, Fernand Gravet, Ralph Bellamy. Dir: Mervyn LeRoy.
In Name Only (1939). A wealthy man falls for a widow but can't get his wife to divorce him. Cast: Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Kay Francis. Dir: John Cromwell.
Gay Bride, The (1934). A gold digger tries to get ahead by marrying a succession of ill-fated racketeers. Cast: Carole Lombard, Chester Morris, ZaSu Pitts. Dir: Jack Conway.
Twentieth Century (1934). A screwball comedy film. Much of the film is set on the 20th Century Limited train as it travels from Chicago to New York. The film was directed by Howard Hawks, stars John Barrymore, Carole Lombard, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns and Edgar Kennedy. Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur adapted their Broadway play of the same name itself based on the unproduced play Napoleon of Broadway by Charles Bruce Millholland with uncredited contributions from Gene Fowler and Preston Sturges.
I just love this wonderful picture of Carole Lombard and her furry friend.
Everyone knows my favorite actress of all time is Carole Lombard and today is her birthday.
the 5' 2" beauty was a comedy hit during the 30s and 40s. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on October 6, 1908 under the name of Jane Alice Peters. Young Jane Alice loved the Friday night movie night with her family and would perform the night before's show in the morning. Her mother and her father divorced in October of 1914. Jane Alice, her two older brothers, and their mother, Elizabeth Knight Peters moved to Los Angeles. When she was 12 she had a small part in a silent film called a Perfect Crime. An executive in 1925 from FOX PICTURES asked her to do a screen test, which was a success, but the film, which was to be her first spy film, Marriage In Transit (1925), wasn't. Carole Lombard, the actress, was born. In early 1927 she was tested by the Mack Sennet Studio, who put her under contract, only this time it was a comedy, not a spy film. Lombard became the top comedienne at the studio as she molded herself into the comedy life. Paul Stei, a Pathe director, saw her in a Sennet comedy and immediately put her under contract for $150 a week. Several films later she took a side step when director, Cecil B. DeMille called for her and then changed his mind. When she left Pathe in 1930 at the age of 18 she returned to FOX. She soon signed with Paramount for $300 a week but after 6 years was earning the sum of $35,000 a week! In October 1930 she met William Powell and then eight months later they were married on the day of June 26, 1931. Carole age 23 and William age 39 were married for 23 months but divorced in 1933. They stayed friends and film partners. In 1937 in My Man Godfrey (1936) (with Powell) earned her an Academy Award Nomination. There was a new person now, the crowned King of Hollywood" Clark Gable. They had made one movie together No Man Of Her Own (1932) in 1932. They were married, in March 1939, after Gable was separated from his wife Rhea Langham. They bought and lived in a 20 acre ranch in San Fernando Valley. They weren't Hollywood Socialites; they weren't glamorous; they wanted a simple life out of Hollywood's bright lights. They nick named each other Ma and Pa and were role modeled as the ideal marriage. Tragedy struck on a war bond tour that Carole and her mother were on. The plane they were traveling in (TWA Flight #3) crashed. Her last words, in her home state of Indiana, to all the people were just before boarding the plane, "Before I say goodbye to you all - come on - join me in a big cheer- V for victory!" All 22 passengers died in the crash.
