Swing High, Swing Low(1937).

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?

Please click here to view the full movie Swing High Swing Low.

Fun Fact:

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)

Libeled Lady(1936).

Libeled Lady(1936). Comedy. Cast: Jean Harlow, William Powell (who were romantically involved at the time), Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy. The movie was written by George Oppenheimer, Howard Emmett Rogers, Wallace Sullivan and Maurine Dallas Watkins, and directed by Jack Conway.

Libeled Lady was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film was remade in 1946 as Easy to Wed with Esther Williams, Van Johnson, and Lucille Ball.

Wealthy Connie Allenbury is falsely accused of breaking up a marriage and sues the New York Evening Star newspaper for libel. Warren Haggerty, the chief editor, turns to reporter and ladies man Bill Chandler for help.



Bill comes up with a plan, to be alone with Connie when his "wife" shows up, the suit will have to be dropped. Bill is not really married, so Warren has his neglected fiancee, Gladys Benton, play the part, which she is not to happy about.

Bill returns to America from England on the same ocean liner as Connie and her father J. B.. He pays some men to pose as reporters and harass Connie at the dock, so that he can "rescue" her. Connie believes that he is just a fortune hunter after her money, but Bill quickly wins her trust.

The plan falls apart when Connie and Bill actually fall in love. They get married, but Gladys interrupts their honeymoon to reclaim her husband. Bill reveals that he found out that Gladys' Mexican divorce wasn't valid, but then Gladys tops him. She got a second divorce and she and Bill are really man and wife. Will Connie and Bill manage to convince Gladys that she's really in love with Warren?

I always love to see a performance of Powell and Loy together, they really seem to enjoy each others company. Tracy, is wonderful as always. There are many amusing character actors, in this film. The film offers humor and gorgeous sets and costumes. Harlow, also gave a wonderful zany performance in this film.

Fun Facts:

Lionel Barrymore was originally cast as Mr. Allenbury while Rosalind Russell was originally considered to play Connie Allenbury.

Harlow wanted to play Connie Allenbury, so that her character and Powell's would wind up together. MGM insisted, however, that the film be another William Powell-Myrna Loy movie, as they originally intended. Harlow had already signed on to do the film but had to settle for the role of Gladys Benton.  As Gladys, top-billed Harlow got to play a wedding scene with Powell. During filming, Harlow changed her legal name.

The fifth of fourteen films pairing William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Walter Connolly (April 8, 1887 – May 28, 1940), who performed in almost fifty films between 1914 and 1939. His first film performance came in two silent films, The Marked Woman (1914) and A Soldier's Oath (1915), and a talkie in 1930, Many Happy Returns, but his Hollywood film career really began in 1932, when he performed in four films. His trademark role was that of a business tycoon or newspaperman, often as the father of the female lead character, as in It Happened One Night (1934) with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, Broadway Bill (1934), supporting Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy; and Libeled Lady (1936) with William Powell and Loy again. Other notable roles included the worthless uncle of Paul Muni's character in, The Good Earth (1937) and one of the two con men encountered by Mickey Rooney's, Huckleberry Finn in, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939). Connolly was particularly memorable as General Yen's American advisor in, The Bitter Tea of General Yen.

Connolly mostly played supporting roles, but starred occasionally, as Nero Wolfe in The League of Frightened Men (1937), 5th Ave Girl(1939), opposite Ginger Rogers and as the title character in, The Great Victor Herbert (1939), his last film.

The Housekeeper's Daughter (1939).

The Housekeeper's Daughter(1939). Comedy. Directed and produced by Hal Roach. Cast: Joan Bennett, Adolphe Menjou and John Hubbard. The screenplay was written by Rian James, Gordon Douglas, Jack Jevne and Claude Martin, based on novel by Donald Henderson Clarke.

The film begins when Hilda decides to visit her mother, who is the housekeeper for the Randalls. The Randalls go on vacation, while their son Robert stays behind to start his career as a reporter.

While, Benny is selling his flowers, he is a witness to Gladys Fontaine kidnapping and follows close behind while she is taken to Gangster Floyd's houseboat. Benny, wanting to save Gladys, puts poison in a cup of coffee meant for Floyd, but Gladys drinks it instead. The next morning, Robert reads about Gladys death in the papers and decides to cover the story, hooking up with reporter Deakon Maxwell and photographer Ed O'Malley. At a police station, they find Benny confessing to Gladys' murder. After a night on the town with Deakon and Ed, Benny suggests to the drunken Robert that he call his editor and tell him that Gladys was thrown from a houseboat.

Robert's story makes Floyd believe that the reporter knows what happened and puts out a contract on his life. While, Deakon and Ed are shooting fireworks from the roof, the gangsters think the fireworks are gun shots and they shoot back. Will the police get there in time?

Loved the cast of this fun movie, Joan Bennett, now a brunette, who reminded me a little of Heddy Lamar. Menjou of course always gives a wonderful performance. The rest of the cast were wonderful character actors including: William Gargan, Marc Lawrence, Donald Meek, George E. Stone and Peggy Wood. Also.. in his debut film, Victor Mature.

Peggy Wood (February 9, 1892 – March 18, 1978), did not perform in many films. Her few film appearances include co-starring opposite Will Rogers in the film, Handy Andy, Jalna, a cameo in the film, A Star is Born(1937), playing a movie studio receptionist. Other films: "Call It a Day" with Olivia de Havilland, "The Housekeeper's Daughter" with Joan Bennett, "The Bride Wore Boots" with Barbara Stanwyck, "Magnificent Doll" with Ginger Rogers and "Dream Girl" with Betty Hutton.

Wood's final screen appearance was as the Mother Abbess in the, The Sound Of Music (1965), for which she received an Academy Award nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actress. She was thrilled to be in the movie although she knew that she could no longer sing. Mother Abbess's performance of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is dubbed by Margery McKay. Her co-star Marni Nixon wrote in her memoir, "I Could Have Danced All Night", that Wood especially liked McKay's singing voice because it sounded like her own.

In 1969 she joined the cast of the ABC-TV soap, One Life to Live as Dr. Kate Nolan and had a recurring role until the end of the year.

Page Miss Glory (1935).

Page Miss Glory (1935). Romantic comedy. Cast: Marion Davies, Pat O'Brien, Mary Astor and Dick Powell. It was based on the play of the same name by Joseph Schrank and Phillip Dunning.

Small town girl Loretta Dalrymple, arrives in New York City and finds a job as a chambermaid in a luxurious hotel. Also, staying at the hotel is con man Wiley and his photographer partner Ed Olsen, who are three weeks behind on their hotel bill. Click and Ed, come up with a plan, to put together a picture of a beautiful woman, by combining the best features of several Hollywood beauties and enter the picture as "Dawn Glory" in a nationwide beauty contest for the $2500 prize. Which they win.

Bingo Nelson a pilot, immediately falls in love when he sees her picture. After flying a serum to Alaska through a blizzard, he proposes to Dawn on national radio. As a result, reporters want to interview Miss Glory, putting Click in a tough spot. Slattery of the Express digs up Click's checkered past to try to blackmail him into giving him an interview. Ed's girlfriend Gladys Russell finds Loretta trying on a dress delivered for Dawn. Earlier in the day, Loretta had her hair styled in the new hairdo called, "Dawn's bobb". Gladys and Ed think that she looks a lot like the "picture" and decide to pass off Loretta as Dawn. Soon, advertising endorsements and royalties come rolling in, making Click and Ed rich.

Meanwhile, Loretta has fallen in love with a newspaper picture of Bingo. Now, that she is famous she hopes she will meet Russell and when she does.. the troubles begin.

Marion Davies, shines in this fun film from beginning to end. Dick Powell, Mary Astor and Patsy Kelly, are all wonderful. This one of Davies' last pictures and she was pushing 40, but.. she is brave to play half the film as the dowdy country girl. Davies was a star for 20 years and made the switch to talkies.

Patsy Kelly (January 12, 1910 – September 24, 1981). Kelly, like many New York actors, made her screen debut in a Vitaphone short subject filmed there. Producer Hal Roach hired Kelly to co-star with Thelma Todd in a series of short-subject comedies. The Todd-Kelly shorts created Patsy Kelly's image: a brash, wisecracking woman. Later, in the series showcased Kelly's dancing skills. Thelma Todd died in 1935, and Kelly finished out the series.

Patsy Kelly then moved into feature films, often playing working-class character roles in comedies and musicals. One of her memorable roles was as Etta, the cook, in the five Academy Awards-nominated comedy, Merrily We Live(1938).

On television she performed in shows: The Man from U.N.C.L.E, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Wild Wild West, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. She also made a memorable performance as Laura-Louise in the film, Rosemary's Baby (1968).

Kelly performed as the housekeeper Mrs. Schmauss in the film, Freaky Friday(1976). Her final movie performance was in the Disney comedy, The North Avenue Irregulars(1979).

Patsy Kelly movies I have seen:
1935 Page Miss Glory.
1938 There Goes My Heart.
1938 The Cowboy and the Lady.
1941 Topper Returns.
1960 Please Don't Eat the Daisies.
1968 Rosemary's Baby.

Indiscreet (1933).

Indiscreet (1933). Cast: Gloria Swanson, Ben Lyon, Barbara Kent and Monroe Owsley. A comedy film directed by Leo McCarey. The screenplay by Buddy G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson, based on their story Obey That Impulse, originally was written as a musical, but only two songs - "If You Haven't Got Love" and "Come to Me".

On New Year's Eve, fashion designer Geraldine Trent decides to break up with her boyfriend Jim Woodward, having grown tired of his infidelities. Soon afterward, Geraldine meets and falls in love with novelist Anthony Blake. Blake knows that she has had a man in her past, but he is does not seem to concerned. Things become complicated when her sister Joan returns from a trip and introduces Woodward, as the new man in her life.

To see a young Swanson, in this film is to be pleasantly surprised of her beauty and her talents as an actress. You may want watch "Indiscreet" just to see a young Gloria Swanson at the height of her career.

Barbara Kent (born December 16, 1906) is a former Canadian actress who was popular in silent movies. She is at one of the very few surviving adult-aged players from Hollywood's silent film period.

She began her Hollywood career in 1925 in a small role for Universal Studios. Kent made a strong impression as the heroine who comes up against Greta Garbo's femme fatale in, Flesh and the Devil (1926).

She attracted attention in the film, No Man's Law(1927), by swimming nude (she wore a flesh colored bathing suit in scenes that were considered very daring at the time). She made a smooth transition into talking pictures opposite Harold Lloyd, in the comedy, Welcome Danger (1929). She is also well known for her role in the film, Oliver Twist(1933).

Her marriage to the agent and producer Harry E. Edington stalled her career, for one-year. During that time Edington groomed Kent for what he planned to be a high-profile career. By the time she returned to films, her popularity had faded. She made her final film in 1935.

I'm No Angel (1933).

I'm No Angel (1933). Cast: Mae West's third motion picture and Cary Grant. This was one of the few Mae West films that was not subjected to heavy censorship.

I'm No Angel" was released immediately after, She Done Him Wrong. Mae West's films saved Paramount Pictures from bankruptcy. Depression era audiences loved to see a woman rise from the wrong side of the tracks. Cary Grant stars opposite her for the second and final time. Film historians believe she was one of the reasons for the strict Hollywood production code that soon followed. The Hays Office forced a few changes including the title of the song "No One Does It Like a Dallas Man", changed to "No One Loves Me Like a Dallas Man".

Even though, West character lives with Ralf Harolde, she dates other men. When Harolde runs into trouble with the law, West becomes a dancer and a lion tamer. Soon she is "discovered" by playboy, Kent Taylor. She accepts his gifts, but she only has eyes for Taylor's cousin, Cary Grant. She finds a way to sue Grant for breach of promise. When Grant allows her to win the case, she realizes she's in love with him.

I'M NO ANGEL, is memorable for one quip after another as she cracks whips and dances with her maids ("Peel me a grape!"). 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!

Soundtracks:

"They Call Me Sister Honky-Tonk"
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Harvey Brooks
Lyrics by Gladys DuBois and Ben Ellison
Sung by Mae West

"That Dallas Man"
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Harvey Brooks
Lyrics by Gladys DuBois and Ben Ellison
Played on a record with Mae West Singing

"I Found a New Way to Go to Town"
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Harvey Brooks
Lyrics by Gladys DuBois and Ben Ellison
Sung by Mae West

"I Want You, I Need You"
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Harvey Brooks
Lyrics by Ben Ellison
Played on piano and sung by Mae West

"I'm No Angel"
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Harvey Brooks
Lyrics by Gladys DuBois and Ben Ellison
Sung by Mae West at the end and during the closing credits.

Fun Facts:

When Rajah the Fortune Teller gives Tira (Mae West) her horoscope, he gives her birthday as August 17, which is West's actual birthday.

Considerable problems arose with the censors, mostly about the suggestive lines in some of the songs. The song "Nobody Loves Me Like a Dallas Man" was originally "Nobody Does It Like a Dallas Man". After the songs were toned down, the Hays office approved the film, and it was passed by the National Board of Review.

In 1935 and 1949, the production code was more rigorously enforced, and the film was not approved for re-release.

Mae West's famous line in this film, "Beulah, peel me a grape," was inspired by West's pet monkey, Boogie. The monkey loved grapes, and one day West noticed that although he would eat grapes by the dozens, he would always peel the skin off each one before popping it into his mouth.

Dorothy Peterson (December 25, 1897 – October 3, 1979).  Made her screen debut in the film, Mothers Cry(1930), where the 29-year-old actress aged nearly three decades in the course of the film. Mothers Cry instantly typecast Peterson in maternal roles.  She is best known for her supporting roles in the film, Treasure Island (1934). In 1942, she replaced Olive Blakeney as Mrs. Aldrich in the comedy series Henry Aldrich for President. Her last screen appearance was as the mother of Shirley Temple in, That Hagen Girl (1947).

Dorothy Peterson remained active on the New York TV and theatrical scene until the early '60s. She appeared in 83 films, and made several television appearances between 1930 and 1964.

Filmography:
Way Back Home (1931)
Forbidden (1932)
The Beast of the City (1932)
Business and Pleasure (1932)
So Big! (1932)
Night World (1932)
Life Begins (1932)
The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)
Payment Deferred (1932)
Call Her Savage (1932)
The Mayor of Hell (1933)
I'm No Angel (1933)
Treasure Island (1934)
Confession (1937)
Dark Victory (1939)
Too Many Husbands (1940)
Lillian Russell (1940)
Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941)
Saboteur (1942)
This Is the Army (1943)
Mr. Skeffington (1944)
The Woman in the Window (1944)
Sister Kenny (1946)
That Hagen Girl (1947)

It's a Wonderful World(1939).

It's a Wonderful World(1939). Romantic screwball comedy.Cast: Claudette Colbert and James Stewart, directed by W. S. Van Dyke.

Detective Guy Johnson's client, Willie Heywood is framed for murder and while Guy hides him so he can catch the real killer, both of them are caught by the police, tried and convicted .  Guy for a year, Willie to be executed. On the way to jail, Guy comes across a clue and escapes from the police...

Edwina Corday, accidentally gets involved in Guy's trying to hide from the cops, eventually becoming a runaway herself and falling in love with Guy, causing him a lot of trouble along the way.



This movie is  non-stop fun from start to finish, and Stewart plays a much rougher guy than his usual more like able personality.

Frances Drake (October 22, 1912 – January 18, 2000) . She was appearing as a nightclub dancer in London when she made her first film appearances: Meet My Sister (1933) and The Jewel (1933).

List of  Frances Drake films:
Bolero (1934)
The Trumpet Blows (1934)
Ladies Should Listen (1934)
Forsaking All Others (1934)
Mad Love (1935)
Les Miserables (1935 film)
The Invisible Ray (1936)
And Sudden Death (1936)
Midnight Taxi (1937)
Love Under Fire (1937)
There's Always a Woman (1938)
It's a Wonderful World (1939)
I Take This Woman (1940)
The Affairs of Martha (1942)

Cain and Mabel(1936).

Cain and Mabel(1936). Romantic/comedy film designed to showcase Marion Davies in which she co-stars with Clark Gable and Robert Paige (credited under his original name, David Carlyle).

After reporter Aloysius K. Reilly, is responsible for Mabel O'Dare, to lose her waitress job, he helps find her a job in the chorus of a new production. Jake casts Mabel in the lead even though she isn't really a dancer. The night before her opening, while practicing her routine, she keeps her downstairs neighbor, boxer Larry Cain, awake. Because he has a big boxing match the next day, Larry asks Mabel to quit, but they get into a heated argument. Larry wins the championship, but his lack of charisma does not bring in the crowds. Mabel's show is also not doing well. So... Reilly comes up with the idea of spreading the rumor that there is a a romance between Mabel and Larry. The publicity about their love affair does help their careers. Larry shares with Mabel that his dream is to retire to New Jersey and work in his own garage. They decide to marry and make Larry's dream come true. Overhearing their plans, Reilly gives the story to the papers, and Mabel and Larry each think the other has betrayed their secrets. When Mabel finally learns the truth, she flies to Philadelphia to find Larry .



I do not know if I would not call this a great movie, more of a curiosity piece and a must see for fans of the stars.

Ruth Donnelly (May 17, 1896 – November 17, 1982). She began her stage career at the age of 17 in 1913 in, The Quaker Girl. Her Broadway debut brought her to the attention of George M. Cohan, who cast her in many comic-relief roles. Though she made her first film appearance that same year, her Hollywood career took off in 1931 and lasted until 1957.

Filmography:
Blessed Event (1932)
Hard to Handle (1933)
Ladies They Talk About (1933)
Lilly Turner (1933)
Bureau of Missing Persons (1933)
Footlight Parade (1933)
Ever in My Heart (1933)
Female (1933)
Wonder Bar (1934)
Heat Lightning (1934)
Housewife (1934)
Hands Across the Table (1935)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
Thirteen Hours by Air (1936)
Cain and Mabel (1936)
More Than a Secretary (1936)
A Slight Case of Murder (1938)
The Affairs of Annabel (1938)
My Little Chickadee (1940)
You Belong to Me (1941)
This Is the Army (1943)
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
The Snake Pit (1948)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
A Lawless Street (1955)
Autumn Leaves (1956)

Eternally Yours(1939)

Eternally Yours (1939). Director: Tay Garnett. Cast: Loretta Young, David Niven, Broderick Crawford, Billie Burke, Eve Arden, Hugh Herbert, C. Aubrey Smith, Virginia Field, Zasu Pitts, Raymond Walburn.

While Anita is making plans to marry Don, she meets Tony a magician and they fall in love and marry. Anita goes on the road with Tony’s act, even performing in his show with him. But his stunts become more and more dangerous and Anita can no longer take it. She divorces him, and to get over the heartache, she marries Don. But Anita can’t escape Tony for long, and not long after her wedding they’re stuck at the same party together.

The first half of the movie is very charming. Niven and Young have wonderful chemistry and the story of a magician who’s torn between his fans and his commitment to his wife makes for a very interesting love story.

Virginia Field (November 4, 1917 – January 2, 1992) was a British-born film actress who performed in over 40 films including: Ladies in Love (1936), Waterloo Bridge (1940), Repeat Performance (1947), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949) and Dial 1119 (1950).

She started her film career in England then was brought to the U.S. to perform in, Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936). In the late 1930s she performed in various parts in, Mr. Moto movie series.

Fields married three times, including a marriage to actor Paul Douglas and a marriage to actor Willard Parker.

Holiday(1938).

Holiday(1938). Directed by George Cukor, a remake of the 1930 film of the same name. Romantic/comedy. The movie was adapted by Donald Ogden Stewart and Sidney Buchman from the play by Philip Barry. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Doris Nolan, Lew Ayres, and Edward Everett Horton, who played the same role he had played in the 1930 version. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction by Stephen Goosson and Lionel Banks.

This is a very charming, hilarious, comedy where Grant plays Johnny Case, a self-made man who is already tired of the rat race at the age of 30. Wanting to make enough money to retire on to travel around the world in search of adventure. Johnny proposes to his girl friend Julia in Lake Placid, but it isn't until he visits her and her family in New York, that he learns she's the daughter of a wealthy banker. He soon wins over the whole family hearts especially, Julia's sister Linda, who finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. Can Johnny live the life where responsibility is already laid out for him or will he have the courage to break free of society and follow his heart? There's more going on here than a fluffy romance. If you love witty and intelligent romantic comedy, then this film is for you.



Fun Facts:

The character of Linda Seton played by Hepburn was loosely based on a socialite named Gertrude Sanford Legendre.

Although the film was originally intended to reunite The Awful Truth co-stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, George Cukor decided to cast Hepburn instead.





Doris Nolan, performed in films in the late 30s after earning a contract from Fox. Best known as Katharine Hepburn's, high-society sister in the comedy classic, Holiday (1938). She was gone within the decade and returned to theatre.

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936 ).

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936). Directed by Frank Capra, based on the story Opera Hat by Clarence Budington Kelland that appeared in serial form in the Saturday Evening Post. Cast: Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur in her first featured role. The screenplay was written by Kelland and Robert Riskin in his fifth collaboration with Capra.

In the middle of the Great Depression, Longfellow Deeds, co-owner of a tallow works, inherits 20 million dollars from his late uncle, Martin Semple. His uncle's attorney, John Cedar, locates Deeds and takes him to New York City.

Cedar gives his ex-newspaperman Cornelius Cobb, the job of keeping reporters away from the heir. He is outsmarted by reporter Louise Bennett, who gets to Deeds' by masquerading as a poor worker named Mary Dawson. She pretends to faint after "walking all day to find a job". She writes a series of articles calling him the "Cinderella Man". Meanwhile, Cedar tries to get Deeds' power of attorney in order to keep his plan a secret. Fortunately, Deeds outwits them all, but.. when he falls for a big-city girl anything can happen.



A wonderful fast pace film that never lets the viewer down. It shows the genius of Frank Capra that make us treasure films like this one.

Fun Fact: Carole Lombard was going to play the female lead but she backed out three days before production began to go work on, My Man Godfrey (1936).

Jean Arthur (October 17, 1900 – June 19, 1991). Discovered by Fox Film Studios while she was modeling in New York City in the early 1920s, Arthur debuted in the silent film, Cameo Kirby (1923), directed by John Ford. It was her distinctive voice, that helped make her a star in the talkies.

In 1935, at age 34, she starred opposite Edward G. Robinson in, The Whole Town's Talking, also directed by Ford. She was famous for being filmed almost always from the left, Arthur felt that her left was her best side. Frank Capra recounted that producer Harry Cohn described Jean Arthur's imbalanced profile as "half of it's angel, and the other half horse."

The turning point in Jean Arthur's career came when she was chosen by director Frank Capra to star in, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Capra had spotted her from the film, Whirlpool (1934) and convinced Cohn to have Columbia Studios sign her for his next film. Arthur co-starred in two other Capra films: You Can't Take It With You (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939), both with James Stewart. She was re-teamed with Cooper, playing Calamity Jane in Cecil B. DeMille's, The Plainsman (1936) and the film, Easy Living(1937) opposite Ray Milland. In 1939, she was one of four finalists for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in, Gone with the Wind.

She continued to star in films such as Howard Hawks' Only Angels Have Wings(1939), with Cary Grant, The Talk of the Town(1942), also with Grant and The More the Merrier(1943), for which Jean Arthur was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Arthur remained Columbia's top star until the mid-1940s, when she left the studio. Stevens famously called her "one of the greatest comediennes the screen has ever seen", while Capra credited her as "my favorite actress".

Arthur "retired" when her contract with Columbia Pictures expired in 1944. For the next several years, she turned down many film offers, the two exceptions being Billy Wilder's, A Foreign Affair (1948), in which she played a congresswoman and rival of Marlene Dietrich and in the classic Western, Shane (1953), which turned out to be the biggest film of her career. The latter was her final film, and the only color film she performed in.

My Man Godfrey(1936).

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).

The Gilded Lily(1935)

The Gilded Lily(1935). Directed by Welsey Ruggles. Cast: Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Ray Milland and Aubrey Smith.

Lynn, and her best friend, reporter Peter Dawes, meet every Thursday night on a bench, where they share a bag of popcorn and talk about their life.. Lynn, soon, meets vacationing English aristocrat Charles Gray Granville, and they fall in love, although he keeps his royal identity a secret. Gray is already engaged to Helen Fergus and when he tells his father, Duke of Lomeshire, that he wants to marry Lynn, the duke insists they return to England and break off the engagement. Gray lies to Lynn about why he's leaving New York, but when Pete meets the Granvilles at the dock, Gray tells him that he is engaged to Helen. Pete writes an article about Lynn, who he calls "No Girl," leaving Gray at the altar. When the Granvilles, read that Helen has broken her engagement, the duke believes Lynn is trying to blackmail him. Gray then sends Lynn a telegram at work asking her price to forget him. Pete decides to make her a celebrity. He gets her a job as a singer and dancer at Nate's Cafe, despite the fact that she can neither sing nor dance. At her opening, Lynn's lack of talent wins laughs from the audience, and she becomes a hit.

After one publicity stunt after another, "No Girl" becomes a household name and as a nightclub star, she goes to London to perform. Gray is in the audience and Lynn, assuming they are still in love, goes out with him. Heartbroken, Pete returns to the states. Who will Lynn share her bag of popcorn with?

Fun Fact:

First of seven movies that Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray filmed together.

This is a wonderful little film I saw for the first time over the weekend. Claudette Colbert is wonderful as always. Fred MacMurray also does a fine job in his part, Ray Milland looks very young and handsome.

First video of 9.

Aubrey Smith(21 July 1863 – 20 December 1948), was an English cricketer and actor. He was knighted by King George VI in 1944 for services to the theatre. He appeared in early films for the nascent British film industry, starring in, The Bump in 1920. Smith later moved to Hollywood where he had a successful career as a character actor playing either officer or gentleman roles.

Smith became infamous for expecting his fellow countrymen to report for regular duty at his Hollywood Cricket Club, and anyone who refused was known to "incur his displeasure". Fiercely patriotic, Smith became openly critical of the British actors of enlistment age who did not return to fight after the outbreak of World War II in 1939. He starred alongside such screen legends as leading ladies Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh, and actors Clark Gable, Laurence Olivier, Ronald Colman, Maurice Chevalier and Gary Cooper. His films include such classics as The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) mentioned above, The Four Feathers (1939), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941), and And Then There Were None (1945).

The Thin Man(1934).

The Thin Man(1934). Cast: William Powell and Myrna Loy. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, the film was directed by W.S. Van Dyke from a script by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich the screenplay was based on the mystery novel, The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett, based on his relationship with playwright Lillian Hellman. Also performing in the film: Maureen O'Sullivan, Nat Pendleton, Minna Gombell, Cesar Romero and Porter Hall.

When Dorothy Wynant shares with her father that she plans to marry, he takes off on a business trip, promising to return in time for her wedding. When Wynant does not return, Dorothy becomes worried. When Mimi goes to see, Wynant's mistress, she finds her dead, holding Wynant's watch chain.

Soon, Retired detective Nick Charles and his wife Nora are on the case. Wynant quickly becomes the prime suspect, but his daughter Dorothy does not believe he did it. She convinces Nick to take the case. Between very charmingly funny dialog, the couple tries to piece things together.

Fun Fact: The second of fourteen films pairing William Powell and Myrna Loy.

The Thin Man is a fast paced, stylish film. If you are interested in period fashions you will want to view this film. William Powell and Myrna Loy have amazing on screen chemistry.

 

Skippy aka Asta (born 1931 or 1932; retired 1939) was a Wire-Haired Fox Terrier. He is best known as "Asta" in the comedy The Thin Man, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Skippy's name was changed to Asta after the first, Thin Man film was released.

Other Films starring Skippy:

The Thin Man (1934)
The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)
The Lottery Lover (1935)
It's a Small World (1935)
The Daring Young Man
Sea Racketeers (1937)
The Awful Truth (1937)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
I Am the Law (1938)
Topper Takes a Trip (1939)