Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the internet...

...Today was the 101st anniversary of the birth of actress-inventory Hedy Lamarr, to whom I paid tribute on her centennial in 2014. Google honored Hedy with a Google Doodle today, and it was announced by PBS that Lamarr will be the subject of a future documentary in the AMERICAN MASTERS series.

...For more on Hedy Lamarr, check out last year's look at Hedy in Edgar G. Ulmer's THE STRANGE WOMAN (1946) by The Nitrate Diva.

...Barnes & Noble's fall half-price Criterion sale starts this week.

...Speaking of Criterion, the lineup for next week's Criterion Blogathon is mind-blowing, with dozens of contributors lined up. (You'll find me under "Japan" on the 19th!) The blogathon will run from November 16th through 21st.

...In an interesting move, Amazon has opened a "bricks and mortar" store in Seattle.

...Susan King of the Los Angeles Times interviews actress and TCM guest host Illeana Douglas about her new book, I BLAME DENNIS HOPPER.

...The new film BROOKLYN (2015), set in the '50s, sounds as though it would particularly appeal to classic film fans. Here are reviews by Leonard Maltin and Kenneth Turan.

...Someone please make the remake mania stop: THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO is the latest series being targeted for a remake. The original show, which I enjoyed a lot, starred William Katt, Connie Sellecca, and Robert Culp. It also had one of the best TV theme songs ever. Do any shows even have theme songs anymore?

...I'm unfamiliar with the Edmond O'Brien legal series SAM BENEDICT (1962), currently showing on Warner Archive Instant, but it sounds like something I'd enjoy!

...ClassicFlix has the scoop on the latest releases in the Universal Vault Series, including Yvonne DeCarlo and Rock Hudson in THE SCARLET ANGEL (1952), Joel McCrea and Frances Dee in WELLS FARGO (1937), which I reviewed in 2011, and Deanna Durbin in ONE HUNDRED MEN AND A GIRL (1937), which I also reviewed in 2011.

...The irreplaceable IMDb recently celebrated its silver anniversary. For many film fans there's a definite dividing line of life "before" and "after" the existence of IMDb. I used to comb through books and do library research trying to find information that's now available with a few clicks on the keyboard.

...Check out the Robert Ryan posters Mark's gathered at Where Danger Lives.

...Exciting news from the Film Noir Foundation: The FNF has teamed with Flicker Alley to bring out DVD and Blu-ray editions of the restored prints of WOMAN ON THE RUN (1950) and TOO LATE FOR TEARS (1949), complete with extras. The FNF website says if they sell well there is then hope for releases of films like HIGH TIDE (1947), THE GUILTY (1947), and REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947); the latter film is a special favorite and having it out on DVD with extras would be a dream come true, so hopefully everyone will order WOMAN ON THE RUN and TOO LATE FOR TEARS as soon as they're out! They're both wonderful movies.

...Raquel recently saw Murnau's horror film NOSFERATU (1922) at Boston's Symphony Hall, with Keith Lockhart conducting the Boston Pops in a live performance of a new score. What a great way to see a silent movie! Her report is at Out of the Past.

...Reviews, reviews, and more reviews: Here's Caftan Woman on KISS OF DEATH (1947), her "One for November" pick of the month...Jacqueline focuses on the aviation angles in Shirley Temple's BRIGHT EYES (1934) at Another Old Movie Blog...Colin's latest review at Riding the High Country is of Lewton and Tourneur's I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943)...Over at Greenbriar Picture Shows John McElwee recently took a detailed look at Tyrone Power and Kim Novak in THE EDDY DUCHIN STORY (1956), including lots of great photos and publicity materials...Aurora writes about a great favorite of mine, THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940), at Once Upon a Screen...Kristina's been reviewing up a storm at Speakeasy where her recent reviews include the spooky fave THE UNINVITED (1944), starring Ray Milland and Gail Russell, and the Gainsborough melodrama THE WICKED LADY (1945) with Margaret Lockwood and James Mason...Kim's latest review at I See a Dark Theater is of Irene Dunne and Pat O'Brien in CONSOLATION MARRIAGE (1931), which I'll be reviewing here soon...and KC's recent reviews at A Classic Movie Blog include Zachary Scott and Ann Sothern in SHADOW ON THE WALL (1950).

...There are also lots of great reviews up at ClassicFlix by familiar names including Karen Burroughs Hannsberry, Kendahl (KC) Cruver, Ivan Shreve, Rick Brooks, and Cameron Howard (aka The Blonde at the Film). Be sure to drop in and check out the latest from time to time!

...The latest series at Rupert Pupkin Speaks is on Underrated Films of 1945. It recently kicked off with an introductory post from Brian, and my friend John Knight had a list posted today. I'll be sharing my list at a future date!

...Anyone wanting to learn about movie serials should stop by the informative site The Files of Jerry Blake, recently added to my blogroll.

...My pal Chris Yogerst has taken up blogging and is also new on my blogroll. Chris has an upcoming book, FROM HEADLINES TO HOLLYWOOD: THE BIRTH AND BOOM OF WARNER BROS.

...Kate Gabrielle has wonderful coverage of the just-completed TCM Classic Film Cruise at her blog Silents and Talkies. Start with Day 1, and additional links are on the right side of the page.

...Notable Passings: Former child actor Charles Herbert has passed on at the age of 66. I knew Herbert best as one of Cary Grant's children in HOUSEBOAT (1958), a childhood favorite; he's at the left in this still. He was also in THE FLY (1958), PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES (1960), 13 GHOSTS (1960), and more...Prolific actor Gregg Palmer, who had over 160 movie and TV credits, has died at 88. Early in his career, when he acted under the name Palmer Lee, the actor was Ann Blyth's boyfriend in an old favorite of mine, SALLY AND SAINT ANNE (1952). He appeared in many other Universal films of the '50s, especially Westerns, and as his career continued he appeared in supporting roles in several of John Wayne's later films, including BIG JAKE (1971), RIO LOBO (1970), and THE SHOOTIST (1976). Palmer appeared on GUNSMOKE an amazing 21 times!...French actress Daniele Delorme, who starred in the original dramatic version of GIGI (1949), has passed away at 89.

...More Notable Passings: Former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson, an attorney who also developed into a very successful character actor, has died of lymphoma at 73. Thompson's first film role was playing himself in MARIE (1985); he went on to appear in films such as NO WAY OUT (1988), THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990), and IN THE LINE OF FIRE (1993), as well as a long run on TV's LAW & ORDER. Many well-known politicians spoke at Thompson's funeral, where Lee Greenwood sang "God Bless the U.S.A."...Cinematographer Charles Rosher Jr. has died at 80. Rosher's father Charles was a two-time Oscar winner for SUNRISE (1927) and THE YEARLING (1946). Charles Jr.'s credits included A WEDDING (1978), MOVIE MOVIE (1978), and THE ONION FIELD (1979)...Melissa Mathison, screenwriter of THE BLACK STALLION (1979) and E.T. (1981), has died at 65.

...For even more recent classic film links on books, DVDs, screenings and more, please check out last week's roundup.

Have a great week!

Tonight's Movie: I Sell Anything (1934) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

Pat O'Brien plays a fast-talking auctioneer in I SELL ANYTHING (1934). It's part of the brand-new Forbidden Hollywood: Volume 9, now available from the Warner Archive.

It's always exciting to see another pre-Code set released by the Archive. Volume 9 is a five-film, four disc collection. The other movies in the set are BIG CITY BLUES (1932), HELL'S HIGHWAY (1932), THE CABIN IN THE COTTON (1932), and WHEN LADIES MEET (1933). I'll have more reviews from this set in the future.

O'Brien plays "Spot Cash Cutler," who has a racket "creatively" selling junk to the gullible on New York's 2nd Avenue, along with his employees Monk (Roscoe Karns) and Smiley (Russell Hopton). Barbara (Ann Dvorak) joins the group after Cutler comes to her aid when she faints in his store due to malnutrition.

Elegant Millicent (Claire Dodd) meets Cutler and ultimately sets him up in a business auctioneering high-end items on 5th Avenue, but it turns out that she's a bigger crook than Cutler is; she convinces him to auction off an entire house of phony antiques. Will Cutler, lured by money and a gorgeous dame, end up in jail?

O'Brien and Dvorak, who previously costarred in COLLEGE COACH (1933), are an appealing team, but unfortunately they don't have enough screen time together. The third-billed Dodd has the more significant female role, while Dvorak is something of an afterthought, pining away for Cutler. Dvorak's character mostly exists to show that Cutler has some kindness and humanity, saving him from coming off as an unlikeable crook.

The film is so-so, stymied at the outset by an exceptionally long sequence with Cutler and his pals plying their shady trade; this opening set piece takes up roughly a quarter of the movie's 70-minute running time. The pace picks up considerably once both Dvorak and Dodd enter the picture.

The movie's other drawback is that the "hero" is a crook, though it's offset to some extent by seeing him receive his comeuppance at the hands of the crafty Dodd.

The film is interesting enough for fans of the actors to give it a look, but its chief selling point is simply spending time with the cast, who have all done better work.

I SELL ANYTHING was directed by Robert Florey and shot by Sid Hickox. The supporting cast includes Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, and Leonard Carey.

I SELL ANYTHING is a good print, save for a couple of scenes with a noticeable thread at the edge of the picture; given the movie's age, it's a perfectly fine viewing experience, with good sound quality. The trailer for I SELL ANYTHING is included on the disc.

Collectors should note that the initial copies of the set sold directly from the WBShop are pressed discs.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD collection. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from Amazon and other online retailers.

Tonight's Movie: The Beginning or the End (1947) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

I first saw THE BEGINNING OR THE END (1947) in 2012 thanks to Turner Classic Movies. I've found it interesting that in the ensuing years I have received numerous emails from professors and students wanting to know how to obtain this MGM film on the creation of the atomic bomb.

Happily this movie is now easily available to both academics and a wider audience thanks to the Warner Archive. The movie was recently released as part of a "wave" of films directed by Norman Taurog.

I've previously reviewed Taurog's LUCKY NIGHT (1939) and PLEASE BELIEVE ME (1950); still ahead in my review stack is the fourth and final film of the batch, William Powell in THE HOODLUM SAINT (1946).

THE BEGINNING OR THE END, the story of the Manhattan Project, was released early in 1947. Though it's a fictionalized telling, one of the most interesting aspects for me was simply seeing how the story was depicted, roughly 18 months after the dropping of the atomic bombs. The film mixes facts with plenty of conjecture about what the atomic bomb would ultimately mean for the world, hence the movie's title.

It's an engrossing film with a large cast of excellent actors. Brian Donlevy plays Maj. Gen. Leslie Groves, in charge of the top secret multi-state project involving scientists from the United States, Canada, and England. Hume Cronyn plays Robert Oppenheimer, with additional scientists portrayed by character greats including Richard Haydn, Joseph Calleia, Norman Lloyd, Moroni Olsen, Hurd Hatfield, and Frank Ferguson.

The cast also includes Robert Walker and Audrey Totter as Groves's aide and secretary; I enjoyed their bantering relationship, which provides some needed lightness against the seriousness of the story.

Tom Drake plays a young scientist working on the project, with Beverly Tyler as his bride. As much as I enjoy Drake and Tyler, I feel that their personal story is extraneous and I believe the film would have been better served with greater focus on the story of the bomb, which has plenty of drama in and of itself.

I particularly would have liked to see more of Donlevy's Groves, who ran an incredibly complex mission. Donlevy doesn't enter the film until roughly 38 minutes in, and his presence raises the film's energy level considerably. His performance is my favorite among the large cast.

The film has a somewhat odd opening, a "newsreel" in which some of the movie's lead characters put a copy of the film in a time capsule. I never quite understood how that worked!

This 112-minute movie then traces the creation of the atomic bomb, including documentary footage of the construction of the secret facilities at Los Alamos and Oak Ridge, up through the flight of the Enola Gay. Art Baker plays President Truman in a scene where the President explains his reasons for dropping the bomb.

Barry Nelson plays Col. Paul Tibbets Jr., the pilot of the Enola Gay, with Henry O'Neill playing General Farrell, the man in charge of the mission. I found a candlelit prayer scene before the flight particularly moving.

It's worth noting here that the flight of the Enola Gay is covered more extensively in MGM's fine ABOVE AND BEYOND (1952), also available from the Warner Archive.

A side note with some fun trivia: Pay attention to the scene where Donlevy and Walker first meet up in a hallway. The hall behind them is actually a fake backdrop, also seen MGM's THE HUCKSTERS (1947); half a decade later, Donald O'Connor would dance up that very same backdrop in "Make 'Em Laugh" in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952).

THE BEGINNING OR THE END was photographed in black and white by Ray June. The story and screenplay were by Robert Considine and Frank Wead. The supporting cast includes John Litel, Jonathan Hale, Nella Walker, Victor Francen, Ludwig Stossel, and Warner Anderson.

The Warner Archive disc includes the trailer.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection Store at Amazon or from other online retailers.

Tonight's Movie: Bobby Ware is Missing (1955) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

BOBBY WARE IS MISSING (1955) is a no-frills Allied Artists film about the efforts to recover two missing boys. It's newly available from the Warner Archive.

In this 67-minute programmer, Bobby (Kim Charney of SUDDENLY) and his friend Mickey (Thorne Whiteman) ride their bikes to a construction site after school. They decide to hike to the top of a hill but get into trouble when there's a rock slide; they're trapped on a ledge with no way out.

Bobby's parents (Arthur Franz and Jean Willes) and Mickey's dad (Walter Reed) soon have the police looking for the boys, but the search is complicated when a ransom note is received, which Mickey's father insists on secretly paying.

As it turns out, the ransom note was delivered by someone who knew the boys were missing and was trying to cash in, and the search is back on. One more problem awaits: the area where it's suspected the boys might have gone hiking is about to be dynamited by a granite company.

This low-budget film won't be to every viewer's taste, but I enjoyed it. It's especially fun seeing Neville Brand, who so often played a movie villain, as the dogged police detective heading the search for the little boys.

I enjoyed the cast, the black and white Southern California '50s ambiance, and especially the procedural aspects of the film, which include an elaborate stakeout and car chase for the suspected kidnapper. I also enjoyed seeing the equipment used in that era, such as the field phones used in the search and rescue operation.

Franz and Reed do a good job as the anguished fathers; Franz must also cope with worrying about how his wife and his other two children are dealing with the situation, while on the other hand Reed fears the loss of his one family member.

This was the fourth film I've seen William Schallert in over the last couple of weeks. He was an ambulance attendant in THEM! (1954), a doctor in THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (1957), and a meteorologist in THE MONOLITH MONSTERS (1957). This time around he's the police dispatcher! It's always good to see him, and he was another reason I enjoyed the movie.

BOBBY WARE IS MISSING was directed by Thomas Carr and written by Daniel B. Ullman. Carr and Ullman both worked on Bill Elliott's THE FORTY-NINERS (1954), reviewed here a few days ago.

The movie was shot in black and white by Ellsworth Fredericks. It's fairly ordinary looking, reminding me of '50s cop shows like HIGHWAY PATROL, and that seemed appropriate for the story.

The Warner Archive DVD is a nice crisp print. There are no extras.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection at the WBShop.

Tonight's Movie: The Thing From Another World (1951) at the Palm Springs Classic Science Fiction Film Festival

I saw seven films at the recent Palm Springs Classic Science Fiction Film Festival, and five of them were new to me.

It was serendipitous that one of those "new" films, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951), was also on my list of 10 Classics to see for the first time in 2015! It had been my husband's suggestion to include it on the list, expanding my viewing of classic science fiction; little did we know that not only would we be able to enjoy the film together on a big screen, but that I would be broadening my viewing horizons with a whole bunch of sci-film films the same weekend!

Of all the movies seen at the festival, this one was my favorite, edging out the wonderful THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (1953) and THEM! (1954). I definitely had a feeling of "Where has this been all my life?!" I'm so glad that I've gotten past my longtime aversion to '50s sci-fi so that I can enjoy wonderful movies like this one.

The film is sometimes referred to as HOWARD HAWKS' THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, and it's well known among film fans that though the credited director was former editor Christian Nyby, Hawks was actually the director.

Alan K. Rode quoted lead actor Kenneth Tobey as saying that Nyby only directed one scene, when characters walked into a room. Hawks was always on the set, huddling with the actors, making suggestions, and adding uncredited dialogue; the lines were sometimes suggested by the actors themselves, such as Tobey's smark-aleck reply about closing the door in one of his first scenes. Incidentally, the marvelous Charles Lederer screenplay also included uncredited work by Ben Hecht.

THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD has it all, including lots of humor, romance, and Hawksian camaraderie. At times I thought of it as a less serious Arctic version of ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS (1939). It's highly enjoyable from start to finish; at times the banter is such it almost feels like a comedy, but then the title creature stirs things up again. It's a terrific, well-paced blend of fright and fun.

The movie also has Hawks' trademark overlapping, naturalistic dialogue, although I found it easier to follow in this movie than HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940), perhaps because the characters weren't shouting as much!

A UFO lands at the North Pole, and the Air Force sends Captain Patrick Hendry (Tobey) and his team up to investigate. Hendry and his men arrive at a remote, snowy base which is also home to several scientists.

It turns out that on a prior occasion Hendry had made an unsuccessful pass at lovely, sharp-witted Nikki (Margaret Sheridan), assistant to one of the scientists. Despite his past history with her, there is clearly an attraction between the two as they trade jokes and flirt. A sample: Hendry says, "I've given all the orders I want to give for the rest of my life," and Nikki immediately snaps back "If I thought that was true, I'd ask you to marry me!" I enjoyed the way the script drops viewers right into the middle of an ongoing relationship. Things even get a bit racy at times, all the while there's that creature to deal with...

The UFO turns out to be some kind of unusual plane which has a frozen body in it; an ice block with the body is brought back to the base, and no one is quite prepared for the body, aka "the Thing" (James Arness) to wake up...or for one of the scientists, Dr. Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite) to be so excited by a creature from another planet that he's more concerned with studying it than keeping his colleagues alive.

There is so much about this movie I loved, starting with the fact that it's a scary movie which isn't terribly scary -- perfect for someone like me! I enjoy the storytelling excitement of a team working together to solve a big problem; that's a key theme of many '50s sci-fi movies and is at its best in this film.

I'm really coming to appreciate Kenneth Tobey and his contributions to the sci-fi genre, which also included THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (1953) and IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA (1955). He's pitch-perfect in this, simultaneously "one of the guys" yet very much the respected leader; he's open to suggestions from his subordinates but no one doubts who's in charge when the chips are down. Even the feisty Nikki doesn't dare argue when he orders her to leave the hallway when the men are about to have their final confrontation with the monster.

I previously enjoyed Margaret Sheridan as the second female lead in ONE MINUTE TO ZERO (1952) and she's terrific as the smart, confident Nikki. In fact, it's a comment from Nikki which leads to the solution for stopping the monster's rampage. You have a feeling that she and Hendry are going to end up married and have a good time together.

THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD was filmed in black and white by Russell Harlan and scored by Dimitri Tiomkin. The excellent supporting cast also includes Douglas Spencer, Dewey Martin, James Young, Eduard Franz, Robert Nichols, and William Self.

THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD has several running times listed at IMDb; the program from the film festival says it was 87 minutes.

THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD is available on DVD and also had a release on VHS.

Coming soon: My final review from the festival, with James Arness going from monster to protector, playing an FBI man battling giant ants in THEM! (1954).

"Keep watching the skies!"

January 2019 Update: This film is now available on a beautiful Blu-ray from the Warner Archive. My review of the Blu-ray may be found here.

Tonight's Movie: Becky Sharp (1935) at UCLA

Sunday evening's double bill at UCLA's Archive Treasures: 50th Anniversary Celebration started off with the two-strip Technicolor charmer FOLLOW THRU (1930).

The evening's second movie, BECKY SHARP (1935), is historically significant as it was the first feature-length three-strip Technicolor film. After the movie's initial release, it was only available in two-color Cinecolor, which did not represent how the film looked in Technicolor. The UCLA website has a video showing how the color looked before and after UCLA's restoration work.

Ironically, I unexpectedly found the two-color FOLLOW THRU, with its vibrant oranges and greens, even more beautiful than BECKY SHARP, though BECKY was lovely and I was glad to finally see it.

BECKY SHARP is based on a play by Langdon Mitchell which adapted the famous novel VANITY FAIR by William Makepeace Thackeray. The screenplay was by Francis Edwards Faragoh.

BECKY SHARP was directed by Rouben Mamoulian, who later made two especially beautiful Technicolor films, BLOOD AND SAND (1941) and SUMMER HOLIDAY (1948). Ray Rennahan, who filmed BECKY SHARP, would win one of his two Oscars for BLOOD AND SAND. His other Oscar was for a little movie called GONE WITH THE WIND (1939).

It's been many years since I read VANITY FAIR and I can't say I remember it very well, so I'm uncertain just how much of the story the 84-minute movie used, but by all accounts the plot was trimmed down considerably. It's rather interesting in that Becky (Miriam Hopkins), the title character, is not at all a heroine; I suppose she could be called an anti-hero, but I'm not even sure about that. Any sympathy I had as a viewer was reserved for sweet but dumb Amelia Sedley (Frances Dee, below left), who extends her friendship to Becky long past the time she should have called it quits.

As the film begins, Becky and Amelia are leaving a girls' school, where Becky was a (resentful) charity pupil who assisted in teaching. Becky initially tries to convince Amelia's kind buffoon of a brother (Nigel Bruce) to marry her, but he's not going to marry beneath his station, so off Becky goes to be a governess to the Crawley family.

Becky eventually marries Rawdon Crawley (Alan Mowbray), a soldier, but they're dirt poor and tend not to pay their bills. One of Becky's solutions to keep them afloat financially is to become mistress to the Marquis of Steyne (Cedric Hardwicke).

And so it goes, on and on, as Becky is constantly looking for another mark willing to hand over some money. While one might feel sympathy for a tough heroine fighting for survival like, say, GONE WITH THE WIND's Scarlett O'Hara, Becky is just crass and mercenary, a nasty person who's in it for Number One. She'll walk on anyone who gets in her way. The most entertaining aspect of Hopkins' performance is seeing the lightning-fast way Becky changes personas, as situations demand.

As a side note, I felt that the characters of grasping Becky and long-suffering Amelia, who meet as schoolgirls, seem to rather anticipate Margaret Lockwood and Phyllis Calvert in the Gainsborough film THE MAN IN GREY (1943).

The most striking sequence in BECKY SHARP is a beautiful set piece set at a dance as in the distance Napoleon is heard advancing on Waterloo. The dancing mixed with the sound of cannons firing in the background is quite memorable. Future First Lady Pat Nixon is an extra in this sequence.

The film is worth seeing as a novelty, both in terms of the story and the film's great visual look, and fans of the lead actresses will want to watch it as well. That said, the unpleasant lead character and story, however well acted, mean it's probably not a film I'll be anxious to revisit, at least any time soon.

The cast also includes Billie Burke, Alison Skipworth, G.P. Huntley, and William Stack.

BECKY SHARP has fallen into the public domain and terrible prints abound on YouTube and DVD. It can also be streamed on Amazon. The print to see is the UCLA restoration but to my knowledge that version is not available on DVD.

Coming soon: Reviews of two more films from the Palm Springs Classic Science Fiction Festival, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951) and THEM! (1954).

TCM Star of the Month: Norma Shearer

The November Star of the Month on Turner Classic Movies is the "Queen of MGM," Norma Shearer.

This is Shearer's second time as Star of the Month; she was also Star of the Month 16 years ago, in 1999.

22 Norma Shearer movies will be shown on Tuesday evenings this month beginning tonight, November 3rd. Here's a quick rundown on what's ahead this month for Shearer fans; click any hyperlinked title for a review and more information.

The November 3rd theme is silent films, with a lineup consisting of LADY OF THE NIGHT (1924), A LADY OF CHANCE (1928), THE STUDENT PRINCE IN OLD HEIDELBERG (1927), costarring Roman Navarro, and HE WHO GETS SLAPPED (1924) with Lon Chaney.

On November 10th the films move on to "The Dawn of Sound." That evening kicks off with the Noel Coward comedy PRIVATE LIVES (1931), with her frequent costar Robert Montgomery.

Next up: A FREE SOUL (1931), for which she received one of her half-dozen Best Actress nominations; Clark Gable costars. Next is LET US BE GAY (1930), followed by her Oscar-winning role as THE DIVORCEE (1930). Chester Morris and Robert Montgomery costar in THE DIVORCEE.

The evening ends with my favorite Shearer film and one of my very favorite pre-Codes, THEIR OWN DESIRE (1929), for which she received her first Best Actress nomination. Robert Montgomery costars in this short romance, which was partly filmed at the fabled Norconian Resort. The evening concludes with THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY (1929), costarring Basil Rathbone.

The November 17th schedule is titled "The Queen of MGM." It starts off with another film costarring Robert Montgomery, STRANGERS MAY KISS (1931); Neil Hamilton costars. SMILIN' THROUGH (1932) is a weeper with Leslie Howard and Fredric March; it's followed by STRANGE INTERLUDE (1932) with Clark Gable.

The night continues with the excellent THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET (1934), costarring Fredric March and Charles Laughton; it's one of the Shearer performances I have most enjoyed. The evening winds down with RIPTIDE (1934), costarring Robert Montgomery and Herbert Marshall, and ROMEO AND JULIET (1936) with Leslie Howard.

November 24th is titled "Fadeout," starting with her really fine performance as MARIE ANTOINETTE (1938), taking the title character from giddy young princess to a grief-stricken protective mother. That's followed by her role in the classic THE WOMEN (1939).

IDIOT'S DELIGHT (1939) is another of her films with Clark Gable, and she's teamed with Robert Taylor in both the WWII drama ESCAPE (1940) and the farce HER CARDBOARD LOVER (1942). The last film in November's Star of the Month series is WE WERE DANCING (1942), costarring Melvyn Douglas.

In addition to the previously mentioned Best Actress nominations, Shearer was also nominated for THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET, ROMEO AND JULIET, and MARIE ANTOINETTE.

For more information on TCM this month, please visit TCM in November: Highlights or the complete TCM schedule.

Tonight's Movie: Follow Thru (1930) at UCLA

Last night was another special evening in UCLA's series Archive Treasures: 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The occasion was a double bill of a beautifully restored two-color Technicolor film, FOLLOW THRU (1930), paired with the very first three-strip Technicolor film, BECKY SHARP (1936). Both movies were shown in 35mm.

Some of us in the audience also thought of it as a Frances Dee double bill, as Frances was a noticeable extra in two scenes in the first film, and she was one of the stars of the second film. Several docents from the Joel McCrea Ranch made the trek to Westwood to see the movies; for those who might not be aware, lovely Frances was Mrs. McCrea. It was wonderful to enjoy the movie with them!

FOLLOW THRU was based on a 1929 Broadway musical centered around women golfers, of all things. The movie includes the original Broadway second leads, Jack Haley and Zelma O'Neal.

Nancy Carroll stars as Lora Moore, a champion golfer who falls for golf pro Jerry Downes (Charles "Buddy" Rogers). Lora's snooty competitor Ruth Van Horn (Thelma Todd) throws up obstacles, but Lora and Jerry seem destined for one another, as do Jerry's boss Jack Martin (Haley) and Lora's friend Angie (O'Neal).

There's not a whole lot to the plot, but this is a charming film I really enjoyed. One of my favorite scenes was very simple, Lora and Jerry listening to the catchy song "A Peach of a Pair," which they also sing themselves at one point. The scene simply consists of their reactions to the lyrics as they fall further in love; the expressions on Carroll's beautiful face are delightful. And I haven't been able to get that tune out of my head!

There's also a wild production number reminiscent of the crazy dance in MADAM SATAN (1930); if that film had been in color it probably would have looked something like this! The dramatic and dangerous-looking use of fire made me gasp.

I've never seen a two-color film look this good; it was absolutely exquisite, filled with gorgeous oranges and greens. It looked like a really high-end Cinecolor film might look, but I've never seen any later Cinecolor that was this beautiful! There are scenes which are like lush paintings, a real wow. The movie would be worth seeing just for the visuals, but happily there is more to it.

I was also impressed with how extensively this 1930 film shot outdoors, given that that could be more challenging in the early sound era. IMDb gives the locations as Palm Springs and the Bel Air Country Club. Coincidentally, years later a street in the Palm Springs area was named Buddy Rogers Avenue in the actor's honor.

In addition to the beautiful color, lovely lead actors, and tuneful score, the movie has some genuinely funny moments -- some of them unexpectedly racy! This is definitely a movie worth seeking out, especially if it's the UCLA restoration on a big screen.

Eugene Pallette is amusing as comic relief. Although I missed her because I was focusing on Frances Dee, Virginia Bruce is also listed at IMDb as one of the locker room extras.

For more on this film, here's a report by Nora, the Nitrate Diva, when she saw the movie last summer at Capitolfest. A sample of her writing: "The film introduces its star, Nancy Carroll, 5 minutes into the runtime with a close-up so delicious that I’d swear it had calories."

FOLLOW THRU was directed by Lloyd Corrigan and Laurence Schwab. The cinematographers were Charles Boyle and Henry Gerrard. It runs 92 minutes.

Tonight's Movie: Never a Dull Moment (1950) - A Warner Archive DVD Review

NEVER A DULL MOMENT (1950) is one of several Irene Dunne movies just released by the Warner Archive.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT, made toward the end of Dunne's film career, is in the "city gal in love with a cowboy" tradition of films like THE COWBOY AND THE LADY (1938) and A LADY TAKES A CHANCE (1943).

Dunne plays New York City songwriter Kay, who marries widowed ranch owner Chris (Fred MacMurray) and goes to live with him on his ranch. Kay also takes on the role of stepmother to Chris's daughters Nan (Natalie Wood) and Tina (Gigi Perreau).

The "fish out of water" angle plays at times like an I LOVE LUCY sitcom, but the cast is engaging enough to surmount the silly and predictable situations. It's also pretty clear that Dunne is quite a bit older than MacMurray, but again the appealing actors make it work -- though it must be admitted this isn't one of MacMurray's more charming roles, as he's a bit of a blockhead at times.

It's a movie I enjoy despite its flaws. A plus is some creative staging of things like Chris and Kay's courtship, in a sequence where we only see their feet! Dunne has a chance to sing a few tunes, always a good thing. I also like that although the children are initially wary of Kay, they don't give her too much of a hard time.

Another positive aspect is that widowed neighbor Jean (Ann Doran), who had hoped to marry Chris herself, quickly becomes Kay's best friend. It would have been easy to write her as a jealous villainess who makes Kay's adjustment more difficult, and the women's friendship is refreshing; it's one of the things that helps the film overcome its cliches.

Andy Devine (who in fact would play Doran's husband in 1953's ISLAND IN THE SKY) has a very nice role as Chris's friend and ranch hand.

It's fun to discover MacMurray's MY THREE SONS costar, William Demarest, as the cranky rancher next door. Kay does her best to be nice to him but he's a cold kettle of fish. There's a good scene where Kay does her darndest to be gracious and include him at a party, though unfortunately it doesn't end well.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT was directed by George Marshall and filmed in black and white by Joseph Walker. It runs 89 minutes. The cast also includes Philip Ober and Irving Bacon.

The plot is loosely based on the life of composer Kay Swift, who married a rodeo cowboy. Swift composed the film's songs.

I previously reviewed a TV print of this movie in 2008.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT is a crisp print. There are no extras.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this DVD. Warner Archive releases are MOD (manufactured on demand) and may be ordered from the Warner Archive Collection at the WBShop.

Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the internet...

...It was very unusual that I didn't post an Around the Blogosphere This Week roundup in October, but travel out of town to two different film festivals, along with a trip to UCLA and attending a live theatrical show in the off week -- plus covering it all -- meant something had to give timewise. Things should be back to normal in November!

...The advance buzz on THE PEANUTS MOVIE (2015) has sounded positive, I'll be curious if reviews bear that out. It opens this Friday, November 6th.

...Big news for GILMORE GIRLS fans: There's a report that Netflix plans to revive it for a quartet of 90-minute movies. Stay tuned for confirmation.

...OKLAHOMA! (1955) celebrates its 60th anniversary with nationwide screenings this month. Check out the site for dates and locations.

...Turner Classic Movies and Fathom Events will be sponsoring nationwide screenings of ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953) on November 29th and December 1st. Click here for locations.

...Raquel has a great list of new and upcoming classic film books at her blog Out of the Past.

...Speaking of film books, some of Leonard Maltin's early film books are now available in Kindle editions or as "published on demand" paperbacks.

...Coming from the Criterion Collection in January: Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford in GILDA (1946).

...Coming from the Warner Archive this month: DEEP IN MY HEART (1954) on Blu-ray.

...Earlier this year CBS did a story on Colleen Moore's fairy castle.

...Western historian Boyd Magers looks at the career of Dick Foran and the new Warner Archive set of Foran films for ClassicFlix.

...The Criterion Close-Up podcast includes a discussion of classic film blogging, starting at around the 52-minute mark. Many thanks to Kristina, Aaron and Mark for the very nice shout-out to yours truly.

...Jacqueline recently looked at performances by Jane Wyatt in WE'RE ONLY HUMAN (1935) and PITFALL (1948) at Another Old Movie Blog.

...A couple interesting articles last month in counterpoint to each other: Leonard Maltin wrote an optimistic piece on increasing access to hard-to-see classic movies, while Michael Hiltzik of the L.A. Times wrote an article on the difficulty of obtaining access to some older films, such as the '40s Paramount library. Maltin was one of the people Hiltzik interviewed for his column.

...Here's a brand-new book which looks interesting: CREATING THE ILLUSION: A FASHIONABLE HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD COSTUME DESIGNERS. It's by Jay Jorgensen and Donald L. Scoggins for TCM and Running Press.

...Turner Classic Movies has just launched a wine club.

...I enjoyed Kristina's list of "Underrated 1955" movies at Rupert Pupkin Speaks. There's a couple of titles on it I need to check out!

...This January Theresa of Cinemaven's Essays From the Couch is sponsoring a Symbiotic Colloborations blogathon celebrating directors and stars who teamed frequently. I'll be writing about SCARLET STREET (1945), one of several films in which Fritz Lang directed Joan Bennett.

...The second edition of the O Canada Blogathon is coming in February! It's sponsored by Kristina of Speakeasy and Ruth of Silver Screenings. I'll be writing about CANADIAN PACIFIC (1949).

...I love musical theater but when I saw THE LION KING last month I realized it had been almost four years since the last time I'd seen a live show. I'm making up for lost time and will be seeing 42ND STREET for the first time the week before Thanksgiving.

...Notable Passings: TV actress Pat Woodell, who appeared on PETTICOAT JUNCTION, has passed on at the age of 71...Al Molinaro of HAPPY DAYS has died at the age of 96.

Wishing my readers a blessed All Saints Day, and have a great week!