365 Days: #8 The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

If you have been following along, you probably expected me to be watching something with Dick Powell this evening. While I was tempted to revisit Murder, My Sweet, I decided to go with a movie I haven't seen before.

#8 The Bad and the Beautiful

Jonathan Shields is determined to be a successful Hollywood producer, and uses the talents of a director, actress, and writer to accomplish that goal, ultimately betraying each one in the process. When he requests their participation on a new movie project, he finds that none of them will speak to him, and it's up to Harry Pebbel to try and convince them to work with him again.

"You know, Fred, when I work on a picture, it's like romancing a girl. You see her, you want her, you go after her. The big moment, then, the letdown. Every time, every picture, the after-picture blues."

I really enjoyed watching this movie about movie making! I liked the performances, the costumes, and the way the story unfolds. I found it captivating and look forward to watching it again. 

365 Days: #7 42nd Street (1933)

Here's a movie I enjoy watching from time to time, with an all star cast, great music, and Busby Berkeley dance numbers. This film introduced me to Dick Powell, which made my later discovery of him in film noir all the more delightful. 

#7  42nd Street

Julian Marsh is the greatest musical comedy director of his time with a reputation for driving his performers to exhaustion in order to elicit top notch performances in his Broadway shows. He has signed a contract to do one last show in a desperate attempt to make enough money to recover from the Wall Street crash and retire, despite warnings from his doctor that he is headed for another nervous breakdown, and that too much excitement could prove fatal. He assembles a talented cast, but when his headlining diva gives the air to the show's investor, and then gets sidelined with a broken ankle, he reluctantly takes a chance on a rookie chorus girl to save the production.

"Oh, honey. I've been for you ever since the day you walked in on me in my BVDs."

This is a fun and entertaining film that does not ignore the tribulations of the Depression, with Bebe Daniels playing a Broadway star who has to hide her relationship with her former vaudeville partner, played by George Brent, to put up with the advances of the investor in order to secure a job that's scarce during the times. It's an uplifting movie to watch during troubled times. I still don't really understand the appeal of Ruby Keeler, but she certainly does carry off the part of the ingénue. 

Casting call

Enjoying the legs.

George Brent and Bebe Daniels

"Besides, darling, I've been getting myself some education
 and I've discovered they have a name for a man who doesn't work
 and who accepts money from a woman.
It isn't a very nice name, Dot."

Rehearsal

Gandhi makes a cameo appearance.

Ned Sparks mans the bar.

Ruby Keeler 

This picture led to my collecting more Busby Berkeley choreographed films, as well as more movies with Dick Powell. The dance numbers are pretty fantastic to see.

Una Merkel and Ginger Rogers are impressive the way they continue to sing so well with fruit in their mouths. I enjoy both these actresses, though if Ginger Rogers had been given more air time, she would have stolen the show. 

New Year, New Movie: The Tall Target (1951)

I am right on the expected timeline when most resolutions fail, but I haven't given up my quest to watch a new movie every day yet, no matter how unrealistic! After indulging myself in a daily movie for most of January, I have certainly been missing the diversion in February. With better planning, I hope to be back on my game this week. 

There are some juicy offerings on The Criterion Channel this month, and my watch list has exploded. Tonight, I'm watching a film that was completely unknown to me, which was loosely based on the plot to assassinate Lincoln before his inauguration. It was Dick Powell that grabbed my attention when browsing the offerings, but the intriguing story was what inspired me to get back on track with my movie viewing tonight.

"Freedom isn't a thing you should be able to give me, Miss Ginny. Freedom is something I should have been born with."

The Gist

New York City police detective, John Kennedy, learns of a plot to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln in Baltimore, where he is scheduled to give a speech. When his superiors refuse to take his warnings seriously, he goes it alone and boards a train to Baltimore to try and thwart the plot.  

Memorable Moments

Strangers on a train.

Barbara Billingsley gets her start mothering a precocious boy.

It's hard to know whether or not you can trust Adolphe Menjou.

Didn't see this coming.

It's curtains for Kennedy.

Ruby Dee shows off her acting chops.

Kennedy gets a break.

But he's got foul luck at every turn.

Spoiler alert: Lincoln doesn't get shot in Baltimore.

My Thoughts

This movie was action packed and had a lot of unexpected twists. It was fascinating to watch, especially in a political climate that mirrors what we see on screen. I'm surprised this film is not more well known, but it is certainly worth discovering. It is interesting that the police detective played by Dick Powell is named John Kennedy, who is operating against all odds. Ruby Dee was amazing, and her quiet performance was powerful. There's a lot going on under the surface of this film noir, and it's a film I'll want to watch again.