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. 

365 Days: #6 The Maltese Falcon (1931)

I am continuing the pattern of following up on an actor/actress from the previous day's movie. After seeing Harold Lloyd's leading lady, Bebe Daniels, in yesterday's film short, I decided to revisit her performance in this early version of The Maltese Falcon. 

#6 The Maltese Falcon (1931)

Sam Spade is a detective with his hands full of women, but that doesn't stop him from taking on another lovely dame who comes to him appealing for help with a false story of a missing sister, especially when she's willing to throw big money at him. It turns out to be a bird that's missing, and he soon finds out there's more to the story when he gets drawn into a deal with a wacky group of characters. 

"You know darling, for that amount of money, I'd let you tell me a lie every day."

Many people may prefer the 1941 retelling with Humphrey Bogart, but I do enjoy this pre-code version with Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels, which is quite a bit racier than the one that followed. Dwight Frye appears here as Wilmer, after playing Renfield in Dracula earlier that same year. 

Mrs. Archer

Laying it on thick.

Seduction

Before the interruption.

The dame packs a heater.

It appears to be a photo of Louise Brooks on the wall.

Bebe in the bathtub.

Found

"Well, make him lay off me or I'll fog him
 and nothing will stop me!"

Delivered

Police report.

Admission of murder.

365 Days: #5 Just Neighbors (1919)

I am totally bummed. I was planning on watching one of my favorite pre-code films, Female, tonight, but when I popped in the disc it wouldn't play. It's a wonderful Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, Mildred Pierce) film that has Ruth Chatterton sexually harassing the men she employs like a boss. It takes George Brent to change her ways. Since it's already turning out to be a late night. I'm left with time enough for a short film, and decided to check out a Harold Lloyd short instead.

#5 Just Neighbors

Two neighbors are "such close friends they cut each others hair," but when a series of altercations arises between neighbors, their good relationship becomes jeopardized. It takes a heroic rescue to restore their neighborly camaraderie.  

"Stay on that side of the fence or I'll comb your hair with a rake."

I was feeling pretty unhappy about missing out on the movie I intended to see tonight, but just 10 minutes with Harold Lloyd turned everything around. The man is a true marvel and a delight to watch. This film is wonderfully remastered with a lively score that brings it to life. I recommend checking out this short flick and other films on the Harold Lloyd channel. 

Here's something you won't see in movies today. 
What is up with this kid's doll? Is that Chucky?

I'm wondering if this is a real neighbor watching filming 
of this little girl sitting in the middle of traffic.

365 Days: #4 Stranded (1935)

I am following up yesterday's flick with another appearance by Kay Francis, who is accompanied by George Brent. While both actors drew me to the film, what interested me most was seeing the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, which is an integral part of the story. 

#4 Stranded

Lynn Palmer works for Traveler's Aid and helps people, while Mack Hale is a construction manager for the Golden Gate Bridge. They fall in love and plan to marry, but when Mack insists that she quit her job, it's a dealbreaker, and the marriage is off. Meanwhile, Mack is being threatened by a racketeer, aptly named Sharkey, who demands that he pay $5000 a month in protection money, but when he refuses, Sharkey hires men to infiltrate the crew and sabotage work on the bridge, with disastrous results. Lessons are learned in the process.

"Don't be humble. You'll break my heart if you're ever humble. Never lose your arrogance. That's the you I love."

I found this movie quite interesting as it has a lot going on and is not just the simple, straightforward fluffy romance I was expecting. There is some underlying social commentary in seeing all the different people Lynn helps, from the lone waif on a train (hard to imagine a time when parents put their toddlers on a train alone with a note pinned to them); to the unwed mother; the tittering immigrant brides; and the proud, old man who shoots and kills himself rather than accepting charity. When Mack gives her an ultimatum, Lynn asserts herself by refusing to give up her job that is more of a calling than a job, without a second thought. Then there's the racketeer who Mack refuses to bow down to, actively fighting him off, set against the backdrop of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, which opened two years after this film was made. The scenes of its construction were a treat to see. 

365 Days: #3 Trouble in Paradise (1932)

After watching Edward Everett Horton yesterday, I was inspired to revisit the movie that gave me a greater affection for him. This is another gateway movie I saw early in my days of movie collecting that had me seeking out more Ernst Lubitsch movies, as well as films with Herbert Marshall, Miriam Hopkins and Kay Francis.

#3 Trouble in Paradise

A thief posing as a Baron meets and falls in love with a pickpocket posing as a Countess. They engage in a scheme to steal from Mme. Colet, the owner of a perfume company. Trouble arises when Gaston Monescu and Mme. Colet fall in love with one another.

"Darling, remember you are Gaston Monescu. You are a crook. I want you as a crook. I love you as a crook. I worship you as a crook. Steal, swindle, rob! Oh, but don't become one of those useless, good-for-nothing gigolos!"

This has all of the innuendo, romance, and crime that goes unpunished that makes it a fine pre-code film. The jokes are subtle, the costumes are exquisite, and the music is divine. It's a movie I can watch repeatedly. 

"You know, I'm not the marrying type.
I like to take my fun and leave it."

365 Days: #2 No Publicity (1927)

I love Edward Everett Horton. Much of my fondness stems from early childhood memories of his narration of Fractured Fairy Tales on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, but my true love for him developed after seeing him in Trouble in Paradise. I've since seen him in many films from the 1930s and have enjoyed every one of his performances. 

#2  No Publicity

In this silent short film, Eddie is a newspaper photographer tasked with obtaining a photo of a young socialite, whose guardian refuses to allow it, as she eschews publicity. He makes many attempts to get her photo, finally resorting to dressing as a woman to sneak into the house and steal a photo from the wall. He is unintentionally mistaken for a woman scheduled to give a lecture on morals called "What's Wrong With Our Girls," putting him in the position of educating the ladies about the sins of cigarettes, petting, lip rouge and dancing, until he is forced to flee when the real lecturer arrives. 

"—a word about petting, that delightful—er—dangerous diversion—"

This film can be found on the DVD "Edward Everett Horton: 8 Silent Comedies." It is beautifully restored with a lively organ score (Note: image quality is not yellow on the DVD—that is a result of me taking photos of my TV). Edward Everett Horton cuts a fine figure in a dress, even while tumbling down stairs, and is just as funny in silent film as he was in his later movies with sound. I look forward to seeing more of these films.  

365 Days: #1 Drôle de drame (1937)

Happy New Year, movie lovers! Last year, I made a resolution to watch a new movie every day, which lasted longer than most resolutions, but still fell apart pretty quickly. Since it was a lot of fun, I decided to give it another go, and am giving myself 365 days to fall in love with more movies. Some, like today's feature, will be movies I know and love well, while others will be new to me. 

#1 Drôle de drame

Botanist Irwin Molyneaux, who doubles as a crime writer incognito to support his wife's demands for social standing, finds himself the target of a murder investigation after his sanctimonious cousin wrongly suspects him of murdering his wife, while a serial killer of butchers targets him for the influence his crime novels have had on him. 

"However, poor sinners, you are not the most guilty. The authors of these books are the real criminals."

I acquired this movie in 2016 as part of an effort to collect every Marcel Carné-Jacques Prévert collaboration I could find, that stemmed from my obsession with Children of Paradise (Les enfants du paradis), a movie that started me on my mad movie collecting adventure. This movie was based on the novel, His First Offence by Joseph Storer Clouston. While I have been unable to obtain that novel, this movie inspired me to seek out some of his other works, and I have just begun to read one of his most popular novels, The Lunatic at Large. I'm only on Chapter 3, but I am already enjoying his wit and well crafted storytelling.

Every frame of this satirical film is a true delight, and I never tire of watching it. The actors give top notch performances and the music adds just the right feel to scenes. At some point, I will cover it more thoroughly, as this is a hidden gem that deserves greater recognition. For this 365 Days project, posts will necessarily be brief in order to keep up my madcap adventure. While I may be hard pressed to offer any insightful commentary on such a schedule, hopefully those of you who choose to follow along may also discover some movies you love.