“Cigarette Life!” A deathless line from “Tomato Is Another Day.”
I offer for your bewilderment Tomato Is Another Day (1930), seven of the weirdest minutes ever committed to film. It was never widely shown (for obvious reasons) and was only rediscovered in the wonderful age of cable, DVDs and YouTube. And no one knows what the hell to make of it.
The sheet music for “I’m Just Wild About Animal Crackers,” courtesy of Mary Mallory.
Popular culture, be it music, the written word, or mass entertainment, so often unintentionally defines a time and place in history, revealing so much about a society’s values, beliefs, and actions. Just seeing or hearing something produced for wide enjoyment can conjure up a vision of the world in which it was created, something often never consciously intended by its makers.
Such was the case in the 1920s, a decade of jazz-mad, devil-may-care flappers and sheiks enjoying life to the fullest after the devastation and despair caused by the Great War and its aftermath. Leaving behind a more stolid and serious world view, carefree young people threw themselves wholeheartedly into life, enjoying everything from feverish dancing to petting parties, booze-filled festivities to flagpole sitting. Fads like playing miniature golf, bridge, mah jongg, etc. boomed.
“Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays” by Karie Bible and Mary Mallory is available at Amazon and at local bookstores.
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1946 film “I See a Dark Stranger,” with Deborah Kerr, Trevor Howard, Raymond Huntley, Michael Howard, Norman Shelley, Brenda Bruce, Brefni O’Rorke, James Harcourt, Liam Redmond and W. O’Gorman, by Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliat and Wolfgang Wilhelm. The film was written and produced by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat. Production design by David Rawnsley, photographed by Wilkie Cooper, art direction by Norman Arnold and edited by Thelma Myers. Music by William Alwyn, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Muir Mathieson. Directed by Frank Launder.
Bosley Crowther, reviewing the film for the New York Times (April 4, 1947) said:
That talent for richly combining melodrama and comedy, which writers Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat so delightfully displayed in their scripts for Hitchcock’s “The Lady Vanishes” and Carol Reed’s “Night Train,” has been deftly applied by those gentlemen to the writing, production and direction of their own film, a British honey entitled “The Adventuress,” which opened at the Victoria yesterday. Since that is a recommendation quite sufficient for lots of folks, we wouldn’t blame you for dropping this paper right now and rushing down to get a seat.”
Grace Kingsley, reviewing the film for the Los Angeles Times (Dec. 26, 1947) said:
Important chiefly because of the outstanding talents and beauty of Heroine Deborah Kerr, J. Arthur Rank’s English production, “The Adventuress,” which opened yesterday at the Esquire Theater, is nevertheless sufficiently exciting to hold any spectator. Perhaps, ironically, the film’s chief fault is to be found in too many close-ups of the star, which at times seem to halt the story action.
“I See a Dark Stranger” is available on DVD from Amazon for $13.90.
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“American Heiress” via Amazon.com.
Rush out and get Jeffrey Toobin’s new book about the Patty Hearst kidnapping, American Heiress. It’s really one of the best-written, best-researched books I’ve read lately, and is actually laugh-out-loud funny at points. I am quite old enough to remember how obsessed we all were by the case—it was like John Waters directed It Happened One Night (a madcap heiress kidnapped by The Filthiest People Alive).
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1958 film “Equinox Flower.” Original story by Ton Santomi, screenplay by Yasujiro Ozu and Kogo Noda, produced by Shuzuo Yamauchi, cinematography by Yuharu Atsuta, music by Kojun Saito. Directed by Ozu.
Vincent Canby of the New York Times said (May 27, 1977):
“Equinox Flower”—a particularly inscrutable title even for this great Japanese director—is one of Ozu’s least dark comedies, which is not to say that it’s carefree, but, rather, that it’s gentle and amused in the way that it acknowledges time’s passage, the changing of values and the adjustments that must be made between generations.
The movie is available on DVD through Amazon.com.
A postcard showing the interior of Barney Oldfield’s saloon on South Spring Street, courtesy of Mary Mallory.
‘Mile a minute” Barney Oldfield, the first automobile racer to achieve that feat while racing, was quick when it came to promotions bearing his name as well. Like many famous celebrities, actors, and sports stars before and after him, he quickly realized he could turn his fame into cash. Oldfield promoted various products throughout his life like Firestone Tires and the Fisher Auto Co., but for a brief time, operated a saloon under his name in downtown Los Angeles.
Born Berna Eli Oldfield in 1878, daredevil Barney Oldfield first found his outlet for speed racing bicycles. His car racing career began in 1902 when fledgling automobile designer Henry Ford hired him to race his model 999 car. With little to no experience, Oldfield fearlessly took the lead and won the race against more experienced competitors.
“Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays” by Karie Bible and Mary Mallory is available at Amazon and at local bookstores.
In honor of Curtis Hanson, who died yesterday at the age of 71, here is a recording I made of him on May 23, 2007, with Eva Marie Saint and Patricia Hitchcock before a showing of “North by Northwest” by the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats.
Curtis Hanson, Eva Marie Saint and Patricia Hitchcock on “North by Northwest.”
Lon Chaney and Lupe Velez in a still from “Where East Is East,” listed on EBay with bids starting at $35.
For my money, Lupe Velez has it all over Garbo—she was just as beautiful, and not only a great dramatic and comedic actress, but she could sing and dance like nobody’s business. Sadly, after a great start out of the gate, Lupe found herself typed as “the sexy funny-accent girl,” like Carmen Miranda, Lyda Roberti, the Gabors, Fifi D’Orsay, and today’s Sofia Vergara. We all know of her sad ending: unmarried, pregnant and Catholic, she killed herself in 1944, aged 38 (and no, she did not drown in her toilet—gawd, Kenneth Anger has a lot to answer for).
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1952 MGM picture “The Devil Makes Three,” with Gene Kelly, Pier Angeli, Richard Rober, Richard Egan, Claus Clausen, Wilfried Seyferth, Margot Hielscher and Annie Rosar. The screenplay was by Jerry Davis, based on a story (“Autobahn”) by Lawrence Bachmann. Photography was by Vaclav Vich, art direction by Fritz Maurischat and Paul Markwitz, musical direction by Rudolph G. Kopp, and songs by Bronislau Kaper and Jupp Schmitz. it was directed by Andrew Marton.
It is available on DVD from Warner Archive for $15.49.
“My Man and I,” with Ricardo Montalban and Shelley Winters, which was on the original double bill, is also available from Warner Archive for $15.49.
The Esther Ralston home on Hollyridge Drive, via Hollywood Vagabond.
California saw a renaissance of Spanish Revival architecture in the wake of World War I, as it both saluted the life and culture of the Mediterranean and paid homage to the state’s colonial past. Moving beyond Mission Revival, it focused on exquisite and romantic details like graceful arches, decorative lanterns, colorful tile, Juliet balconies, lush gardens, languid patios and terraces, decorative wood beams, graceful staircases, and refined wrought iron railings.
The height of Spanish Revival in the 1920s just happened to coincide with the peak of the silent film industry, which both promoted the lavish style in its glamorous films and rushed to construct their own high-end haciendas. Such stars as Fred Thomson and Frances Marion, Richard Dix, and Mary Pickford and Douglass Fairbanks built or renovated their homes into lavish Spanish Revival masterpieces.
“Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays” by Karie Bible and Mary Mallory is available at Amazon and at local bookstores.
A still of Bill Goodwin, listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $17.50.
Among my unlikely crushes is Bill Goodwin, an actor whose name is pretty much forgotten today. He was good-looking in an ordinary-guy sort of way; like your high-school friend’s cute dad, or the dentist you might have Thoughts about as he shoved his hands in your mouth.
A matchbook from the Wilshire Bowl, listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $9.95.
Within just a few years of sound motion pictures becoming the approved film format, silent films became a virtual pariah in popular culture. They were pulled from shelves, destroyed by studios who failed to foresee new technologies, satirized in mass market entertainment as old fashioned and out of place, and even made the brunt of jokes by studios who added laugh tracks and sound effects to prints.
Once important or popular stars found themselves lucky to still be employed. Some found nice supporting roles on stage, radio, and the screen, while many were relegated to bit parts or even just extras standing in the corner of scenes, trying to make crumbs in order to survive.
“Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays” by Karie Bible and Mary Mallory is available at Amazon and at local bookstores.
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1949 MGM picture “Intruder in the Dust,” with David Brian, Claude Jarman Jr., Juano Hernandez, Porter Hall, Elizabeth Patterson, Charles Kemper and Will Geer, from a screenplay by Ben Maddow based on the novel by William Faulkner. The movie was photographed by Robert Surtees, with art direction by Cedric Gibbons and Randall Duell, music by Adolph Deutsch, set decoration by Edwin B. Willis and Ralph S. Hurst, and makeup by Jack Dawn. It was produced and directed by Clarence Brown.
“Intruder in the Dust” is available on DVD from Warner Archive for $16.99.
Mary Mallory notes that the Film Noir Foundation recently posted a three-part interview with Claude Jarman Jr. on “Intruder in the Dust.”
A DVD of “None Shall Escape,” listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $12.75.
Offering both something for the esoteric cineaste as well as the general film fan, the 52nd Cinecon Film Festival just concluded at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre with an entertaining selection of films over its 4 1/2 days. Switching out between silent and sound films, the festival features excellent live accompaniment, special guests, and even some bonus material thrown in to spice things up. While there is never a general theme planned, some unexpectedly show up, such as the many films about breaking into the movie business and little mini salutes to John Boles, Jack Haley, and Jack Oakie.
Opening day Thursday, September 1 began with a Dean Martin Roast segment beloved by the former Cinecon President, Robert S. Birchard, who recently passed away. New President Stan Taffel saluted Birchard as he praised the past and announced changes bringing new life to the festival before Jack Oakie Foundation Chairman David Sonne offered an hilarious tribute to Oakie as well as generous support to the festival.
Seriously.
If you think the mystery movies are tough – try the British Library’s mystery manuscript.
“John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars” by Eve Golden, listed on Amazon.com.
Now that you have all read my 2013 biography of John Gilbert [meaningful pause as you all guiltily order your copies on Amazon], you are all bursting at the seams to see him in action, yes? I recommend The Big Parade, The Show, Love (a much better version of Anna Karenina than the staid 1935 remake), Downstairs (his best talkie) and The Captain Hates the Sea (his last film, and an underrated corker).
Everyone goes nertz about the Garbo and Gilbert love affair, but really, it lasted less than a year and Garbo was less “in love” with him than “bowled over and terrified.” What I find more interesting is his last dalliance, with Marlene Dietrich, in the last year of his life. After he’d been given the bum’s rush by MGM and Columbia by 1935, and Marlene took it upon herself to dry him out, buck him up, and get him a supporting role in her delightful crime-caper comedy Desire. Gary Cooper was cast as her leading man, and Jack Gilbert was to play her partner in crime—exactly the kind of smooth villain he adored and was so good at.
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1942 Charter Film production “Thunder Rock,” an unusual British film that deals with a lighthouse on Lake Michigan north of Milwaukee, with Michael Redgrave, Barbara Mullen, James Mason and Lilli Palmer, from a screenplay by Jeffrey Dell and Bernard Miles based on a play by Robert Ardrey. It was photographed by Mutz Greenbaum, with art direction by Duncan Sutherland, music by Hans May, special effects by Tom Howard and Fred Ford, produced by John Boulting and directed and edited by Roy Boulting.
A review by P.P.K. in the New York Times (Sept. 15, 1944) says:
In the picture “Thunder Rock,” which came to the World yesterday, the social-conscious young journalist, as played by Michael Redgrave, falters much and fumbles much, but the story indicates that eventually he finds his true course. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the picture itself. The film, produced by Charter Films Ltd., starts out promisingly but very quickly begins straying down tortuous paths, and before the long journey is finished it becomes irritrievably lost.
A review by G.K. in the Los Angeles Times (Oct. 21, 1944) called “Thunder Rock” “one of most noteworthy pictures to come out of England.”
“Thunder Rock” is available from Amazon UK for £9.99 (check compatibility with your DVD player before ordering).
The Selig Zoo, in Cement and Engineering News.
Note: This is an encore of a 2014 post.
From its humble beginnings as merely a boarding home for William Selig’s wild animal film stars, the Selig Zoo at 3800 Mission Road in East Los Angeles eventually became one of the metropolis’ top tourist attractions in the 1910s and 1920s. Featuring exotic wild animals from around the world, extensive landscaped grounds, and elaborate amenities, the Zoo served as the impetus for the city of Los Angeles to organize a permanent public zoo for its citizens, and served as the city’s first theme park.
Col. (honorary) William N. Selig served as an itinerant traveling magician and managed minstrel companies before establishing a fledgling moving picture technology and production company in Chicago in 1896. A California resident in the late 1800s, Selig eventually established a permanent Los Angeles studio in 1909.
Mary Mallory’s “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found” is available for the Kindle.
Listen to “Vote for Gracie.”
Listen to “Gracie Wins Wisconsin” from April 20, 1940.
No matter if you’re voting for Clinton or Trump or Stein or Johnson—I think we can all agree that Gracie Allen would be this—or any—year’s ideal candidate. Every presidential election has its gag celebrity candidate (and you can insert your own Clinton or Trump or Stein or Johnson joke here). I’m old enough to remember Pat Paulsen, Snoopy and “Pigasus the Immortal” running in the ’late 60s, though I just missed Jayne Mansfield’s “The White House or Bust!” campaign of ’64. England had Screaming Lord Sutch of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party running for Parliament from 1963 till his death in 1999.
I’m sure searches of newspapers would find gag candidates running all the way back to the 1780s. As we suffer through the last few months of this election, enjoy the song stylings of Gracie Allen, running on the 1940 Surprise Party platform (keeping in mind that, like all politicians, she did not write her own material—George Burns, and his brother Willie were the credited writers, but you know darned well a lot of nameless gag-writers got underpaid for much of the material).
ladailymirror.com 