Mary Keaton, Vivian Revere and Ruth Wescott are schoolmates with completely different personalities. Mary (Virginia Davis) is the wild child, who everyone expects to amount to nothing. Vivian (Anne Shirley) is voted “Most Popular” at the girls’ 1921 graduation. Ruth (Betty Carse) is the valedictorian with big career goals. Flash forward a few years and… Read More Three on a Match (1932)
Chester Kent has been flopping on Broadway, so it’s time for a slight career change. He gets a new gig as the creator of prologues, which are performed in movie theaters before the feature presentation. Chester comes up with the brilliant idea of staging prologues that can be shown around the country, at any theater.… Read More Footlight Parade (1933)
From frisky pre-codes to a small supporting role in 1978’s Grease, there’s no denying Joan Blondell’s talent and screen presence. And it’s no surprise that she became such a star, with her show biz upbringing. Rose Joan Blondell was born into a family of vaudeville performers on August 30, 1906. Her parents were traveling performers,… Read More Happy birthday, Joan Blondell!
*The synopsis portion of this review contains spoilers for Bullets or Ballots. Scroll ahead if you don’t want to be spoiled! Anti-crime crusader Ward Bryant (Henry O’Neill) has died. Heading up the murder investigation is Captain Dan McLaren (Joe King), who quickly fires his friend Johnny Blake (Edward G. Robinson) – who was expecting to… Read More Bullets or Ballots (1936)
Alfred E. Green’s Union Depot (1932) starts off by setting up the frantic pace of – what else? – a busy metropolitan train station. Moving around the depot, the film shows a wide range of people saying goodbye to loved ones, boarding trains or playing the waiting game before their trains arrive. Now that the… Read More Union Depot (1932)
From director Mervyn LeRoy comes this all-at-once serious and hilarious Depression-era film. Gold Diggers of 1933 is based on the play by Avery Hopwood and choreographed by Busby Berkeley, featuring a fantastic cast and extravagant musical numbers. The cast and crew of a new Broadway show suddenly find themselves unemployed when the set and costumes… Read More Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
Havana Widows (1933): 3/5 Joan Blondell and Glenda Farrell star as spunky stage buddies Mae Knight and Sadie Appleby in this pre-code comedy. Down on their luck financially, the girls fake an illness in Mae’s family to con money out of male friend. The catch is, there is no illness to be found — the… Read More Havana Widows (1933)
Watched February 5, 2012 Other Men’s Women (1931): 4/5 Other Men’s Women follows a love triangle between a man (Bill, portrayed by Grant Withers), his best friend (Jack, portrayed by Regis Toomey) and his best friend’s wife (Lily, portrayed by Mary Astor). Bill is a bit of a heavy drinker, and is taken in by… Read More Other Men’s Women (1931)
Watched February 4, 2012 The Purchase Price (1932) and Night Nurse (1931): 4/5 for both I really enjoyed both of these films, and mostly because of the great performances by Barbara Stanwyck. I’ve watched quite a few of her films this year, and I’m becoming a huge fan! Here are my thoughts of each of… Read More Barbara Stanwyck double feature! The Purchase Price (1932) and Night Nurse (1931)
