When Captain January was released, Shirley Temple was eight years old and had already made several hit films. Her arc was still ascending, and that incredible sense of cheer and fun in her early movies is evident. It’s a sentimental story that could have been much worse. Once again Shirley is an orphan, rescued andContinue reading “Captain January (1936)”
Monthly Archives: February 2020
Pigskin Parade (1936)
Pigskin Parade is a pretty famous movie, considering that it’s not much to look at. It was Judy Garland’s first major role, and she does indeed kill the three numbers she has. Directed by David Butler, a prolific, experienced, uneven contract director at 20th Century Fox, it’s one of the dozens of college comedies ofContinue reading “Pigskin Parade (1936)”
The Milky Way (1936)
The Milky Way is one of my favorite comedies of the period. It’s hilarious on every level — physical, verbal, and situational. It’s a puzzle to me why it isn’t venerated more. It stars Harold Lloyd in one of his few speaking roles after his career as one of the three comic silent film geniusesContinue reading “The Milky Way (1936)”
Colleen (1936)
Colleen, the last film that Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler made together (of seven), is a strange disaster — and a great example of what happens when a studio throws a lot of previously proven elements together without any inspiration and ends up with nothing. The plot is complicated enough, replete with suckers, con-artists andContinue reading “Colleen (1936)”
Stand In (1937)
Stand In isn’t well known. It’s not quite obscure, since Humphrey Bogart has a supporting role in it and the Bogart cult would never let one of his films be ignored. (As it happens, Bogart is the weakest link in it — he snarls, smoulders, and mugs his way through the story, humorless as heContinue reading “Stand In (1937)”
Public Deb No. 1 (1940)
Public Deb No. 1 is a very odd movie. Most of the world must think so, too, because it’s very hard to find. There’s at least one youtube upload of it, but it’s a horrible dupe from a VHS. My college library says it’s only available in 16mm film, and from only one source, theContinue reading “Public Deb No. 1 (1940)”
Swing Soundtracks
One of the things I love most about Swing Era comedies is the music. That might seem obvious, but it has hidden dimensions. Musical comedies of the period depended a lot on the continuous threading through of themes in the background score — the atmospheric accompaniment of the dialogue and the action. Not only comediesContinue reading “Swing Soundtracks”