The reputation of Love Me Tonight at the moment could not be higher. Most film scholars consider it one of the great – if not the greatest – cinematic film comedies. That’s justifiable. The project was originated by Lubitsch, but he ceded control over it to Rouben Mamoulian when he became more interested in makingContinue reading “Love Me Tonight (1932)”
Author Archives: Istvan Csicsery-Ronay, Jr.
The Good Fairy (1934) – 1.
The Good Fairy is one of the great film comedies of the period. And an anomaly. It’s perfect on its own terms – hilarious, warm, with fantastically good performances. It stars Margaret Sullavan at her most luminous in her best comic role. It was directed by William Wyler, who did not direct a lot ofContinue reading “The Good Fairy (1934) – 1.”
Dames (1934)
I adore the early Warner studio Busby Berkeley movies, all of them. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but for now I’ll go with Dames. The films now all go under Berkeley’s name, but until Gold Diggers of 1935, Berkeley (hence BB) directed only the production numbers. Spectacular as they were, the four great filmsContinue reading “Dames (1934)”
Hollywood Hotel (1937)
Hollywood Hotel is a relatively late Busby Berkeley movie. As far as I know, this was the first film that BB directed by himself. Scholars justly talk about 42nd Street, Golddiggers of 1933, and Dames as great films; Hollywood Hotel isn’t great like that, but it has its virtues. It’s a cute and rocking comedyContinue reading “Hollywood Hotel (1937)”
Born to Dance (1936)
Born to Dance (1936) is definitely not an undiscovered masterpiece, but it’s a fascinating piece of period cinema. Its director, Roy Del Ruth, was a fine, crafty comedy director, but this film’s direction is craaaazy — and not from genius. Still, amazingly illuminating. Why? Bear with me a while. Years ago, I had an epiphanyContinue reading “Born to Dance (1936)”
That’s Right, You’re Wrong (1939)
It was hard to get a solid hold of That’s Right You’re Wrong. I mean that literally — I had to get it from the U of Washington’s project of digitizing classic films directly from 16mm onto 3-DVD sets. It’s the first of many Kay Kyser films I didn’t know a thing about. I didContinue reading “That’s Right, You’re Wrong (1939)”
Million Dollar Legs (1932)
“Million Dollar Legs,” starring among others W.C. Fields (as an uncanny Trumpian clown president of the Republic of Klopstockia) and Jack Oakie, was directed by Edward F. Cline, who was associated with Fields since the silent days. It’s a wonderful film in lots of ways. It’s surrealistic slapstick close to the Marx Brothers’ mode. TheContinue reading “Million Dollar Legs (1932)”
The Moon’s Our Home (1936)
Another archival surprise, and a big one! The Moon’s Our Home (1936), directed by William Seiter. Where to begin? It stars Henry Fonda (still in the comic scripting mode) and Margaret Sullavan. I’ve only seen Sullavan in a few films — most notably A Shop on Main Street and The Good Fairy. It’s uncanny toContinue reading “The Moon’s Our Home (1936)”
Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1943)
Of all of Preston Sturges’s films, and maybe of all the comedies of this period, this may be my favorite. The comic pitch, the impossibility of separating satire from comedy, the nonstop 5-dimensional humor, the physical clowning in perfect sync with verbal pyrotechnics, the total commitment of the ensemble to absolute craziness, and the demolitionContinue reading “Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1943)”
In Person (1935)
To set the context, by 1935 Ginger Rogers had delivered Busby Berkeley’s Golddiggers of 1933, in which she sings in Pig Latin sandwiched in a giant silver dollar, danced with Astaire in Top Hat, and did this weird thing called In Person. Directed by William Seiter, who seemed to staple shots together until he gotContinue reading “In Person (1935)”