Libeled Lady hits the sweetest spot of Hollywood comedies of the interwar era. It’s a transcendent example of the genre, a fusion of literate script, sharp-witted dialogue, brilliant acting, pacing, mise-en-scène, and all the screwball virtues: quick-reacting women, overconfident men with absurd plans, rapid-fire repartee and pratfalls, newsroom machismo and high-society suavité. It’s miraculous, actually,Continue reading “Libeled Lady (1936)”
Category Archives: 1936
Follow the Fleet (1936)
I had an deep affection for Follow the Fleet for many years, but it’s time for me to admit that it’s not very good. There’s no doubt that it’s an unusual and interesting film in the Astaire-Rogers canon but watching it soberly now, it seems uninspired, spliced together with carpet tacks, hastily made and under-rehearsed.Continue reading “Follow the Fleet (1936)”
My Man Godfrey (1936)
Gregory La Cava’s My Man Godfrey has a beautiful reputation. It’s viewed as La Cava’s signature film, with legendary performances by Carole Lombard and William Powell. Many of its fans consider it among the best screwball/romantic comedies ever made. It was surely the most highly regarded comedy of its time in Hollywood itself — itContinue reading “My Man Godfrey (1936)”
The Princess Comes Across (1936)
The Princess Comes Across is fine example of how Hollywood in the classic period could ruin a good comedy by mixing genres, in this case a screwball comedy and a murder mystery. The Thin Man (1934) and its sequels were so popular that that particular pastiche seemed logical and a proven money-maker for the studios.Continue reading “The Princess Comes Across (1936)”
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936)
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford is a whodunit detective-comedy starring William Powell and Jean Arthur in what I believe is the only work they did together. Trying to build on Powell’s success two years earlier in The Thin Man, RKO tweaked the Nick and Nora setup by making Powell’s rich and natty Dr. Bradford a reluctant detective,Continue reading “The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936)”
Swing Time (1936)
Swing Time, the sixth of the Astaire-Rogers partnerships, appears to be the most highly regarded of their films nowadays — or at least equal to Top Hat. The Criterion website even claims it’s the greatest dance movie ever made. I like Swing Time okay, but it’s not my favorite of their films, and I haveContinue reading “Swing Time (1936)”
Wife vs. Secretary (1936)
Wife vs. Secretary was another experiment in combining comedy and melodrama, but with far more success than most of the others. The melodrama is managed with a light touch and elegance; so is the comedy. The core value of elegance is simplicity, and few films of the time can match Wife vs. Secretary for simplicity.Continue reading “Wife vs. Secretary (1936)”
Captain January (1936)
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)”
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)”