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)”
Category Archives: 1936
Desire (1936)
I’m on the fence about Desire. I’m not sure whether I dislike it or I’ll think of it as really good sometime down the road. A lot of talent was involved in it. Frank Borzage, a romantic darling of the French cinéastes, directed it. Lubitsch, newly named as producer at Paramount Studios, produced it, choseContinue reading “Desire (1936)”
Three Smart Girls (1936)
Three Smart Girls was Deanna Durbin’s first movie. It has a good backstory. Its director, Henry Koster, had recently arrived in Hollywood after fleeing Europe. He had begun a career writing and directing in Germany, then in exile in France, and again in Hungary, where he made films in German and Hungarian for the EuropeanContinue reading “Three Smart Girls (1936)”
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)”
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)”