The Mad Miss Manton is one of the dozens of comedy-whodunits made in the 1930s following the success of The Thin Man. Although you rarely hear it mentioned as a classic of the period, it’s always praised as one of the funnier films. It stars Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda three years before their collaborationContinue reading “The Mad Miss Manton (1938)”
Category Archives: Henry Fonda
The Lady Eve (1941)
The Lady Eve is the Sistine Chapel of screwball comedies. A lot has been written about it, but somehow it eludes analysis. When I taught courses on film comedy, I’d warn my students: don’t ever think you’re smarter than Preston Sturges, don’t ever think to yourself “I’ve got this all figured out.” On a thirdContinue reading “The Lady Eve (1941)”
The Male Animal (1942)
The Male Animal is only intermittently funny, often plodding as a comedy — but it’s interesting from beginning to end. It was directed by Elliott Nugent, who had written the original Broadway play of it in collaboration with his friend and fellow Ohio State alum, James Thurber. Nugent had played the lead role on stage;Continue reading “The Male Animal (1942)”
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)”