Smart Woman was one of Gregory La Cava’s first soundie comedies, and one of Mary Astor’s very few leading comic roles. Astor was a competent comedienne, but by the time sound was introduced her aura and style were practically fixed in stone: serious, refined, intelligent, ethereally beautiful, and dignified — so dignified that pratfalls wereContinue reading “Smart Woman (1931)”
Category Archives: mary astor
The Palm Beach Story (1942)
Preston Sturges was the only true comic genius of classic Hollywood comedy. He was the most artistically ambitious comic director of his time. He wanted to do everything better than anyone else around him. He wanted to be the best screenwriter, the best director, the best synthesizer of comic styles — not just of filmContinue reading “The Palm Beach Story (1942)”
Midnight (1939)
Midnight is one of a couple dozen films of the period that I have a hard time writing about. It’s in the top tier of my personal canon and one of the reasons I began this blogging project. It’s almost perfect in my eyes, synthesizing everything that was good about Hollywood comedies of the interwarContinue reading “Midnight (1939)”