Happy Landing was the third film Sonja Henie made for 20th Century Fox. She was a monster star in her day, the first female professional skater to become an international sensation. 20th Century Fox was a maverick studio in the 1930s that tended to make low-budget musical comedies that featured some unusual, and unusually good,Continue reading “Happy Landing (1938)”
Category Archives: Neglected Gems
Café Metropole (1937)
Café Metropole is one of the odd, original movies you often encounter in this zone. It doesn’t seem to be very well known. There’s almost no historical or critical writing on it. There are some warm, affectionate comments about it on IMDB — they’re fun to read after you’ve seen the film. But I feelContinue reading “Café Metropole (1937)”
Sweetheart of the Campus (1941)
Some folks won’t be surprised, but I’ll bet some you will be mind-blown by this. I adore this movie, a true unappreciated little gem. This was the last film that starred Ruby Keeler, now without Dick Powell. I have no love for Keeler as an actress or dancer, but lo and behold, the center ofContinue reading “Sweetheart of the Campus (1941)”
The Gay Divorcee (1934)
The Gay Divorcee was the first true Astaire-Rogers film. Impressed by the way they had stolen the show in Flying Down to Rio the year before, RKO Studios hired them to be marquee stars. They also hired Mark Sandrich, who had directed the dance sequences of Rio, to helm the pictures. Folks differ in theirContinue reading “The Gay Divorcee (1934)”
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)”