The Old Maid (1939)

Working my way through the titles highlighted in Majestic Hollywood, The Greatest Films of 1939, I recently enjoyed a re-watch of The Old Maid, a period drama starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins.  George Brent gets third billing, although he is only around for the first fifteen minutes or so.  Based on Zoe Akin's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, The Old Maid features Donald Crisp and Jane Bryan in supporting roles.

Misses Davis and Hopkins portray cousins, Charlotte and Delia Lovell.  As the film begins in the early 1860's, Delia (Hopkins) is about to be married, and on her wedding day, her former love, Clem Spender (George Brent), arrives back in town and stops by for a visit.  Clem had left town a few years before---off to make his fortune---and when he didn't return, Delia assumed he no longer loved her and, thus, made plans to marry another man---one who was wealthy and socially prominent.  When Clem, who is still in love with Delia, declares his intent to make a scene at the wedding, cousin Charlotte (Bette Davis), in love with Clem herself, sets off to reason with him.  Wanting to comfort him, she ends up spending the night with him; the next day, however, Clem, now part of the Union Army, sets off for war...and he never returns, having been killed in battle.

Fast forward a few years...Charlotte, now engaged to Delia's husband's brother, is running a home for war orphans.  It is expected that when she marries, she will give up the home; however, there is one particular child---a girl named Tina---whom Charlotte has no intention of giving up.

On Charlotte's wedding day, Delia discovers that Tina's full name is Clementina and that she is Charlotte's own child, from a man who died in the war; putting two and two together, Delia realizes that Tina is Clem's child...a fact that enrages her.  To think that Charlotte had been with Clem---her love---is more than she can stand; determined to make Charlotte pay, she lies to her brother-in-law and he calls off the wedding.

After Delia's husband dies several months later, Charlotte and Tina are invited to come live with her.   Since Charlotte was never married and cannot publicly call Tina her child, Tina calls her "Aunt Charlotte."  Delia becomes rather a mother to the little girl, and once, to Charlotte's incredible heartbreak, she even calls Delia "mommy."

Fast forwarding several more years, Tina has become a young woman (played by Jane Bryan), and Delia, not Charlotte, receives her love, praise, and affection.  Aunt Charlotte, who has sacrificed for years, is despised and mocked by the girl.  Yet to tell Tina the truth---that the unwed Charlotte is her mother---would destroy all hopes for a legitimate beau, so Charlotte says nothing, all the while being totally brokenhearted because the daughter she loves has rejected her and now calls Delia "mother."  Will Tina ever change?  Will Charlotte's broken heart ever heal?  These are the questions which will play out in the balance of the film.



Pairing two such strong, formidable actresses, who already had hatred/jealousy issues between them, found director Edmund Goulding "more often refereeing than directing; filming went slowly, as each woman fought for every scene she was in.  One co-worker said "Working with these two ladies is a slow drag."  Goulding himself was to say, "There were times when they behaved like perfect little bitches". . . However, the women's intense dislike for each other did have a positive side, for it not only added to their pleasure in making the picture but also proved so mutually stimulating that Warners production chief Hal Wallis planned to team them again."  [1]  The women were paired again, in Old Acquaintance.

A huge Bette Davis fan, I enjoy having the opportunity to catch Bette in a sympathetic role for a change. She's terrific here---as she is always.  What I find so impressive about Bette is that beyond her brilliant acting, she was always willing to take on unglamorous roles and be seen as dowdy, ugly, and unsophisticated.  Her acting was so great that she didn't have to get by on looks alone.

The Old Maid is a lot like one of my top 25 films, Stella Dallas, in that it is the story of a mother's sacrificial love for her daughter.  However, while I give The Old Maid 4 stars, I do prefer Stella Dallas, mostly because of the daughters' character.  Here in The Old Maid, Tina is selfish and obnoxious, whereas Lolly, Anne Shirley's Stella Dallas character, is loving and caring.  Because of Clementina's attitude, I just never had the affection for her that I had for Lolly.

Out on DVD, The Old Maid should be fairly easy to track down.  I hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!

[1]  Majestic Hollywood, The Greatest Films of 1939, by Mark A. Vieira, Running Press, 2013.

The Kid from Cleveland (3 stars)

The Kid from Cleveland  is a 1949 baseball drama starring George Brent, Lynn Bari, and in his first credited role, Russ Tamblyn.  Always a fan of baseball movies, this was one I recently enjoyed for the first time during my George Brent birthday month celebration.  As in the case of other baseball films, actual ballplayers appear in the film as themselves (the legendary Satchell Paige among them).  While The Kid from Cleveland is nowhere near the same caliber as my all-time favorite baseball movie The Pride of the Yankees, it is, nonetheless, a sweet, heartwarming story and a nice "message movie" about investing in the lives of others.

On the eve of the 5th game of the 1948 World Series---pitting the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves---the Indians' radio broadcaster, Mike Jackson (George Brent), enters the stadium for a conference with the team's hierarchy.  Unbeknownst to Mike, a young teen boy (Russ Tamblyn) is creeping along behind him, and as Mike attends his meeting, the youth heads to the playing field, picks up a bat, and takes his stance at home plate.  When the boy's presence is discovered, he introduces himself as Johnny Barrows, an orphan, and explains that he had hitch-hiked up from Columbus for the game.  Declaring that he will sleep in the dugout that night, Johnny's love for the baseball team is quite apparent to all; Mike, having been an orphan himself, feels for Johnny and not only promises to get him into the next day's game, but also to put him up at his home for the night.  Thus, a solid father-son kind of relationship is born.

As Mike soon finds out, though, very little about Johnny's story is true.  For one thing, the boy doesn't hail from Columbus...he lives right there in Cleveland, where he runs with a rough, law-breaking crowd. For another thing, Johnny is far from an orphan; while he did lose his dad in the war, he has a mother and a stepfather, both of whom are worried about him.  Johnny doesn't just have a problem with lying, but also with stealing, even taking advantage of Mike's kindness and stealing from him.  Still, though, Mike cares about Johnny and wants to influence him for good.  He hopes that by giving Johnny an opportunity to work with the team, he will be giving him the right sort of heroes and keeping him from admiring the wrong ones.

Wanting to adopt Johnny---or at least be his foster family---Mike and his wife (Lynn Bari) petition the court for custody; before any decisions are made, though, Johnny finds himself angry at Mike and in deeper trouble than he's ever been.  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.

Though not spectacular, The Kid from Cleveland is an interesting, enjoyable, very solid 3-star film.  It features George Brent in a role which I think fit him perfectly.  (Actually, it did fit him perfectly, as he really was an orphan by the age of 11.)  The acting in the film, though not sensational,  was solid and believable...and it was loads of fun seeing Russ Tamblyn in his first credited role.  I love him in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and I could definitely see shades of the future Gideon in the 15 year-old Russ.  The film is worth viewing just to see Russ as a young teen.

This film is not out on DVD, though it is available in its entirety on YouTube (in several parts).  Fans of George Brent, Russ Tamblyn, the Cleveland Indians, or baseball movies will probably enjoy it.

Happy viewing!!

More Than a Secretary (4 stars)

More Than a Secretary, from 1936, is a romantic comedy starring Jean Arthur and George Brent.  Featuring the wonderful supporting cast of Lionel Stander, Dorothea Kent, Ruth Donnelly, Charles Halton, and Reginald Denny, this film falls into the screwball comedy genre.  While I am not a huge fan of screwball films, I do really like this one.  I caught it on TCM about four years ago and have watched it a few times, and with March being George Brent's birthday month and this being one of my favorite George Brent films, I decided a re-watch was a perfect way to celebrate.

Carol Baldwin (Jean Arthur) and her friend Helen (Ruth Donnelly) run a secretarial school, and it seems that for many of their students, the school---and their subsequent secretarial work---is a means to getting a man.  When a former student pops by for a visit and shares the news of her recent engagement to a man she had gone to work for, Miss Baldwin begins to believe there is a bit of truth in the girls' thoughts.

One of the school's clients, Fred Gilbert (George Brent), goes through secretaries faster than the speed of light.  Publisher of the magazine Body & Brain, Mr. Gilbert is always dissatisfied with and complaining about the secretaries the school sends to him.  Irritated by this and wanting to find out why the man is so difficult to please, Carol makes a trip to his office.

Mistaking her for the latest secretary the school promised to send, Mr. Gilbert assumes Carol has come to work for him, and finding him attractive, Carol doesn't tell him she is more than a secretary---instead, she goes to work for him.  With her creative ideas, Carol manages to increase circulation of the magazine---something Gilbert had been having difficulty doing.

Very much into health and fitness, Mr. Gilbert runs his magazine rather like a health spa; regular exercise times are included in the work day, as is a lunch of buttermilk and a bran muffin.

Declaring it unhealthy, the man does not eat meat; therefore, when he takes his new secretary to dinner and she orders a steak, she is shocked to discover that it is nothing of the animal kingdom on her plate.  Despite the man's quirks, though, Carol has completely fallen for Fred and entertains high hopes that he will soon feel the same way towards her.

Just as Fred is developing an interest in Carol, his friend Bill (Reginald Denny) requests that he take beautiful but ditzy secretary Maisy (Dorothea Kent) off his hands.

With his wife returning from a European vacation, and knowing that she would be jealous, Bob needs to get Maisy out of his office; since he doesn't want to leave her high and dry without a job, he requests that Fred use her skills.  Smitten by the woman, Fred does just that, only in order to give Maisy Carol's job, he must first promote Carol to aother position.

Having instructed Maisy at the secretarial school, Carol knows the girl is completely scatter-brained; in fact, since she has no clerical ability at all, Carol knows exactly why Mr. Gilbert has hired her.  As Fred spends more and more time with Maisy and less and less time working on his magazine, Carol, who has had enough, walks out.

More Than a Secretary is pure delight.  Yes, it's predictable and quite corny, but isn't that the essence of screwball comedy?!  George Brent is so dashing and handsome here.  I just love him in this role.  Jean Arthur is her adorable, loveable self, and I thought she and Mr. Brent were terrific together.  Beyond the leads, though, is the supporting cast.  Every single one of them is completely perfect.  Lionel Stander was a scream, especially when he is leading exercises and when he gives a workout to Charles Halton.  Let me tell you, I was feeling the pain of that workout.

Dorothea Kent was sensational as the "ditzy" blond, who was not quite as clueless as everyone thought she was.  Oh, sure, she couldn't type and she didn't know how to spell...but she did know Jean was her rival for Mr. Gilbert's affections.  I really got a huge kick out of her.

Charles Halton was quite adorable as the advanced-in-years magazine owner, who is thrilled to pieces to see a woman as lovely and desirable as Maisy working in his company.

At one point in the film, Mr. Brent's character is complaining about Jean's plan to put a swimsuit-clad girl on the cover of the magazine.  Saying he "wasn't putting out a sex magazine" and that "semi-nude women on the cover" would be offensive, the magazine publisher refused her ideas.  I thought that was hysterical!  Wonder what he would think of the trashy magazine covers of today!?

This film is out on DVD as part of the Jean Arthur Comedy Collection; I do hope you can track it down, as it isn't often on the TCM schedule---in the last four years, I've only noticed them airing it one time.  If you are a fan of screwball comedy, Jean Arthur, George Brent, or any of the supporting players, I feel sure you will enjoy this fun, lighthearted film.

Happy viewing!!

The Purchase Price (3 stars)

The Purchase Price, from 1932, is a pre-code romantic dramedy starring Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, and Lyle Talbot.  With this past Thursday having been Mr. Brent's birthday, there have been several of his films on the TCM schedule this week---some, like this one, I am catching for the very first time.  It's always fun making a new film discovery, and while I didn't love this movie, I found it to be an enjoyable viewing experience.

Nightclub singer Joan Gordon (Barbara Stanwyck) has grown weary of her married racketeer boyfriend, Eddie (Lyle Talbot), and to escape him, runs off to Montreal, taking on the name Francine LaRue.  Despite the name change, Joan knows Eddie has ways of tracking her down, so, with the help of a hotel maid, she comes up with the perfect plan to be rid of him forever.

It seems the maid, Emily, is about to become a bride---a mail-order bride, that is---to a man she has never even met.  Through a matrimonial agency, Emily was matched with wheat farmer Jim Gilson (George Brent), and she is due to leave immediately for his home in Elks Crossing, North Dakota.  When Emily mentions that instead of sending a photo of herself, she sent one of Joan, the desperate-to-disappear young woman realizes she has just been given the perfect escape route---she, not Emily, will take the train to North Dakota and become the farmer's wife.  After all, since Jim is expecting to marry the woman of the photograph, he will never even know a switch has been made.

Things don't go as smoothly as either the bride or groom expected; for one thing, the wedding ceremony is more like a circus...complete with a bargained-for ring which doesn't even come close to fitting Joan's finger.  Also, a heavy mortgage and a merciless banker are nipping at Jim's heels; to make matters even worse, Joan intends the marriage to be in name only...an arrangement Jim is none too happy about.  Slapping him when he makes advances towards her, Joan succeeds in building a wall between the two of them....and just as the wall begins to show signs of toppling, the old gangster boyfriend shows up at the farm, alerting Jim to the fact that his wife isn't the "good girl" he thought she was.

Do Jim and Joan find love together?  Or does Joan go back to Eddie?  Are they able to save the farm from foreclosure?  These are the questions which play out in the balance of this sweet little film.

While I enjoyed The Purchase Price, I have to admit, it was beyond odd to see George Brent in this kind of role.  Instead of the dapper, distinguished, suit-wearing gentleman he generally portrays (and which I prefer), here, he was a bit on the socially awkward side...and wearing long johns and jeans which were too big in the rear end.  Not his usual elegant self, that's for sure.  Plus, he wasn't sporting a mustache at this point in his career, and I must say, Mr. Brent is one of the few actors I love with a bit of facial hair (Clark Gable too).  Also, at one point, his character got down on all fours to look for something, and there was at least a 10-second shot of his backside.  Not exactly a dignified pose!!  Just as uncomfortable to watch was the scene in which a mentally-challenged young man howls at the newlyweds.  Still, though, despite the strange casting and the lack of sophistication, the story was sweet.  Additionally, it was loads of fun seeing the lovely Miss Stanwyck way back at the tender age of 25.  She's young and beautiful here, and in the very early stages of her career.   What a pleasure to see her in the days before her star began to rise...we even get an opportunity to hear her sing.  I know very little about Lyle Talbot, but he was quite a good-looking man...not sure why he wasn't more of a star.  Finally, the scene in which the ladies are talking on the train is a definite clue that this is a pre-code film.  Their conversation is filled with innuendo which would not have gotten by the censors a few years later.

This film is out on DVD as part of the Forbidden Hollywood Collection, so you might be able to track it down that way.  I've been unable to locate either the entire film or even a trailer on YouTube.  So...best of luck seeking this one out.

Happy viewing!!

Happy Birthday, George Brent!!

Happy 113th birthday to the very dashing and debonair George Brent.  (March 15, 1899-May 26, 1979)

Born in Ireland with the name George Brendan Nolan, Mr. Brent, who was capable in both comedic and dramatic roles, began his career on the stage.   Always an extremely solid leading man, he very much complemented any actress with whom he was paired.  Far and away, the lady with whom Mr. Brent co-starred the most was Bette Davis.  The two of them appeared together in eleven films...and they truly were magical together.  Actually, he seemed to be quite magical with any of the lovely ladies he worked with...Miss Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Myrna Loy, Claudette Colbert, Jean Arthur, Merle Oberon, and on and on.  He even made a film with future wife Ann Sheridan, and though their marriage didn't last long, they made a great couple on screen.  (Mr. Brent also starred opposite another of his wives---Ruth Chatterton---in four films, though I haven't seen any of those to judge their chemistry.)

George Brent is easily one of my top 20 favorite actors, and I enjoy several of his films.  My all-time favorite  is Dark Victory (reviewed HERE).  That beloved movie, in which he stars with the sensational Bette Davis, is actually one of my 20 favorite movies of all-time.  It is a totally beautiful movie, and the dashing Mr. Brent gives one of his very best performances.

Rounding out my list of five favorite George Brent films are:

2.  Tomorrow Is Forever  (with Claudette Colbert and Orson Welles---reviewed HERE)

3.  The Great Lie  (with Bette Davis and Mary Astor)

4.  The Old Maid  (with Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins---although Mr. Brent isn't in this film for long, I'm still counting it among my favorite of his films.  Reviewed HERE)

5.  More Than a Secretary  (with Jean Arthur---reviewed HERE)

So, here's to you, George Brent, on your 113th birthday---thank you for making so many beautiful movies!  You will always be one of my favorite actors!

Tomorrow Is Forever (5 stars)

Tomorrow Is Forever is a tender, heart-tugging 1946 drama starring Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles, and George Brent, with Lucile Watson, Richard Long, and a very young Natalie Wood taking on supporting roles.  I caught the last half of this film about three years ago when a local station aired it.  I totally loved what I saw and definitely wanted a chance to watch the whole movie; however, at that time, it wasn't out on DVD, so I patiently waited about a year for it to get on the TCM schedule, at which time I was able to view the entire film AND record my own copy on disc.  (Good things come to those who wait!!)  This is easily my second favorite George Brent film (just behind Dark Victory), and in celebration of his birthday month, I have recently enjoyed a re-watch.

Claudette Colbert is Elizabeth MacDonald, a recently married woman, whose husband, John (Orson Welles), enlists in the Army and departs for Europe in the final months of World War I.

John is horribly disfigured by a bomb and spends many months in a European hospital.

However, word is sent to Elizabeth that her husband has died.

When it is discovered that Elizabeth is pregnant, Larry Hamilton, the man Elizabeth works for (played by the the VERY dashing George Brent), invites her to come live at his home, where his aunt (Lucile Watson) will be able to care for her.

 Eventually, Larry falls in love with Elizabeth and marries her, raising her child as his own. The child isn't aware that his mother had been married before or that Larry is not his real father.

Fast-forward twenty years, to the beginnings of the second world war. Elizabeth and Larry's son (named John Andrew after his biological father) is all grown-up and wants to join the war effort in Europe. Elizabeth cannot bear the thought of her son going off to war----to lose him would be like losing John all over again.

Meanwhile, Larry's company has hired a new consultant, a newly-arrived European refugee with a young daughter (Natalie Wood, in her first credited role). This man, known as Erich Kessler , is none other than John MacDonald, and he, of course, recognizes Elizabeth immediately.

Will recognition dawn for Elizabeth? What will happen to her marriage to Larry? Will her obsession with the past and her fear of the past repeating itself tie her son to her apronstrings forever? Will Eric/John tell Drew that he is his father? All these questions will be answered by the end of this very touching film.

George Brent is completely wonderful in this film---he's the proverbial knight in shining armor.  And I love that little bit of gray which was added at the temples in order to age him 20 years.

Claudette Colbert is her usual elegant, classy-looking self.  Orson Welles, who I'm not overly familiar with, was very good in this role.  His chemistry with the young Natalie Wood was terrific.  And speaking of Natalie Wood, Robert Osborne said that Irving Pichel, director of this film, had seen her in an earlier uncredited role and when he needed a little girl for Tomorrow Is Forever, he remembered "the little girl with the big eyes" and sought her out.  Although her first screen test didn't "wow" him, at her mother's request, he gave her another test, and "voila!" a star was born.

Tomorrow Is Forever is a very heart-tugging movie. Though it doesn't bring sobs, it definitely gets me misty-eyed a few times. The film is now out on DVD (having been released last summer), so you ought to be able to track it down.  It is also available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE).  Definitely see it if you can---I think it's a beautiful film.

Happy viewing!!

The Gay Sisters (4 stars)

The Gay Sisters, from 1942, is an Irving Rapper romantic drama starring Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, and Geraldine Fitzgerald, with Nancy Coleman, Donald Crisp, and Gig Young taking on supporting roles.  Having enjoyed Miss Stanwyck and Mr. Brent together in My Reputation, I was anxious to see their other collaborations, so when this film appeared on the TCM schedule early last year, I made it a point to set the DVR.  As part of my George Brent birthday celebration, I thought a re-watch was in order.

After losing his wife in the sinking of the Lusitania, wealthy Penn Gaylord enlists to serve in the first world war, leaving his three young daughters in the care of the family servants.

Telling the oldest daughter, Fiona, that she is now the head of the household, Penn instructs her to see to it that the house, which has been in the family for three generations, continues to be run by the Gaylord servants in the Gaylord manner.

After reminding Fiona that the land is the Gaylord's religion and obtaining her promise to never sell the land, Mr. Gaylord sets off for Europe, where not long afterwards, he is killed in battle.  Although Gaylord's will had been considered indestructible, for twenty years it has been contested and appealed, leaving the girls unable to receive their inheritance.

Each of the three Gaylord daughters---now a grown woman---has her own struggles and heartache.  There's Susanna (Nancy Coleman), the baby of the family.  In love with an artist named Gig Young (played by Gig Young), she wants to annul a hastily-made 4-hour marriage.  When the husband refuses to give her an annulment, Susanna hopes to buy him off with part of the Gaylord fortune---if the will ever gets probated, that is.

Middle daughter, Evalyne (Geraldine Fitzgerald), had run off to England years earlier, where she married a man in the RAF and captured the title Lady Burton for herself.  Now back home, she is up to her old habit of wanting whatever it is Susanna has---this time wanting Gig.

Strong, feisty, tough-as-nails oldest daughter, Fiona (Barbara Stanwyck), is the one who refuses to allow the will to be settled.

Clinging tightly to her promise to always hold onto the land, she has no intention of allowing it to slip into the hands of Charles Barclay (George Brent)---even if the man does claim her father made another will while overseas...a will which gave his charity possession of the land.

 It soon becomes apparent, though, that Fiona's refusal to settle with Barclay has just as much to do with her secret past relationship with the man as it does with her promise to her father.

What is it about Barclay which so raises Fiona's ire?   Why won't Barclay compromise with Fiona?  Will Susanna get the money for her divorce and, thus, marry Gig before Evalyne steals him from her?  Does Evalyne really even want him?  Does he want her?  And just who is the little boy Fiona brought home from a trip to the country?  These are the questions which play out in this enjoyable film.

The Gay Sisters is a great little film, which showcases the completely wonderful talent of Barbara Stanwyck.  She is terrific in this role---strong and feisty, yet with a touch of tenderness.  Her scenes with the little boy are adorable.  Nancy Coleman and Geraldine Fitzgerald were both really great in their roles as well, and I must say the casting of the little girl who portrayed the young Susanna was spot-on.  I could truly see that girl growing up to look exactly like Nancy Coleman.  And George Brent---he's really wonderful here...strong, dashing, exciting.  His chemistry with Miss Stanwyck was super.  Actually, I think he had great chemistry with whomever he worked with!  I guess he just had one of those personalities which mixed well with everyone.  Gig Young playing Gig Young was a bit on the odd side---not sure what that was all about, but he was more than adequate in the role.

This movie is not out on DVD; however, it is available on YouTube (in several different parts).  Go HERE for part 1.  Also, it is on the TCM schedule for this Friday, March 9th at 9:00 a.m. (ET).  Hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!

Dark Victory (5 stars)

From that golden year of 1939 comes Dark Victory, a sentimental tearjerker starring my #1 gal, Bette Davis, and George Brent, with Geraldine Fitzgerald taking on a supporting role.  Also appearing in this incredibly beautiful film are Humphrey Bogart, Ronald Reagan, and the delightful Henry Travers.  Without question, Dark Victory is one of my 20 favorite movies of all time, and as such, it is my second favorite Bette Davis film and my absolute favorite George Brent film.  I thought a re-watch of it was perfect for my George Brent birthday month celebration.

Wealthy socialite Judith "Judy" Traherne (Bette Davis), who spends her days shopping, playing bridge, having cocktails, and riding her horse, has been having headaches for several months.  Pushing aside the concern of her friend Ann (Geraldine Fitzgerald), Judith refuses to see a doctor and intends to go about life as usual.

However, after an episode in which she is thrown from her horse and another in which she collapses on the stairs, her loved ones take her to the family doctor (Henry Travers).  Wanting the input of a specialist, Dr. Parsons contacts brain surgeon Frederick Steele (George Brent).

In the process of giving up his practice to focus on research instead, Dr. Steele is reluctant to take on Judith's case.  However, after meeting her and noticing some things which alarm him, he changes his mind.  Although Judy insists there is nothing wrong with her, Dr. Steele, believing otherwise, schedules her for some tests, which confirm that there is a tumor on her brain.  Surgery is Judy's only option, and Dr. Steele undertakes the operation with high hopes; however, his hopes are short-lived, for he realizes that Judith's tumor is the kind which will grow back.  Although the doctor seeks several opinions, they all come back with the same grim prognosis and the expectation that Judy will die within ten months.  Not wanting Judith to know of her imminent death, Dr. Steele keeps the news to himself.

Not long afterwards, Judith and Dr. Steele realize they are in love with one another and plan to be married.  Although he knows he will ultimately lose her, the doctor loves Judith and wants her to be happy for what time she has left.

Before they can marry, though, Judy discovers her medical file on the doctor's desk, and she is furious at his deception.  Bitter, and believing he is only marrying her out of pity, she breaks off the engagement and seeks to find solace in drink.

Will Judith find the peace she so desperately needs?  Will she forgive the doctor for keeping the truth from her?  Will they get married after all?   Those are the questions which play out in this incredibly gorgeous film.

Dark Victory is a very touching and tender movie...and it is definitely a tearjerker.  Bette, who received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her work here, does her usual brilliant job.  She is positively wonderful!!  The life and grace she brings to the character of Judy Traherne has made Judy one of my favorite film characters.  Truly, Judy's transformation is beautiful and moving.  The only negative I have is that Judith is supposed to be 23 years old; Bette was 31 at the time, so you just have to "blow off" the fact that she doesn't look like a 23 year old.  The age factor wasn't at all essential to the story, so I'm not sure why they felt it was necessary to say she was 23.  The very dashing George Brent, whom I really like but whom I do not consider an exceptional actor, gives what I think is one of his best performances; he and Bette have great chemistry together here...though since they made eleven films together, that's not a surprise.

It was fun seeing Humphrey Bogart before his star had begun to rise, though as a stable hand, he was definitely not in the kind of role with which he is generally associated.

Out on DVD, Dark Victory should be very easy to track down.  Additionally, it's on the TCM schedule for this Sunday, March 4th (10:00 a.m. ET).  Definitely be sure to see this gorgeous film---and have the tissue box handy when you do!

Happy viewing!!

On the Blogging Agenda for March

A new month is upon us, and with the new month, comes a new focus for me and for this blog.  While February saw me writing about other stars, the ones who saw the most action here at They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To were the birthday folks---Clark Gable, Ida Lupino, and Lana Turner.  It used to be that I celebrated my favorite stars by watching one of their films on their birthday; however, I decided to celebrate all month long by watching several of their films and doing so all throughout the month.  I wrote about many---but not all--of those films.  I liked doing that and have decided to continue that practice.

Only three of my faves are March babies---John Garfield

George Brent

and Joan Crawford

I will be overloading on their films this month...and writing about them too.  While I'll be re-watching my tried-and-true favorites, I also hope to discover some great "new to me" films.

Also on the blogging agenda for March is Montgomery Clift, another of my huge faves.  Actually, Monty comes in at #4 on my fave list...just a wee bit behind the "beloveds" (William Holden, Robert Ryan, and Gary Cooper).

Comet over Hollywood is hosting a "Gone Too Soon" blogathon---a lovely tribute to those wonderful stars who left this world much too soon.  My contribution to that event will be in honor of the fabulous Mr. Clift.  While I've already reviewed many of his films, for this blogathon, I'll be reviewing another couple, plus sharing a bit about this troubled man's life.

Finally, I have added someone new to my top 20 list, and I will be watching and writing about his films too.  That man is Van Heflin.

 Mr. Heflin's addition to my top 20 list is, quite honestly, something I never in a million years would have expected, for when I first encountered him, I thought him very milque-toasty.  I'm not entirely sure why I felt that way, because that film was 3:10 to Yuma, and his character in that movie (Dan Evans) was quite brave and courageous...no less so than High Noon's Will Kane, who is one of my all-time favorite film characters.  I suppose it was playing opposite Glenn Ford that did Van Heflin in for me.  Since that time, though, I have watched several of Mr. Heflin's films, and I have come to really like him; in fact, when I see his name among a cast, I generally choose to watch that movie.  Therefore, difficult as it was to remove Joel McCrea from my top 20 list, I had to do so in order to make room for Van.

So, it'll be mostly John, George, Monty, Joan, and Van this month here at They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To.   I hope you'll join me and perhaps discover a film or two (or three or four) that you absolutely must see.

My Reputation (1946)

My Reputation, starring Barbara Stanwyck and George Brent, is a 1946 romantic drama which explores the theme of finding new love after the death of a spouse.  Jessica (Jessie) Drummond  (Barbara Stanwyck) has just buried her husband, Paul, a man who had been her whole world for fifteen years.  Although Jessie has two sons, they are unable to fill the void left by Paul's death; besides the fact that they want to spend time with their friends, they are about to depart for a boarding school their dad had attended.

Distraught and lonely after the boys leave for school, Jessie agrees to accompany a friend and her husband to Lake Tahoe.  While skiing, she meets Major Scott Landis (George Brent), and the two of them enjoy several wonderful days together; however, Jessica is not quite ready for romance again, and when Scott makes a move to kiss her, she backs away.   Shortly thereafter, they go their separate ways...Jessie back home to Lake Forest, Illinois, and Scott to his new post.

As it turns out, Scott has been stationed right there in Illinois, and he and Jessica soon meet up again.  This time, Jessica is interested, and she accepts his dinner invitation.  Unfortunately, disapproval and criticism are rampant...even her mother condemns the new romance. The tongues of Jessie's society friends begin to wag, and she finds that her reputation is being tarnished.  Ultimately, Jessie will need to determine if she is going to allow herself to love again or if she is going to live her life based on the opinions of others. 

While there is no high drama in My Reputation, it is, nevertheless, a very solid 4-star film with likeable characters and an interesting storyline.  I am a huge fan of both Barbara Stanwyck and George Brent, and I think they were great together.  This movie is out on DVD and should be quite easy to track down.

Happy viewing!!