Classic movies are not just antiquated films from a bygone era...rather, they are beautiful, well-acted, well-written gems that ought not to fade into obscurity. Truly, Hollywood just doesn't make 'em like they used to!!! I hope you'll discover some must-sees by your visit here.
In memory of Deanna Durbin, who passed away recently at the age of 91, I thought I would review 1938's Mad About Music, which I watched about a month ago. The third feature film for Miss Durbin, who was 16 years old at this point in time, Mad About Music also stars Herbert Marshall and features William Frawley, Arthur Treacher, and Gail Patrick in small, supporting roles.
Sent off to a Swiss boarding school because her teenage presence is a detriment to the glamour-girl image her actress mother's agent wants for her, Gloria Harkinson (Deanna Durbin) has invented a make-believe life for herself. Although her Navy flier father died when she was a baby, she has never revealed that to her friends and, instead, has bragged that he is an important explorer. Through weekly letters presumably from her dad, Gloria charms her schoolmates with tales of his African adventures. One girl, however, doesn't believe a word Gloria says and is determined to prove she's lying.
Having made the claim that her father would be stopping at the school for a 1-hour visit, Gloria suddenly finds herself in completely over her head. With all the students and even the headmistress congregating at the train station to welcome Mr. Harkinson, Gloria realizes the need to produce a father.
Composer Richard Todd (Herbert Marshall), who has traveled to Switzerland for a bit of R & R, alights the train at the school's stop, and Gloria immediately pounces on him, hugging him and welcoming him to town. She convinces him to pose as her father, and though he is at first reluctant, he may just end up embracing the role. How it all plays out is the balance of the film.
Nominated for four Academy Awards, Mad About Music is a sweet, enjoyable, very charming film. Herbert Marshall is his dashing, wonderful self, and Deanna is pure delight. She sings several songs, including "I Love to Whistle" and "Ave Maria." This is a very solid, entertaining, 3-star viewing experience.
Out on DVD, this film should be fairly easy to track down. I think it's a film all Deanna Durbin fans will want to see.
Another film in which Doris Day has an opportunity to show that she's more than light, fluffy comedies is Love Me or Leave Me, a musical romantic drama from 1955. Also starring James Cagney and featuring Cameron Mitchell, Robert Keith, and Tom Tully in support, this Charles Vidor film is based on the life of 20's and 30's singer, Ruth Etting. The film received six Academy Award nominations in all, coming away with the win in the Best Writing category.
In 1920's Chicago, taxi dancer Ruth Etting (Doris Day), tired of being pawed by men and wanting to embark on a singing career, is hoping for her big break, which soon arrives, in the person of Marty Snyder (James Cagney). Called "The Gimp" because of the limp he has, Marty---who is a local gangster---uses his connections to get Ruth first a dance gig, then a singing one. Although Ruth's piano player, Johnny (Cameron Mitchell), warns her that Marty is bad news and that his help will come with a price, Ruth blows him off. She knows she could eventually make it on her own, but since doing so means success won't come as quickly as she wants, she's willing to let Marty pave the way for her.
With Marty as her manager, Ruth soon finds herself on the radio and part of the Ziegfeld Follies. She has become the sensation she always dreamed of being, but Marty, wanting to maintain control of Ruth's career, makes a scene, which embarrasses Ruth and brings her to the place of trying to break from him. For Marty, though, it's time for Ruth to payoff---he brought her where she is, and he won't be pushed aside any longer. The two marry and head to Hollywood, where Marty has obtained a picture deal for Ruth.
As the film plays out, Ruth is reunited with piano player Johnny, causing the angry, hot-tempered Marty to explode in a jealous rage.
Neither lead character in this film is particularly likable. While Day's character is not physically abusive as Cagney's is, I, nevertheless, found her to be an unlikable sort. Ruth was a user, taking Marty for what he could do for her career, then dumping him when she no longer needed him. I found it hard to root for her. Despite unlikable characters, however, Love Me or Leave Me has many other things going for it.
First of all, the acting is brilliant. Both Miss Day and Mr. Cagney are magnificent. Mr. Cagney received his final Academy Award nomination for his work here, and Doris, while not being recognized by The Academy, was praised by Mr. Cagney. In his autobiography, Cagney by Cagney, he says "She had matured into a really exceptional actress, and I told her so. I said, "You know, girl, you have a quality that I've seen but twice before. There was a gal named Pauline Lord who created the title role in Eugene O'Neill's, Anna Christie, and I'm also thinking of Laurette Taylor. Both these ladies could really get on there and do it with everything. They could take you apart playing a scene. Now, you're the third one." He further went on to say that "After Love Me or Leave Me, Doris went into the Pillow Talk things, and I for one have always considered that one hell of a waste." Doris had to be thrilled with those words. To have James Cagney---whom I think may be the finest actor there has ever been---praising one's abilities has to be almost as wonderful as receiving an Academy Award.
The music in this film is spectacular! Doris sings close to a dozen songs, including "It All Depends on You" and "You Made Me Love You." It's always a joy to hear her beautiful voice in song. Additionally, Miss Day's gowns are simply stunning, though definitely not the "girl next door" type fans had come to expect to see her in. According to Doris's autobiography, Love Me or Leave Me was the film she considered to be her best.
Mr. Cagney was enamored of the script for Love Me or Leave Me at first glance. According to his autobiography, it was one of those "rare, perfect scripts that needed nothing added to it, nor nothing taken away from it." It was a role that had at first been offered to Spencer Tracy, who turned it down. Mr. Cagney never knew why Mr. Tracy had turned the role down, saying that "it was a damned good part."
According to Robert Osborne, when this film was originally in the works, George Cukor was to have directed and Ava Gardner was to have been the female lead. For whatever reason, those roles went to Vidor and Day, and when Cukor and Gardner saw the film, they were wowed, and Ava said something to the effect of "We made a big mistake" to which Cukor responded, "No, we didn't. If we had made it, it wouldn't have been that good."
Even if you've never heard of Ruth Etting, this film is definitely worth seeing, especially for Doris Day and James Cagney fans. It's easily a 4-star film in my mind (more like 4.5...and extremely close to 5 stars). Out on DVD, it should be fairly easy to track down.
For the most part, when we think of musicals, we think of warm, fuzzy, feel-good stuff; rarely, do we expect a meaty, hard-hitting, incredibly-acted drama to fall within the musical genre. With 1950's Young Man with a Horn, we definitely get it all---powerful drama, fantastic acting, and terrific music. Starring Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, and Doris Day, this Michael Curtiz film is not only loaded with music, but it has a riveting storyline, brought to life through simply sensational acting, especially that of Kirk Douglas. Featuring Hoagy Carmichael and Juano Hernandez in supporting roles, Young Man with a Horn is a 4-star film for me.
Rather neglected by the older sister who is raising him, Rick Martin (Orley Lindgren) finds what he's looking for in music. Fascinated by the piano in a local mission church, Rick teaches himself to play by ear. Before long, though, needing a more affordable instrument---and one he can carry with him---he transfers his interest to the trumpet, and under the tutelage of blues musician, Art Hazzard (Juano Hernandez), Rick quickly masters the beautiful brass piece.
As the years go by and young Rick becomes a man (now played by Kirk Douglas), his love for music becomes his all in all. He's an intense man, not much interested in having friends or a social life...just in hitting a note that has never been hit before. Landing a job in a dance orchestra, he has a hard time adhering to the rigid rules of the bandleader, desiring, instead, to shake things up a bit with some jazzier tunes.
The band's singer, Jo Jordan (Doris Day), and piano man, Smoke Willoughby (Hoagy Carmichael) look past Rick's driven, hard-to-get-along-with personality and become good friends. When Rick's rebellious ways get him fired from the band, Jo helps him land another gig; however, Rick's passion for his music and his desire to do something that's never been done before, continue to consume him.
After getting involved with and marrying a troubled medical student (Lauren Bacall), Rick's life and career spiral downward, ultimately taking him to rock bottom.
Only with the love and support of true friends, Jo and Smoke, will this troubled man be able to pull himself up from the gutter and get his life in order. How it all plays out is the balance of the film.
Young Man with a Horn is a completely riveting film, and it provides an opportunity to hear the lovely voice of Doris Day perform four different numbers. Kirk Douglas's acting is sensational. Up until about ten months ago, I would have said that I didn't much care for Mr. Douglas. Since that time, though, I've seen a few of his films (including two which were among my 5-star film discoveries of 2012), and I have been blown away by the performance he gives. My appreciation for him has grown by leaps and bounds, and I've recently begun including him on my favorite actor list. Here in Young Man with a Horn, he is so into the role that there are times the obsessive glint in his eyes is positively maniacal---completely intense and in definite keeping with his driven character. Although Mr. Douglas's trumpet sounds were provided by Harry James, his playing looked authentic to me.
Appropriately hard and cold, Lauren Bacall plays her unlikable character to perfection. Miss Bacall was 26 years old here---hard to believe...she looked significantly older...like 35 or 40! Doris Day is her usual lovely self and is very solid in her role as well; having a chance to hear her sing is always a delight. And Juano Hernandez is wonderful! I loved his character, and I think he brought him to life beautifully. The music of the film is the icing on the cake---there is lots of it, and it is terrific, all made available in a separate soundtrack.
Out on DVD, this film should be easy to track down. It is also on the TCM schedule for Thursday, May 30th at 3:30 a.m. (ET). Fans of Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, Doris Day, or jazz music ought to really enjoy this one.
Bells Are Ringing, from 1960, is an adorable musical romantic comedy starring the totally delightful Judy Holliday and Dean Martin. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, this film, which features the wonderful supporting cast of Jean Stapleton, Eddie Foy, Jr., Fred Clark, Frank Gorshin, and Bernard West, first appeared as a Broadway musical in 1956. Both Miss Holliday and Miss Stapleton portrayed their same characters in each venue, and for Miss Holliday, her Broadway performance garnered her a Lead Actress Tony Award.
Kind, compassionate Ella Peterson (Judy) works as a phone operator at Susanswerphone, her cousin Sue's (Jean Stapleton) answering service. Far more than just a job to Ella, her position gives her access to the lives of people she has come to care about. Though Sue continually warns Ella not to get involved in their clients' lives, lest the service be shut down for law violations, Ella simply can't help herself; she loves people too much to not do everything in her power to make their lives happy.
Ella is especially attached to Jeffrey Moss (Dean Martin), a playboy playwright who is struggling with his latest script. Wanting to do more than just give and take messages for Mr. Moss, Ella, using an old lady voice, has developed a phone relationship with him. Thinking that his message taker is a motherly old woman, Jeffrey calls Ella "mom" and feels very comfortable sharing his troubles with her.
When Jeffrey's agent leaves a message indicating that he is down to his final chance, Ella wants to encourage him to do the writing she knows is in him. However, with his phone unplugged and her call not getting through, drastic measures are necessary. Only a trip to his apartment will work, and when Ella manages to get inside and she sets eyes on her client for the first time, she finds that he is "Better Than a Dream."
As the kindhearted woman encourages him along, Jeffrey writes...and his agent loves it. Before long, Jeffrey has fallen in love with Ella...only thing is, Ella has never told him her true identity, and now, not wanting him to know that she deceived him, she is afraid to do so.
In addition to helping Mr. Moss write his play, Ella has gotten involved in the life of a dentist who aspires to write music (Bernard West) and a down-on-his-luck actor (Frank Gorshin). How those men's dreams entwine with Jeffrey's, all the while two detectives are investigating Susanswerphone as a possible escort service, makes for a very sweet, heartwarming film.
Judy Holliday is, as always, pure delight. From beginning to end, she is a total joy. Her character is the kind of person we need more of in this world; she's caring, compassionate, unselfish, friendly, warm, and kind. I love the way Judy brought Ella to life. I love her wardrobe too---the blue dress, the pink one, the white, the red...they were all gorgeous, and as I often do, I found myself wondering why women threw away that kind of a wardrobe. The scene in which she dresses in grubs and dons a Marlon Brando-type voice is quite amusing...one of the funniest in the whole film. Sadly, Bells Are Ringing would be Judy's final film performance.
Dean Martin is terrific in his role. I have to admit, when I first saw this film about four years ago, I was lamenting that Frank Sinatra wasn't cast in the part. As a huge Ol' Blue Eyes fan and a lover of his musicals, I thought he would have been the icing on the cake here in Bells Are Ringing. However, the more I've seen this film (4 or 5 times now), the more Dean grows on me, and now, I've come to the place of not only thinking he was perfect, but of being interested in listening to more of his music and discovering more of his works. I really love him here, and when he broke into "Just in Time," I was thrilled.
Nominated for the Best Music Academy Award, Bells Are Ringing features ten lovely songs, and I loved every one of them, which is often not the case (for me) with musicals. Usually, there are two or three songs I don't care for, but here, I loved them all.
Finally, my whole family loves this film. When I said we were watching a Judy Holliday film for her birthday month, both my kids made the same request..."Bells Are Ringing" please. While Born Yesterday is my favorite Judy film, this one is definitely my family's favorite...and a 5-star second favorite for me. Those who enjoy fun, lighthearted musicals, Judy Holliday, or Dean Martin, ought to completely love this. Out on DVD, this film should be very easy to track down.
