My Favouritest And My Best: Screwball Comedy Characters Part 1

{I've named this post "Part 1" because I might see more screwball comedies and want to add to my list. Plus, there are way too many to list all in one go :-D}

{My Badge :-D}

I have recently grown to like to screwball comedies. I don't like all of them, but some of them are really funny. The thing that strikes me is, that the main component of a screwball comedy is the characters. Put them in any situation you want, but the characters need to be really intriguing or interesting for the story to work. Therefore, the actors playing them need to be able to pull their weight. Believe me. Put a bad actor in even a good screwball comedy and everyone in the audience will squirm in their seats. It makes the whole thing awkward. I've written about some of these as couples, because I love them both and they are both awesome together. I need to do one about favourite screwball comedy animals soon... Asta anyone? But I've given it some thought and here are my favourite characters as they were performed by the actor, in the screwball comedies I've seen - in no particular order.

Susan Vance and Doctor David Huxley played by Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant respectively in Bringing Up Baby 1938

{Scanned by me}

Susan Vance is the sweet, troublemaking, ditzy heiress-female lead of Howard Hawks's comedy about a girl who gets a leopard in the post and drags her new paleontologist acquaintance into taking it to her farm in Connecticut on the day he is meant to be getting married. Add to this a pre-historic dinosaur bone and a playful dog and you have a fantastic screwball comedy! I just adore Susan. Whenever I trip over a coffe table, or spill something or lose something important I just think to myself, that was so Susan Vance. Katharine Hepburn plays her wonderfully as well and she more than holds her own against Cary Grant. Oh yeah, and she deals pretty well with the leopard.

Cary Grant on the other hand...

Well, lets just say, he and the cat weren't the best of friends. He was so scared of the leopard that - according to legend - the cast and crew threw a stuffed leopard through the air-shaft of his dressing room and he ran out as fast as lightening :-D. I love Doctor David Huxley. Geek specs and all. Cary Grant is absolutely crazy in this role, and you just have to love him for it, because in the end you know the result will be fantastic. I shall remain a Cary Grant fan 'till the end. He is my favouritest and my best of everything... Ever. If only all paleontologists were as amazing as Doctor Huxely.
*Weeps silently to self over the insanely awesome fantasticness of Cary Grant in geek gear*.

Peter Warne played by Clark Gable in It Happened One Night 1934

I love Clark Gable. I mean, who doesn't really? And he is so funny in this film, the classic Frank Capra directed rom-com. Peter Warne is a journalist who finds the runaway heiress everyone is looking out for (always an heiress involved) and offers to help her get back to her husband who her father disapproves of - if she'll give him a story. One of my all time favourite scenes in any comedy is Clark Gable's stupendous hitch-hiking scene which goes from teaching Claudette Colbert the rules of hitchhiking to  running through all of his hitch-hiking techniques in a row to attract several hundred cars that all pass by at once. It's hilarious and his whole performance is great too
:-)

Alice Sycamore and Tony Kirby played by Jean Arthur and James Stewart respectively in You Can't Take It With You 1938

I had to pair these as a joint favourite because it has to be the "rat with hair on it" scene that swayed me.



  You Can't Take It With You is a film about an eccentric family with a daughter who decides she wants to marry Tony Kirby, the only interesting member of a boring banking family. But what will happen when the two families meet? Jean Arthur and James Stewart work so well together. I adore them in this, and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. Jean Arthur is always so lively and James Stewart is playing one of his awesome characters of the Macaulay Connor variety where he gets to go absolutely bonkers. This time in a restaurant. It is seriously hilarious.

{Via}

Capt. Henri Rochard played by Cary Grant in I Was A Male War Bride 1949

I Was A Male War Bride is the story of the French army officer Henri Rochard who is always being teamed with Lt Catherine Gates, much to his dismay. They don't get along at first but then find that they love each other and want to get married. But Catherine realises that she has to be shipped back to the US, and the only way for Henri to come with her is for him to get a visa as a "War Bride". It's actually too funny for words. everyone says that their favourite scene from this movie is when Cary Grant dresses as a woman to get across to the US, but my favourite is when he gets stuck in Ann Sheridan's room after he has massaged her to sleep (sounds weird out of context but believe me it is hysterical). Cary Grant is so great at physical "clowning". There isn't a moment when you can't see that he is really thinking about his movements. Such a funny film.

Irene Bullock played by Carole Lombard in My Man Godfrey 1936

Irene Bullock finds Godfrey living on a city dump in the great depression while she is on a scavenger hunt (upper class style... they have to find a "forgotten man"!). He likes Irene, but hates her sister Cornelia and pushes her into a pile of rubbish and lets Irene take him to the scavenger hunt head quarters so she will win. But Irene starts falling for Godfrey and hires him as their butler. I'd never seen any Carole Lombard films before (I know, shock horror), and I loved her in this film! She's hilarious with William Powell - who even on his own is pretty darn awesome - and I love this film. Afterwards I was a bit like, "Whoa. That was crazy." But then I realised that it was not only crazy, but REALY GOOD TOO! All I have to say is, "GODFREY LOVES ME! HE PUT ME IN THE SHOWER!"

So there is Part 1. There will be a Part 2 following sometime in the future. I hope you enjoyed this post!

By the by, I got braces on my teeth the other day and they hurt for the first day or two. Ouch! But it reminded me of this really sweet scene in My Favourite Wife (1940) with Irene Dunne, so I hit photoshop and made a graphic for it! Hope you like it :-)

{My graphic, love Irene Dunne!}

~Bette

Carole-tennial(+3)! : Dawn's favorite Carole Lombard movies.

The very talented comedienne Carole Lombard, was one of the most successful and beautiful actress in the 1930s. Here is a list of some of my favorite films of the legendary, Carole Lombard:

No Man of Her Own(1932). Comedy film. Cast: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard as a married couple in their only film together, several years before their marriage in real life. Directed by Wesley Ruggles.

The story begins when, gambler Babe Steward, is in trouble with the law and decides to hide out in a small town. When he meets librarian Connie Randall, she asks him, "Do you like Shakespeare?" and Gable's reply, "Oh Shakespeare's alright but sometimes you just don't feel like Shakespeare". They find themselves flipping a coin to decide whether or not to get married. After they are married Babe tells Connie, that he has a job on Wall Street and Connie does not suspect anything until she finds Babe's marked cards in his desk. She mixes up the cards so when Babe plays poker, he loses. Angry Babe, leaves for Rio de Janeiro, to make it "big" at cards. Over come with quilt, he gives himself up to the police to serve his jail sentence. When Babe returns home to a pregnant Connie, they live happily ever after.



I really enjoyed seeing a younger Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, couldn't have be more beautiful! If you are a fan of Gable and Lombard, you will love this film..

My Man Godfrey. Please click here to read My Man Godfrey movie review.

In Name Only (1939).Please click here to view In Name Only movie review.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941). Comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, written by Norman Krasna. Cast: Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery, Gene Raymond, Jack Carson, Philip Merivale and Lucile Watson.

Hitchcock directed this comedy as a favour to Lombard.

One morning, Ann asks David if he had to do it over again, would he marry her? She is shocked, when he says "no". Later that day, they find out that, because of a complication they are not legally married. Ann, decides not to say anything to David, and thinks he will remarry her after a romantic dinner. When this does not happen, she kicks David out of their home.

David spends the night at his club and when David stops by the next day, Ann says behind a closed door that she is not married to David, and has no intention of ever marrying him.

Heartbroken, David follows Ann around and gets her fired from her job. His friend Jeff, tells David he will talk to Ann and persuade her to remarry David. But, when David shows up later that evening, he learns that Jeff has double crossed him. David brings a blind date at the same restaurant, but his date ends in disaster.

Later, Ann and Jeff go to the World's Fair, but become stuck on a ride and are forced to sit through many hours of rain many feet up in the air.

When, Ann goes to meet Jeff's parents, things become complicated when David barges in. Later, Ann and Jeff decide to take a vacation with Jeff's parents at a skiing resort. They find that David has rented a cabin right next to them, but when confronted, David pretends to be delirious while Ann takes care of him, but when Ann finds out that he has been lying to her, she leaves. Ann then loudly stages a pretend one-way conversation with Jeff for David's benefit. David storms in to finds her talking to herself. When Jeff walks in Ann becomes angry with Jeff for not beating up David. Jeff and his parents leave in a huff.

Ann, alone struggles with her skis until David offers to help her, then lifts up her legs so that she cannot get up. When Ann protests, he bends down and kisses her.



One of the funniest, smartest, and sweetest screwball comedies I have ever seen. Carole Lombard is absolutely beautiful. Hitchcock, was great at comedy and suspense and this one proves it.

Please click here to learn more about Carole Lombard.

In Name Only(1939).

In Name Only(1939). Cast: Cary Grant, Carole Lombard and Kay Francis. Based on the 1935 novel Memory of Love by Bessie Breuer.

Alec Walker, finds himself trapped in a loveless marriage, to a woman who married him only for his money. When he meets Julie, a widow and her daughter Ellen, he quickly falls in love.



His wife Maida, has Alec's parents convinced that she is the perfect wife, so when, Alec asks for a divorce, Maida, says that she will sail to Paris to stay with his parents, hoping to prolong the divorce.

Alec, follows Julie to New York, where he proposes to her, Julie accepts. After, returning home on Christmas Eve, Maida promises Julie, that she will never give Alec a divorce, and if he files for one, she will sue Julie for alienation of affections and have her daughter testify in court against her.

After which, Alec and Julie decide to go their own way. It is not long before Alec, becomes very ill with pneumonia. When the doctor says that his only the hope is to be with with Julie, she comes up with the lie that Maida has agreed to a divorce. Maida tells Julie, that she wants all of the Walker family's money and Alec's parents happen to overhear her. Now what will happen to Maida, after she is exposed for the Gold digger she is?



This is the perfect movie to celebrate Carole Lombard day on TCM. The performances are wonderful and Lombard, is absolutely gorgeous. I think another good reason to see this film, is to see Kay Francis performance as Maida, Cary Grant's vindictive wife, which is great fun to watch. Lombard's fans won't be disappointed either.

Peggy Ann Garner (February 3, 1932 – October 16, 1984). Performed in the films: Jane Eyre(1943) The Keys of the Kingdom(1944). She reached the height of her success at the age of 13 in the film, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945). Winning an Academy Juvenile Award for this performance. Like many child performers, Garner was unable to make a successful transition into adult film roles.

Carole Lombard.

Personal Quote:

"I've lived by a man's code designed to fit a man's world, yet at the same time I never forget that a woman's first job is to choose the right shade of lipstick".

Carole Lombard blogathon. October 6-9, 2011.




Please click here to learn more about Carole Lombard.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Carole Lombard

My girl Carole and her cute little friend..

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Carole and friends

Here's another photo of Carole and this time, three little doggies

Pawesome Pet Pictures: Carole Lombard.

Personal Quote:

"Marvelous girl. Crazy as a bedbug" - Howard Hawks.

Great On Screen Couples: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.

Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, first met when they worked together in their only film, No Man of Her Own(1932). The story begins when, Gambler Babe Steward is in trouble with the law and decides to hide out in a small town. There he meets librarian Connie Randall. They flip a coin to decide whether or not to get married, which of course it does. Babe, meanwhile, continues his gambling while Connie believes that he has a respectable job working on Wall Street. Then one day, Connie finds Babe's marked cards in his desk. She shuffles the cards and when Babe plays a game of poker, he loses. Angry, Babe leaves for Rio de Janeiro. But, realizing that he loves Connie, he gives himself up to serve his jail sentence. Will the couple be reunited when he is free?

After filming was over Carole Lombard gave Clark Gable a ham with his picture on it.

Gable makes a very charming card shark and Lombard makes a very playful librarian, with a bit of a wild side. They both performed well together. I'm very surprised they only did one film together.



They met again and fell in love in 1936 while attending the Mayfair Ball hosted by Lombard. Gable, at the time, was married to oil heiress, Rhea Langham. It was major factor in Gable accepting the role of Rhett Butler in Gone With the Wind, Louis B. Mayer sweetened the deal for Clark Gable by giving him enough money to settle a divorce agreement with Langham and marry Lombard. Gable divorced Langham on March 7, 1939 and proposed to Lombard in a telephone booth at the Brown Derby.

Gable and Lombard drove out to Kingman, Arizona on March 29, 1939 and were married. They bought a ranch previously owned by director Raoul Walsh in Encino, California, where they raised chickens and horses.

Unfortunately, On January 16, 1942, Lombard was a passenger on Trans-World Airlines Flight 3. She had just finished her 57th movie, To Be or Not to Be, and was on her way home when the flight's DC-3 airliner crashed into a mountain near Las Vegas, Nevada, killing all aboard. Clark Gable was never the same.

My Man Godfrey(1936).

My Man Godfrey (1936). Comedy. Directed by Gregory LaCava. It was adapted from the novel 1101 Park Avenue by Eric Hatch and Morrie Ryskind, with uncredited contributions by Gregory La Cava. Cast: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Eugene Pallette, Mischa Auer and Alan Mowbray. The 1957 remake starred June Allyson and David Niven.

The story is about two New York socialites Cornelia and Irene Bullock, both on a scavenger hunt to find a "forgotten man". At the city dump they find a down on his luck, Godfrey Parke. Insulted by Cornelia handing him five dollars, Godfrey pushes her to the ground. But, he is charmed by her sister Irene and decides to play along. Godfrey does not care for attitude of their friends and says it is a pleasure to return home to his friends. Irene not wanting him to go back to where she found him, hires Godfrey as the families butler.

During a tea party one of the guests, Tommy Gray, recognizes Godfrey as an old college mate. In order to keep his past a secret, Tommy claims Godfrey was his valet and is married with five children. Irene, is heartbroken and out of spite, suddenly announces her engagement to Charlie Van Rumple.

Meanwhile, when everything she does to make Godfrey's life miserable falls short, Cornelia sneaks into his room and plants her pearl necklace under his mattress. She then calls the police to report her "missing" jewelry. To Cornelia's surprise, the pearls are not where she planted them. Mr. Bullock realizes his daughter has made up the whole thing and sees the policemen out. Godfrey, takes it upon himself to help the Bullock family, even with everything they put him through.

The actors are wonderful. William Powell, plays the the straight man very well. Carole Lombard, also gives a wonderful performance. Gail Patrick, plays the part perfectly as Lombard's conniving sister. Eugene Pallette is great as their father. Alice Brady, steals the show as the mother. Look for cameos by Franklin Pangborn and Grady Sutton.

Video: Full Movie.


Fun Facts:

Jane Wyman has an uncredited part.

William Powell suggested his ex-wife 'Carole Lombard' for the leading role with the explanation that his real life romance with Lombard had been much the same as it was for the characters of Godfrey and Irene.

Alice Brady (November 2, 1892 – October 28, 1939). Her father, William A. Brady, was an important theatrical producer, and her mother was Rose Marie Rene who died in 1896 when little Alice was four. Alice first went on the stage when she was 14 and got her first job on Broadway in 1911 at the age of 18, in a show her father was associated with. She continued to perform there for the next 22 years. In 1931 she appeared in the premiere of, Mourning Becomes Electra. Her step mother was the Broadway star Grace George (1879–1961). Her half-brother was William A. Brady Jr, the son of her father, Grace George.

Brady's father moved into movie production and presentation in 1913, with his World Film Corporation, and Brady soon followed along after him, making her first silent feature appearance in, As Ye Sow (1914). She appeared in 53 films in the next 10 years.

In 1923, she stopped appearing in films to concentrate on stage acting, and did not appear on the screen again until 1933, when she made the film, When Ladies Meet, her first talking picture. From then on she worked frequently until her death, making another 25 films in seven years. Her final film was, Young Mr. Lincoln (1939).

Brady was married to actor James Crane from 1919 to 1922, when they divorced. They co-starred in three silent films together His Bridal Night(1919), Sinners(1920) and A Dark Lantern(1920).

Happy Birthday: Carole Lombard!

Carole Lombard made her film debut at the age of twelve after she was seen playing baseball in the street by director Allan Dwan. He cast her as a tomboy in A Perfect Crime (1921). In the 1920s, she was credited as 'Jane Peters', then later as 'Carol Lombard'. Her friend Miriam Cooper helped Lombard land small roles in her husband Raoul Walsh's films. She became a well-known actress and made a smooth transition to sound films, starting with High Voltage (1929).

In 1934, director Howard Hawks hired her for his film, Twentieth Century. That same year, she also starred in Bolero with George Raft. The following year she starred in, Hands Across the Table which helped to establish her as a top comedy actress. 1936 proved to be a big year for Lombard with her casting in the screwball comedy My Man Godfrey alongside ex-husband William Powell. Her performance earned Lombard an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. It was followed by Nothing Sacred in 1937, casting her opposite Fredric March . It was Lombard's only film in Technicolor.

In 1938, Lombard performed in, Fools for Scandal and moved on to dramatic films for the next few years. In 1939, Lombard wanted to be cast as Scarlett O'Hara in the epic Gone with the Wind, but was not even tested for the part. Her new husband, Clark Gable, was chosen to portray Rhett Butler. She took roles opposite James Stewart in, Made for Each Other (1939) and Cary Grant in , In Name Only (1939). She also starred in the dramatic film, Vigil in the Night (1940).

She then returned to comedy, teaming with director Alfred Hitchcock in Mr. Mrs. Smith (1941). She followed with what was to be her last film and one of her most successful, To Be or Not to Be (1942).

My Carole Lombard Halloween movie pick: Supernatural (1933). Cast: Carole Lombard, Alan Dinehart, Vivienne Osborne and Randolph Scott. The story begins in New York city after Ruth Rogan is convicted of killing 3 of her lovers and is sentenced to be executed. Soon after spiritualist shares with millionaries Roma a message from her dead brother. He has a rigged seance that leaves Roma confused. Then out of know where, Ruth Rogan's spirit takes over Roma's body. Roma runs off with the fake spiritualist under Ruth Rogan's control. Grant tries to find Roma and return her soul. It's a beautifully shot and unusual story. It does have a chilling ending when the real killer returns.

On TCM: Wednesday, October 6, 2010. Carole Lombard Birthday Tribute:

No More Orchids (1932). A wealthy woman opposes her uncle to marry a poor man. Cast: Carole Lombard, Lyle Talbot, Walter Connolly. Dir: Walter Lang.

Virtue (1932). A taxi driver falls for a sassy New York con girl. Cast: Carole Lombard, Pat O'Brien, Mayo Methot. Dir: Edward Buzzell.

Lady By Choice (1934). To improve her image, a fan dancer "adopts" an old woman to be her mother. Cast: Carole Lombard, May Robson, Walter Connolly. Dir: David Burton.

Fools For Scandal (1938). A Hollywood star falls for a broken down aristocrat. Cast: Carole Lombard, Fernand Gravet, Ralph Bellamy. Dir: Mervyn LeRoy.

In Name Only (1939). A wealthy man falls for a widow but can't get his wife to divorce him. Cast: Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Kay Francis. Dir: John Cromwell.


Gay Bride, The (1934). A gold digger tries to get ahead by marrying a succession of ill-fated racketeers. Cast: Carole Lombard, Chester Morris, ZaSu Pitts. Dir: Jack Conway.

Twentieth Century (1934). A  screwball comedy film. Much of the film is set on the 20th Century Limited train as it travels from Chicago to New York. The film was directed by Howard Hawks, stars John Barrymore, Carole Lombard, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns and Edgar Kennedy. Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur adapted their Broadway play of the same name itself based on the unproduced play Napoleon of Broadway by Charles Bruce Millholland with uncredited contributions from Gene Fowler and Preston Sturges.

I just love this wonderful picture of Carole Lombard and her furry friend.

Happy Birthday Carole Lombard (1908-1942)

Everyone knows my favorite actress of all time is Carole Lombard and today is her birthday.

the 5' 2" beauty was a comedy hit during the 30s and 40s. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on October 6, 1908 under the name of Jane Alice Peters. Young Jane Alice loved the Friday night movie night with her family and would perform the night before's show in the morning. Her mother and her father divorced in October of 1914. Jane Alice, her two older brothers, and their mother, Elizabeth Knight Peters moved to Los Angeles. When she was 12 she had a small part in a silent film called a Perfect Crime. An executive in 1925 from FOX PICTURES asked her to do a screen test, which was a success, but the film, which was to be her first spy film, Marriage In Transit (1925), wasn't. Carole Lombard, the actress, was born. In early 1927 she was tested by the Mack Sennet Studio, who put her under contract, only this time it was a comedy, not a spy film. Lombard became the top comedienne at the studio as she molded herself into the comedy life. Paul Stei, a Pathe director, saw her in a Sennet comedy and immediately put her under contract for $150 a week. Several films later she took a side step when director, Cecil B. DeMille called for her and then changed his mind. When she left Pathe in 1930 at the age of 18 she returned to FOX. She soon signed with Paramount for $300 a week but after 6 years was earning the sum of $35,000 a week! In October 1930 she met William Powell and then eight months later they were married on the day of June 26, 1931. Carole age 23 and William age 39 were married for 23 months but divorced in 1933. They stayed friends and film partners. In 1937 in My Man Godfrey (1936) (with Powell) earned her an Academy Award Nomination. There was a new person now, the crowned King of Hollywood" Clark Gable. They had made one movie together No Man Of Her Own (1932) in 1932. They were married, in March 1939, after Gable was separated from his wife Rhea Langham. They bought and lived in a 20 acre ranch in San Fernando Valley. They weren't Hollywood Socialites; they weren't glamorous; they wanted a simple life out of Hollywood's bright lights. They nick named each other Ma and Pa and were role modeled as the ideal marriage. Tragedy struck on a war bond tour that Carole and her mother were on. The plane they were traveling in (TWA Flight #3) crashed. Her last words, in her home state of Indiana, to all the people were just before boarding the plane, "Before I say goodbye to you all - come on - join me in a big cheer- V for victory!" All 22 passengers died in the crash.

TO: CAROLE LOMBARD FANS.

http://community.livejournal.com/carole_and_co

Click to check out Vincent's AWESOME web sight. :)

Carole & Co.
Reflections on Carole Lombard & classic Hollywood