Gambling Lady(1934).

Gambling Lady(1934). Cast: Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea.

The story begins when gambler Mike Lee commits suicide rather than to be come part of a gambling syndicate, headed by Jim Fallin, who wants him to run a crooked game. Charlie Lang, takes up a collection for his daughter, Jennifer Lady Lee, and when he delivers it, he proposes to her. She turns him down and they remain friends.

Lady asks Fallin, if she can play for the syndicate, but insists that she will only play in honest games. Her first job is playing with a Park Avenue businessmen. Later Peter, who had known her father, befriends her. One night, while working, she meets Garry Madison, and finds herself attracted to him. But, soon becomes angry when a club is raided after Garry allowed men he did not know into the club.

After she is bailed out, Garry, still wanting to marry her convinces Lady that he had nothing to do with the raid, and she agrees to meet his father. She is happy when learns that her old friend Peter, is Garry's father. He offers her money if she will agree not to marry his son. Heartbroken, Lady leaves without the money and the two soon marry..

When Sheila Aiken, a friend of Garry, returns from Europe, she plans to prove that Lady is not a good wife for Garry. Lady challenges Sheila to a game and ends by winning her jewelry. Both Sheila and Garry are shocked when Lady keeps the jewelry.

Later Charlie is arrested, and Lady asks Garry for money to post his bail, she pawns Sheila's jewelry. Charlie tells Lady that he has information on the syndicate and plans to blackmail Fallin. Just as Lady is telling Charlie that she cannot see him anymore, Garry walks in and throws him out of the house. After he learns that she pawned Sheila's jewels, Garry follows Charlie to retrieve the pawn ticket.

The next morning, Lady learns that Charlie is dead and that Garry has been accused of the murder. Will she be able to convince the police that the syndicate murdered Charlie.

Entertaining, good acting as always, Barbara Stanwyck is believability wonderful in any role she played. She looked natural playing cards. Her leading men are two of the best: Joel McCrea and Pat O'Brien, both give wonderful performances. You wont want to miss Sir C. Aubrey Smith performance as a kindly gentleman who befriends Stanwyck.

Claire Dodd (December 29, 1908 – November 23, 1973). At the age of 15 she joined the Ziegfeld Follies where she was eventually discovered by Darryl F. Zanuck.

Her films included; Ex-Lady (1933), The Personality Kid (1934), The Glass Key (1935), Three Loves Has Nancy (1938), and The Black Cat (1941). She twice played secretary Della Street to Warren William's Perry Mason, in The Case of the Curious Bride (1935) and The Case of the Velvet Claws (1936). She worked in almost sixty films in twelve years from 1930 to 1942.

Dead End(1937).

Dead End(1937). Crime drama film. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Joel McCrea, and Sylvia Sidney. It is the first of 7 films with the, Dead End Kids.

The story begins on the streets of New York, where there are many luxury apartments being built close to the east river, because of the beautiful views. The poor people, also live close by in their crowded run down tenements.

At the end of the street, is a dock, where you will find a gang of street kids who call themselves, The Dead End Kids. There is a the new kid on the block looking for friends. At first, the gang bullies the new kid and takes his money, but they soon become fast friends. One of the boys sister, Drina, dreams of marrying a rich man who will save her and her brother from their hard life.

Drina, does not want her younger brother to turn out like Mobster Baby Face Martin, who just returned to his old neighborhood. Drina's friend Dave Connell, is an unemployed architect, who now works odd jobs. He is having an affair with a rich man's mistress, Kay Burton.

Looking for trouble, the gang of kids beat up a rich kid, who lives in the near by apartments. When the boy's father tries to help his son, Tommy stabs him in the hand and then goes into hiding.

Mobster Baby Face Martin, is turned away by his mother and upset to find out that his ex-girlfriend, Francie, is now a prostitute. Needing money, he decides to kidnap the rich child for ransom. Dave, finds Martin and kills him in a fight. When the police arrive, Spit.. tells the police that it was Tommy, who stabbed the man. Will Dave, convince him to turn himself in?

In this film you have, Rich, poor, kindhearted and hardhearted all trying to live together, in the same neighborhood. This film also, shows the differences as well as similarities between the rich and the poor.

Fun Fact:

Even though, she is in only one scene that lasts a little under five minutes, Claire Trevor won an Oscar nomination for her performance as Francie, the prostitute.

Sylvia Sidney (August 8, 1910 – July 1, 1999), she became an actress at the age of fifteen. As a student of the Theater Guild's School for Acting, Sidney performed in several of their productions during the 1920s. In 1926, she was seen by a Hollywood talent scout and made her first film performance later that year.

Sidney, often played the girlfriend or the sister of a gangster in the films: An American Tragedy, City Streets and Street Scene (all 1931), Alfred Hitchcock's, Sabotage and Fritz Lang's, Fury (both 1936), You Only Live Once, Dead End (both 1937) and The Trail of the Lonesome Pine .

She also performed in the films: Blood on the Sun (1945) and Les Misérables(1952).

In 1973, Sidney received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in, Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams.

As an elderly woman, Sidney continued to play supporting screen roles such as, Miss Coral in the film, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. She played Aunt Marion in, Damien: Omen II and had a role in the films: Beetlejuice, for which she won a Saturn Award and the film, Used People. Her final role was in, Mars Attacks!

My favorite Sylvia Sidney films:

City Streets (1931)
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936)
Fury (1936)
Dead End (1937)
Beetlejuice (1988)

The Richest Girl in the World (1934).

The Richest Girl in the World (1934). Romantic/comedy. Directed by William A. Seiter. Cast: Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea. Norman Krasna was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story. It was remade in the film, Bride by Mistake(1944) with Laraine Day and Alan Marshal.

The story begins when, Dorothy Hunter, the "richest girl in the world" who nobody has never seen, uses her secretary, Sylvia Lockwood who is married to Phillip, to impersonate her. Dorothy's fiancee Donald, breaks off their engagement, just as she is about to announce it. Before he leaves, Donald tells her that no man will ever love her for herself. Dorothy, decides to have Sylvia pose as her at her engagement party. There, while pretending to be Sylvia, Dorothy meets Tony Travers. Tony, believing Dorothy to be the secretary, invites her on a canoe ride, but ends up taking Sylvia instead. Dorothy and Phillip, are hot on their heals, in a speedboat which causes their canoe to capsize.

Tony, insists that his interest in Sylvia is purely platonic, Dorothy says if he had the opportunity to marry the heiress, he would. Tony accepts the challenge.

After two weeks, Dorothy's guardian John Connors, believes that her "love tests" are unfair and suggest to Tony to propose to Sylvia, during a mountain retreat.

Tony, not knowing that Dorothy has arranged for them to spend the first evening alone in front of a cosy fireplace.. Where, Tony confesses his love to her. Dorothy, refuses to accept Tony's love, until she is convinced that she is his first choice.

Can he pass the test? Or Will he prefer Wray, because she's the rich one, or will he go for Hopkins, pretending to be the secretary.

This is a charming, some times racy little film. Miriam Hopkins, is very good as Miss Dorothy Hunter. Miriam Hopkins, works very well for the first of five times with Joel McCrea, who is very believable as a average guy.

Fay Wray(September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004), acting career spanned 57 years. Many know her as the first "scream queen". In the 1920s, Wray landed her first major role in the silent film, The Coast Patrol (1925), as well as uncredited bit parts at the Hal Roach Studios.

In 1926, She was under contract to Universal Studios, mostly co-starring in low budget westerns opposite, Buck Jones.

Wray signed up with Paramount to make the transition from silent films to "talkie" films.

Fay Wray and Gary Cooper.

After leaving Paramount, Wray signed to various film companies. It was during this time that Wray was cast in horror films, Doctor X and the film, The Most Dangerous Game (1932), co-starring Joel McCrea.

In the film, King Kong, according to Wray, Jean Harlow had been RKO's original choice, but because MGM put Harlow under exclusive contract during the pre-production phase of the film, she became unavailable and Wray was approached by director Merian C. Cooper, to play the role of Ann Darrow.

She retired from acting in 1942, after her second marriage. because of financial problems she had to continue acting in minor film roles and on television, before ending her acting career in the made-for TV movie, Gideon's Trumpet (1980).

She was a special guest at the 70th Academy Awards, where the shows host, Billy Crystal, introduced her as the "Beauty who charmed the Beast".

Come and Get It (1936).

Come and Get It (1936), Drama film directed by Howard Hawks and William Wyler. Based on the 1935 novel of the same title by Edna Ferber. Cast: Edward Arnold, Mary Nash, Charles Halton, Frances Farmer and Joel McCrea.

The story is about how a lumber jack manager, by the name Barney Glasgow, climbs to the top of the logging industry. Barney and his best friend Swan, go to a saloon to celebrate where they meet singer, Lotta Morgan. Lotta and Barney fall in love but, Barney decides to and marry Emma Louise, the daughter of his boss Jed Hewett, to further his career. Lotta then marries Swan, whom she says is the kindest man in the world.

Many years later, his son Richard objects to his father destroying forests without planting new trees. Barney visits his old friend Swan Bostrom, who married Lotta after Barney left. Swan is now a widower raising his daughter on his own, also named Lotta, who looks exactly like her mother. Barney finds himself falling in love with the young woman and offers to pay for her education. Things become complicated when the son Richard meets Lotta and they fall in love...

I thought Frances Farmer's, performance was amazing how she played the saloon singer and the young daughters part.

Almost over shadowed by the huge talents, Joel McCrea's, wonderful performance is perfect and you can see how he would soon become a major Hollywood star.



Fun Fact:

Walter Brennan won the very first Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as Swan Bostrom. In the span of four years (1936-40), Brennan won a then-unprecedented three acting Oscars, also for "Kentucky" (1938) and "The Westerner" (1940). Unmatched, until Katharine Hepburn won her third Best Actress award for 1968's "The Lion in Winter". Brennan's Oscar success was seen as largely due in part to the fact that the Screen Extras Guild consistently voted for him, as Brennan had been an extra for many years until his breakout success as one of Hollywood's most respected character actors.

Frances Farmer (September 19, 1913 – August 1, 1970). Farmer studied drama at the University of Washington. During the 1930s. Farmer stopped in New York City, looking for a theater career. Instead, she was referred to Paramount Pictures talent scout, Oscar Serlin, who arranged for a screen test. Paramount offered her a 7-year contract. Farmer signed it on her 22nd birthday and moved to Hollywood. She had top billing in two 1936 B-movies. She married actor Leif Erickson, while filming the movie, Too Many Parents. Later that year, Farmer was cast opposite Bing Crosby in, Rhythm on the Range. She was loaned to Samuel Goldwyn to perform in the film, Come and Get It(1936).

Wanting to be considered a more serious actress, she left Hollywood in 1937 to do summer stock in Westchester, New York. There she caught the attention of director Harold Clurman . He invited her to perform in the Group Theatre production of Odets' play, Golden Boy. Where her performance at first received mixed reviews.

Later, she returned to Hollywood and arranged with Paramount to make motion pictures, who in turned loaned her out to other studios for a starring role opposite Tyrone Power in the film, Son of Fury.

The More the Merrier (1943).

The More the Merrier (1943).  Comedy. Cast: Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, Charles Coburn, Stanley Clements and Richard Gaines. Directed by George Stevens and written by Richard Flournoy, Lewis R. Foster, Garson Kanin (uncredited), Frank Ross (who was Jean Arthur's husband at the time), and Robert Russell.

Coburn won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, while Arthur was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Other nominations included Best Director, Best Picture, Best Writing, Original Story and Best Writing, Screenplay.

This film was remade in 1966 as Walk, Don't Run, with Cary Grant, Samantha Eggar and Jim Hutton.

The story begins During World War II, when millionaire Benjamin Dingle arrives in Washington, D.C., as an adviser on the housing shortage and finds he he too has nowhere to stay. He looks in the classifieds and finds some one looking for a room mate, who turns out to be a young, Connie Milligan. Dingle has to do some "big talking", to convince her to let him stay, as she prefers to rent to a another girl.

A very cute scene when the two try to work around each other while getting ready for work. When Dingle is about to leave the apartment, he runs into Sergeant Joe Carter, who looking for a place to stay for a couple of days.. Dingle, thinks that Joe might be a good match for Connie and decides to rent him half of his half.



When Connie finds out about Joe, renting the other half of  Dingles room, she becomes angry and orders them both to leave. But is forced to let them both stay because she has already spent their rent money. Joe and Connie are attracted to each other, even though she is engaged to Charles J. Pendergast.  Dingle happens to meet Pendergast at a business luncheon and does not care for him. He decides that Joe would be a better match for Connie.

One day, Dingle gets a hold of Connie's private diary, including her thoughts about Joe. When she finds out, again.. she demands they both leave. Dingle accepts full blame for reading the diary and Connie allows Joe to stay the few more days before he has to leave.

Because of a nosy teenage neighbor, Joe and Connie are taken in for questioning as a suspected spies for the Japanese. When Dingle and Pendergast show up, it comes out that Joe and Connie are living in the same apartment. When they are released, the story reaches a reporter and Dingle advises them to get married to avoid a scandal and then have it annulled later. Will they follow his advice?

I  thought the film, The More the Merrier , was a very endearing movie. How can you go wrong with these three very charming leads.  They have great chemistry as a comic trio. Grady Sutton has a very funny cameo near the end of the film as a waiter.  One of my favorite romantic scenes is when McCrea,  gives a carrying case to Jean Arthur.  Here is another wonderful scene..

Charles Douville Coburn (June 19, 1877 – August 30, 1961), started out doing odd jobs at the local Savannah Theater. By the age of 17 or 18, he was the theater manager. He later became an actor, making his debut on Broadway in 1901. Coburn formed an acting company with Ivah Wills in 1905. They married in 1906.

After his wife's death in 1937, Coburn moved to Los Angeles, California and began film work. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as a retired millionaire in the film, The More the Merrier (1943). He was also nominated for the film, The Devil and Miss Jones(1941) and The Green Years(1946). Other film credits include: Of Human Hearts (1938), The Lady Eve (1941), Kings Row (1942), The Constant Nymph (1943), Heaven Can Wait (1943), Wilson (1944), Impact (1949), The Paradine Case (1947), Everybody Does It (1950), Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and John Paul Jones (1959). He usually played comedic parts, but Kings Row and Wilson were dramatic parts, showing his versatility.

From The Barabra Stanwyck DVD Collection: Internes Can't Take Money (1937).

Internes Can't Take Money (1937). Cast:Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea. McCrea portrayed Dr. Kildare in the character's first screen performance. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer continued the Dr. Kildare series with Lew Ayres as Kildare and Laraine Day as a nurse in love with Kildare, similar to Stanwyck's role in this film.

Exhausted from searching for her lost child and beaten down by two years in jail, widow Janet Haley faints at Mountview General Hospital, where Intern Dr. Jimmie Kildare treats her burns. Later at the bar where Jimmie is having a beer, Janet asks gangster Dan Innes to help her find her kidnapped daughter. Innes demands $1,000 for the information, but Janet is unable to pay. When gangster boss Hanlon collapses at the bar from a knife wound, Jimmie saves Hanlon's life with Janet's help.

The next morning, when Janet goes to find out more information about her daughter from Innes, he propositions her, but she refuses him. To make things worse, she is fired from her job because of tardiness. Later, Jimmie goes to check up on Janet because she did not show up for her follow-up appointment. He first stops at the bar, where the bartender gives him $1,000 from Hanlon for saving his life. Janet tries to steal the money, but Jimmie catches her and, disappointed, leaves. With nowhere else to go Janet decides to take up with Innes.

Jimmie returns the money to Hanlon, explaining that "interns cant take money" for their services. Wanting to repay Jimmie, will Hanlon and his men be able to find Innes and Janet, before they leave town and will Janet be reunited with her long-lost daughter?

Barbara Stanwyck, was very believable playing the desperate mother. Joel McCrea's performance as a doctor, was also very believable. They had wonderful on screen chemistry. I find it amazing that Barabra Stanwyck seems to have on screen chemistry with all her leading men.

Lloyd Nolan (August 11, 1902 – September 27, 1985), was relegated to B movies for the most part. He costarred with actresses: Mae West, Dorothy McGuire, and the former Metropolitan Opera soprano, Gladys Swarthout. Under contract to Paramount and 20th Century Fox studios, he performed in roles in the late 30s and early-to-mid 40s and performed as the lead character of the "Michael Shayne" detective series. Oddly, the first screen version of Raymond Chandler's novel The High Window was transformed in 1942 from a Philip Marlowe adventure into part of the Michael Shayne series starring Nolan as Shayne.

His most famous films include: Atlantic Adventure, Ebb Tide, Wells Fargo, Every Day's A Holiday, Bataan, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Peyton Place, The House on 92nd Street and The Street with No Name.

Foreign Correspondent (1940).

Foreign Correspondent(1940). Spy/thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, Albert Bassermann and Robert Benchley and Edmund Gwenn.

The film was Hitchcock's second Hollywood film, the first was Rebecca and had many writers: Robert Benchley, Charles Bennett, Harold Clurman, Joan Harrison, Ben Hecht, James Hilton, John Howard Lawson, John Lee Mahin, Richard Maibaum, and Budd Schulberg, with Bennett, Benchley, Harrison, and Hilton the only writers credited in the finished film. It was based on Vincent Sheean's political memoir Personal History (1935), the rights to which were purchased by producer Walter Wanger.

The film was one of two Hitchcock films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1941, the other being Rebecca, which went on to win the award. Foreign Correspondent was nominated for six Academy Awards, including one for Albert Bassermann for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, but did not win any.

Foreign Correspondent tells the story of Johnny Jones, an American newspaper writer who travels to England to report on the war as, Huntley Haverstock for the New York Globe. The young reporter's, first assignment is at an event held by Fisher, in honour of a diplomat named Van Meer. On the way to the party, Haverstock sees Van Meer and runs to interview him. Van Meer invites him to ride along in his car. At the party, Haverstock meets Fisher's daughter, Carol . Later, after Van Meer disappears, Fisher informs the guests that the guest of honor, Van Meer, will not be attending the party, instead he will be at a political conference in Amsterdam.

At the conference, Van Meer is shot by a man posing as a photographer. Haverstock, wanting to follow the assassin jumps into Carol and reporter Scott's car. They follow the assassin to a windmill in the countryside. Carol and Scott decide to go for help, Haverstock searches the windmill and is surprised who he finds. Will he be able to escape the kidnappers?


In my opinion the cast is very good, the settings are wonderfully put together. It has everything I look for in a Hitchcock film: action, suspense and humor.


Fun Facts:

Director Alfred Hitchcock wanted Gary Cooper for the lead instead of Joel McCrea, but Cooper wasn't interested in doing a thriller. Which he later regretted.

Alfred Hitchcock had wanted either Barbara Stanwyck or Joan Fontaine for the female lead.

Alfred Hitchcock's eccentric marriage proposal to Alma Reville was written into the script.

Herbert Marshall's, first film was, Mumsie (1927). The actor spent many years playing romantic leads opposite stars: Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich and Bette Davis, and starring in such classic films: Trouble in Paradise (1932), The Little Foxes (1941), and The Razor's Edge (1946). He was featured in both the 1929 and the more famous 1940 version of The Letter, first as the murdered lover, then the wronged husband.

Happy Birthday: Vivien Leigh, Elke Summer and Joel Mc Crea!

Vivien Leigh, Lady Olivier (5 November 1913 – 7 July 1967), won two Best Actress Academy Awards for playing "southern belles": Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). Vivien Leigh was considered one of the most beautiful actresses of her era. When asked if she believed her beauty had been a handicap, she said, "People think that if you look fairly reasonable, you can't possibly act, and as I only care about acting, I think beauty can be a great handicap, if you really want to look like the part you're playing, which isn't necessarily like you."

Elke Sommer (born 5 November 1940), was spotted by Italian film director Vittorio De Sica and started performing in films in the late 1950s. She quickly became a sex symbol and moved to Hollywood, where she became one of the most popular pin-up girls . She also became one of the top movie actresses of the 1960s and made 99 movie and television appearances between 1959 and 2005. She is best known for her performances:A Shot in the Dark (1964), The Art of Love (1965), The Oscar (1966), Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! (1966), Deadlier Than the Male (1966), and The Wrecking Crew (1969) with Dean Martin. Sommer was the leading lady in each of these films. In 1964, she won the Golden Globe Awards as Most Promising Newcomer Actress for, The Prize (1963) spy film. Starring Paul Newman, Elke Sommer and Edward G. Robinson. It was directed by Mark Robson, produced by Pandro S. Berman and adapted for the screen by Ernest Lehman from the novel of the same name by Irving Wallace.


She also starred in two Italian horror movies, Baron Blood and Lisa and the Devil.

Joel McCrea, (November 5, 1905 – October 20, 1990), career spanned 50 years and performances in over 90 films. McCrea married actress Frances Dee in 1933, after they met while filming The Silver Cord.A story about a very controlling mother, who is not very happy when her son brings home his new wife. She does everything she can to sabotaging their marriage as well as the engagement of her younger son. The couple had three children. Joel and Frances remained married until his death — spending 57 years together.

Review: These Three (1936)

I watched this excellent film a few days ago and I thought it was one of the best films I've ever seen. Based on the Lillian Hellman play, The Children's Hour, the main storyline has been changed from lesbianism to a heterosexual triangle involving two women and a man. But the film still remains a solid dramatic effort. The film casts Miriam Hopkins as Martha and Merle Oberon as Karen, college roommates, who graduate and face the future with no place and no money.

Karen, however, has inherited a farmhouse from her grandmother, and gets the idea that she and Martha can turn it into a school for girls. They travel to the farmhouse, which turns out to be quite rundown, and all hope seems lost, until they meet Dr. Joe Cardin (played by Joe Cardin), who tells them not to give up, to take out a loan, fix up the farmhouse, and it will work out. And before you know it, the school is open and full of young girls. And Karen starts falling in love with Joe. Even though Martha longs for the good doc herself. All seems to go according to plan, until one student devises a scheme for revenge for being punished by the teachers. The student is Mary Tildford (played by Bonita Granville) as the child from hell. Her lie about an affair between Karen and Joe spreads quickly and all over town. And before you know it the parents quickly remove their kids from the school without an explanation to the titular three. Well Joe decides he wants answers and goes to Mary's grandmother's house to get some. Mary's grandmother is played by the wonderful Alma Kruger. Once there the story comes out to the three young people, they can't believe that this has happened. There is a trial and the whole town is against our three young individuals. After the trial Karen decides it's best if Joe leaves as she is preparing to close down the school. Flash forward a few months later and the truth finally comes out that Mary made the whole thing up and even bullied her classmate Rosalie (a superb Marcie Mae Jones) to corroborate her story. But the damage has been done, that has ruined the lives of three people. Martha finds out and is relieved but still saddened. Karen goes looking for Joe, who is living abroad and they end up together finally.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film from beginning to end. I thought all the actors involved gave very strong performances beginning with Hopkins who had the most delicate of the lead roles and she delivered it superbly. Hopkins shows that she can act when the need arises. Oberon was good also, but got kind of overshadowed by Hopkins in some scenes. It's not her fault, it's just that Martha is the juicier of the two roles. McCrea is his typical strong leading man self. Granville is truly monstrous as the child brat who is just teeming with hatred and deceit. But she finally gets what coming to her when her playhouse comes falling apart and gets one of the all time best film slaps in the face ever. And guess who delivers it.. none other than Margaret Hamilton, the wicked witch of the west, from The Wizard Of Oz. Hamilton plays the maid for Mrs. Tilford. And I cheered when she gave that slap to Granville. I was like finally someone steps up to give that girl what she truly deserved. These Three was expertly directed by the great William Wyler, who would also direct the remake, The Children's Hour (1962) with Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine. I haven't seen that version but I doubt it can be any better than this classic. This is what you get when you get all the stars aligned with great performances, solid direction, and that old Hollywood magic. These Three is a must see.
A-

The Palm Beach Story (1942). And they lived happily ever after...or did they?

The Palm Beach Story (1942). Romantic/screwball comedy. Written and directed by Preston Sturges. Cast: Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor and Rudy Vallée. Victor Young contributed the musical score, which included a variation of William Tell Overture for the opening scenes.

Tom and Gerry Jeffer's apartment manager shows their apartment to the future tenant an elderly man, known as the "Wienie King," who is so taken by Gerry that he gives her $700 to help pay the bills. Gerry is tired of being broke and believes that she has held her husband back that she leaves him. At Pennsylvania Station, Gerry uses her feminine charms to get a men's hunting club, to buy her a ticket on the train headed for Palm Beach, Florida.

The club members become too rowdy and after the men shoot out the windows she runs into a sleeper car. In the morning, Gerry discovers that the conductors have disconnected the Club's car because of their unruliness and have left her without her suitcase. John, an eccentric and one of wealthiest men in the world, takes an interest in Gerry and joins her in Jacksonville, Florida. There the normally frugal multimillionaire buys Gerry an entire wardrobe of beautiful clothes and a ruby bracelet. (my favorite part of the movie). Gerry is thrilled to meet one of the richest men in the world, and joins him on his yacht to Palm Beach. When she sees her husband Tom waiting at the dock for her, Gerry introduces him as her brother, "Captain McGloo." John's sister, Princess Maud Centimillia, immediately makes advances toward Tom. Gerry, talks John into becoming a financial backer for Tom's airport project. Will Gerry and Tom reunite and what will happen to Toms airport project?

This movie is full of hilarious one-liners. From the moment Colbert gets aboard a train the fun starts heades toward a conclusion that is not even hinted to until the last scene of film. My favorite character is Rudy Vallee as a eccentric millionaire (and he sings). Mary Astor, as his sister, is hilariously over the top.

Soundtracks:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Isn't It Romantic"
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Music by Richard Rodgers
Sung by Rudy Vallee during ballroom sequence

"Goodnight Sweetheart"
Written by Ray Noble, Jimmy Campbell and Rudy Vallee
Sung under heroine's bedroom window by Rudy Vallee

"Frankie and Johnny"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played on the piano in the rail car as Geraldine arrives

"The Old Folks at Home"
(uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
Sung by the Ale and Quail Club

"Sweet Adeline"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Richard H. Gerard, music by Harry Armstrong
Sung as a serenade by the Ale and Quail Club to Geraldine

"Merrily We Roll Along"
(uncredited)
A song loosely based on 'Good Night Ladies' by Edwin P. Christy
Sung the Ale and Quail Club

"A Hunting We Will Go"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the Ale and Quail Club as they search for Geraldine in the train

A Chance at Heaven (1933)

A Chance at Heaven(1933). Drama. Director: William Selter. Cast: Ginger Rogers, Joel McCrea and Andy Devine.

Blacky, the owner of a gas station proposes to his long time girlfriend, Marje Harris. Soon after, the wealthy, Glory Franklyn moves to Silver Beach and the moment she sees Blacky, it is love at first sight.

Blacky leaves Marje to marry Glory, even though her mother strongly disapproves of Blacky. Glory, does not know how to cook and because Marge, still loves Blacky, Marje teaches Glory how to make, chicken pie. When Glory, discovers that she is pregnant, she panics and runs to New York, to be with her mother leaving her husband behind. What will happen to this mismatched couples marriage?

I thought this was a Fun film, even with a serious plot of love between a mismatched couple. Ginger Rogers, character was a little to sweet for her own good.

Marian Nixon (October 20, 1904 – February 13, 1983). Nixon began her career as a teen working as a chorus dancer on the vaudeville circuit. She began appearing in bit part in films in 1922 and landed her first role in the 1923 film Cupid's Fireman. Nixon continued to work steadily throughout the mid to late 1920s appearing in, Riders of the Purple Sage (1925), Hands Up! (1926), and The Chinese Parrot (1927). In 1929, she made her talkie debut as the lead in Geraldine. Later that same year, Nixon appeared opposite Al Jolson in, Say It with Songs followed by General Crack in 1930.

In 1932, she starred as Rebecca in the film adaption of, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Following the release of Rebecca, Nixon co-starred in, Winner Take All. The next year she had a supporting role in John Ford's, Pilgrimage. In 1934, Nixon attempted to change her wholesome image with a role in the comedy, We’re Rich Again. The film wasn't a success and after appearing in eight more films, Nixon retired from acting in 1936.