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The Henry Kolker Film Festival: "I Like Your Nerve" and "The Crash"

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Mar 3, 2013

"I wonder what she meant by that?" Of all the actors and actresses who appeared in 1930s films, Henry Kolker (1870-1947) was certainly one of them. He had a long stage career and directed several silent films, including a 1921 production of "Disraeli" with George Arliss, who repeated the role in a read more

The Henry Kolker Film Festival: "I Like Your Nerve" and "The Crash"

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Mar 3, 2013

"I wonder what she meant by that?" Of all the actors and actresses who appeared in 1930s films, Henry Kolker (1870-1947) was certainly one of them. He had a long stage career and directed several silent films, including a 1921 production of "Disraeli" with George Arliss, who repeated the role in a read more

"The Public Defender," or All's Fairbanks in Love and War

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 27, 2013

Travel with me, if you will, through my mind's eye to a backyard in small town America, circa 1931, filled with squealing kids. Dad (yelling out the screen door): Montague! Time for dinner! We're having Wheatena and tapioca for dessert! Montague: Cripes! Not now, dad! We're playing "The Public De read more

"The Public Defender," or All's Fairbanks in Love and War

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 27, 2013

Travel with me, if you will, through my mind's eye to a backyard in small town America, circa 1931, filled with squealing kids. Dad (yelling out the screen door): Montague! Time for dinner! We're having Wheatena and tapioca for dessert! Montague: Cripes! Not now, dad! We're playing "The Public De read more

Awkward Early Talkie Theatre: "The Squall"

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 20, 2013

There's an old story in the theatre about a production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" where the actress in the title role gives such a bad performance that at the end of the play, when the Nazis enter, audience members yell out, "She's in the attic!" At the end of the 1929 film "The Squall," you may read more

Awkward Early Talkie Theatre: "The Squall"

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 20, 2013

There's an old story in the theatre about a production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" where the actress in the title role gives such a bad performance that at the end of the play, when the Nazis enter, audience members yell out, "She's in the attic!" At the end of the 1929 film "The Squall," you may read more

My CMBA Blogathon Entry: "The Best Years of Our Lives"

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 17, 2013

Click here to read my entry in the Classic Movie Blog Association Blogathon on movies of the 1940s. And to read a menu of the entries in this blogathon, click on Mrs. Miniver above. read more

My CMBA Blogathon Entry: "The Best Years of Our Lives"

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 17, 2013

Click here to read my entry in the Classic Movie Blog Association Blogathon on movies of the 1940s. And to read a menu of the entries in this blogathon, click on Mrs. Miniver above. read more

"The Story of Temple Drake," or Oh Brothel, Where Are Thou?

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 14, 2013

Around about 1932-33, Miriam Hopkins achieved what we might call a pre-code movie hat trick by appearing in three notorious examples -- "Trouble in Paradise," "Design for Living" and "The Story of Temple Drake." The latter film, especially, is credited with being the straw that broke the pre-code read more

"The Story of Temple Drake," or Oh Brothel, Where Are Thou?

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 14, 2013

Around about 1932-33, Miriam Hopkins achieved what we might call a pre-code movie hat trick by appearing in three notorious examples -- "Trouble in Paradise," "Design for Living" and "The Story of Temple Drake." The latter film, especially, is credited with being the straw that broke the pre-code read more

A Tale of Two Falcons

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 5, 2013

If you're looking for differences between the 1931 and 1941 versions of "The Maltese Falcon," you can start with the hero's hands. The hero, of course, is private dick Sam Spade, as played in the 1931 version by Ricardo Cortez and in the 1941 version by Humphrey Bogart. Cortez has perfectly manicu read more

A Tale of Two Falcons

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 5, 2013

If you're looking for differences between the 1931 and 1941 versions of "The Maltese Falcon," you can start with the hero's hands. The hero, of course, is private dick Sam Spade, as played in the 1931 version by Ricardo Cortez and in the 1941 version by Humphrey Bogart. Cortez has perfectly manicu read more

The Polly Walters Film Festival: "Young Bride" and "American Madness"

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 1, 2013

Polly Walters and Joan Blondell in "Bleaches" Of all the actors and actresses who appeared in 1930s movies, Polly Walters (1913-1994) was certainly one of them. Although she appeared in small roles in only a handful of movies between 1931-32, Walters made an impression with her blonde hair, deadp read more

The Polly Walters Film Festival: "Young Bride" and "American Madness"

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Feb 1, 2013

Polly Walters and Joan Blondell in "Bleaches" Of all the actors and actresses who appeared in 1930s movies, Polly Walters (1913-1994) was certainly one of them. Although she appeared in small roles in only a handful of movies between 1931-32, Walters made an impression with her blonde hair, deadp read more

"Red Dust," or Sweat Surrender

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Jan 28, 2013

The 1932 film "Red Dust" is ironically titled -- dust has very little to do with what happens in the movie. Moisture, however, plays a starring role -- moisture in the form of sweat, rain, steam and humidity, with a very special appearance by Jean Harlow's bathwater. Set on a rubber plantation in I read more

"Red Dust," or Sweat Surrender

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Jan 28, 2013

The 1932 film "Red Dust" is ironically titled -- dust has very little to do with what happens in the movie. Moisture, however, plays a starring role -- moisture in the form of sweat, rain, steam and humidity, with a very special appearance by Jean Harlow's bathwater. Set on a rubber plantation in I read more

"City Streets," or Gang Man Style

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Jan 22, 2013

The 1931 film "City Streets" is blessed visually in several ways. One is by the smooth, innovative direction of Rouben Mamoulian, who in this film introduces one storytelling technique that today's movies are still using. Another is the atmospheric photography by Lee Garmes, who also shot "Scarface, read more

"City Streets," or Gang Man Style

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Jan 22, 2013

The 1931 film "City Streets" is blessed visually in several ways. One is by the smooth, innovative direction of Rouben Mamoulian, who in this film introduces one storytelling technique that today's movies are still using. Another is the atmospheric photography by Lee Garmes, who also shot "Scarface, read more

"City for Conquest" Starring James Cagney and ... Jack Benny?

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Jan 18, 2013

By the time "City for Conquest" was released in 1940, James Cagney had been one of the top stars at Warner Bros. for ten years. The movies that put him in that position -- tough, fast-moving urban dramas with lots of action and snappy dialogue -- were so successful financially, artistically and cult read more

"City for Conquest" Starring James Cagney and ... Jack Benny?

The Man on the Flying Trapeze Posted by David on Jan 18, 2013

By the time "City for Conquest" was released in 1940, James Cagney had been one of the top stars at Warner Bros. for ten years. The movies that put him in that position -- tough, fast-moving urban dramas with lots of action and snappy dialogue -- were so successful financially, artistically and cult read more
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