Starring – James Cagney (Dan Quigley), Mae Clarke (Myra Gale), Margaret Lindsey (Lois Underwood), Leslie Fenton (Duke).
Description – Theater usher Dan Quigley has just been fired from his job. With little to offer in the way of job skills he decides to get involved with a life of crime. After getting involved with a group of criminals, Dan realizes that he has a certain knack for this type of business.
It’s only a matter of time before the police begin to close in on him and he takes off for Los Angeles to hide. While in LA, he stumbles into a movie opportunity, and as luck would have it, soon becomes a star.
Back in the old neighborhood, his former criminal pals get word of his success as a movie star and a comedic blackmail plan is hatched.
NOTABLE: James Cagney and Mae Clarke are reunited in this film having starred together in the very successful 1931 gangster classic Public Enemy.
Starring – Groucho Marx (Rufus T. Firefly), Harpo Marx (Pinky), Chico Marx (Chicolini), Zeppo Marx Lt. Bob Roland), Margaret Dumont (Mrs. Gloria Teasdale).
Description – The bankrupt country of Freedonia needs the financial assistance of the wealthy Mrs. Gloria Teasdale. However, she refuses to help unless Rufus T. Firefly is appointed the country’s leader.
Neighboring country Sylvania is looking to take over Freedonia with their Ambassador both trying to woo Mrs.Teasdale and having two of his spy’s, Pinky and Chicolini, dig up some dirt on Firefly. When the spies have no luck looking into Firefly, Chicolini decides to infiltrate Freedonia’s government. This turns out to be quite easy and Chicolini is hired as Secretary of War by Firefly after Firefly sees an incident with a peanut vendor.
In the meantime, Firefly’s personal assistant Lt. Bob Roland is suspicious of the Ambassador and suggest that Firefly insult the man badly enough to cause the Ambassador to strike him giving Firefly the right to order him out of the country.
Well, one very funny insult leads to another between Firefly and the Ambassador and the plan backfires when Firefly strikes the Ambassador. Add this to the fact that both Firefly and the Ambassador are competing for the hand of the wealthy Mrs Teasdale and inevitably war is declared between Freedonia and Sylvania.
Marx Brothers wartime mayhem erupts.
NOTABLE: In 1990 Duck Soup was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
This was the last Marx Brothers film to include Zeppo and the final of five films made with Paramount Pictures.
The odd title of the film was explained by Groucho Marx in this way…”Take two turkeys, one goose, four cabbages, but no duck, and mix them together. After one taste you’ll duck soup the rest of your life.”
In 2006 Premiere voted this as one of “The 50 Greatest Comedies of All Time.”
In 2007 the American Film Institute voted this film as #60 on their Greatest Movies of All Time list.
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini banned this picture from Italy feeling that it was a personal attack against him. Upon hearing this news the Mars Brothers reportedly were ecstatic.
When asked about any political significance in the film, Groucho replied, “What significance? We were just four Jews trying to get a laugh.”
Personal Note: One of my favorite Marx Brothers films (though I am not crazy about some of the music) with some very funny scenes. Especially the street vendor scene, the mirror scene, and the final battle scene where Groucho wears a different uniform (5 in all) in almost every sequence. Everything from the American Civil War (both sides), to Davy Crockett, to a Boy Scout, and more.
There’s even a little shot taken at the Hays Code with a scene in a woman’s bedroom showing a pair of man’s shoes, a pair of woman’s shoes, and a pair of horseshoes on the floor. When the camera raises to show the bed, it is Pinky who is in bed with the horse while the woman is in the next bed.
Starring – Mae West (Tira), Cary Grant (Jack Clayton), Gregory Ratoff (Benny Pinkowitz), Edward Arnold (Big Bill Barton), Kent Taylor (Kirk Lawrence).
Description – From circus performer to socialite, is there really any difference? Side show entertainer Tira makes a modest living singing and dancing for crowds of adoring men. How adoring? For a girl with modest means she’s “acquired” quite a collection of expensive jewelry.
When sleazy ex-boyfriend Slick starts to give Tira some legal trouble she if forced to earn some extra money in order to afford a lawyer. Well, it seems men are not the only thing tamed by Tira as she soon becomes a sensation as a lion tamer.
Her new fame takes her to New York City where she meets socialite cousins Jack Clayton and Kirk Lawrence. Kirk is immediately infatuated with Tira despite being engaged to another woman. In an effort to save Kirk’s relationship, Jack decides to visit Tira in the hope of being able to get her to leave Kirk and his fiance alone.
Mae West and Cary Grant together alone in a room, what could possibly happen? When all is said and done, it will take a court and a jury to settle this one.
NOTABLE: Mae West was not the nation’s biggest box office attraction and her early 1930′s films saved Paramount from bankruptcy.
In this film, Mae West had creative control over the script, her director and costars, and even the camera angles.
In 1935 and 1949 the Motion Picture Production Code was more vigorously enforced not allowing for this film to be re-released.
Personal Note: Another pre-code film by Mae West released right after She Done Him Wrong in order to take advantage of the her surging popularity. One of her best!
Enjoy the courtroom scenes with Mae West acting as her own attorney. Judge and jury alike wanted to be cross-examined.
The Tag Line says it best: “A story about a gal who lost her reputation – and never missed it.”
Starring – Mae West (Lady Lou), Cary Grant (Captain Cummings), Owen Moore (Chick Clark), Gilbert Roland (Serge Stanieff), Noah Beery (Gus Jordan).
Description – This pre-code comedy/romance tells the story of bawdy singer Lady Lou and the few too many men in her life.
Saloon owner Gus Jordan takes pretty good care of Lou and has sent quite a few diamonds her way. There’s more going on here that just the saloon business and Captain Cummings, a Federal agent posing as the director of the mission next store, is on the case.
Meanwhile, Lou’s former boyfriend Chick Clark is in prison and becoming concerned that Lou may not be faithful to him. So concerned that he threatens to kill her if she two-times him before he gets out.
Counterfeit money, a prison break, a stabbing, a shooting, and an invitation to “come up some time and see me” follow. One of Mae West’s best, filled with some of her best quips and double entendres.
NOTABLE:In 1996 this film was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
This motion picture received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
In October of 1933 the National Legion of Decency was formed. Legion officials cited Mae West and this film as major reasons for the need of this organization.
Personal Note: If you are a fan of Mae West, as I am, you will love some of her lines in this film. Here are some examples; “It was a toss up between whether I go in for diamonds or sing in the choir. The choir lost.”
“When women go wrong, men go right after them.”
Responding to meeting Serge Stanieff who says, “I am delighted. I’ve heard so much about you.” Her reply, “Yeah, but you can’t prove it.”
Starring – Miriam Hopkins (Lily), Kay Francis (Madame Mariette Colet), Herbert Marshall (Gaston Monescu), Charles Ruggles (The Major), Edward Everett Horton (Francois Filiba).
Description – A romantic comedy that tells the story of Gaston Monescu a master thief who meets and falls for Lily a beautiful pickpocket. The two team up and take jobs with famous perfume manufacturer Madame Colet, herself a beautiful woman.
Intent on making Madame Colet their next victim, her beauty only creates a love triangle of trouble. Affairs of the heart, hundreds of thousands of Franc’s, and diamonds just don’t mix.
NOTABLE: In 1991 this film was selected for inclusion in the United States National Film Registry.
This motion picture was produced before the activation of the Hays Code and contained a great deal of adult themes and sexual innuendo. After the inception of the code the film was denied a reissue and was not viewed again until 1968.
Cary Grant was considered for the lead male role, but was considered too young.
This movie is probably the most widely known of Director Lubitsch and showcased what came to be known as ‘The Lubitsch Touch;’ that included subtlety, elegance, expressions of good taste, and the desire to let the audience decide what should be shown or not shown.
