Broadway Melody of 1936, 1935, Is Playing on TCM on December 28 (USA)

Posted on December 21, 2017 by giraffe44

Broadway Melody of 19136, 1935, is playing on Turner Classic Movies on December 28 (actually December 29) at 4:30 a.m. est.  Not closed captioned.

RT3609

Robert Taylor, Eleanor Powell, Jack Benny, Una Merkel, June Knight, Buddy Ebsen, Vilma Ebsen

Broadway Melody of 1936 is a confection of a movie, meant to sweeten the lives of Depression weary Americans. It stars the unlikely triumvirate of Jack Benny, Eleanor Powell and Robert Taylor. The plot is flimsy, involving the parallel efforts of a columnist (Benny) trying to save his career, a Broadway producer (Taylor) trying to find a star for his new show and a dancer (Powell) trying to get her big break on Broadway.

All this is secondary to the wonderful songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed: “I’ve Got a Feelin’ You’re Foolin'”; “Broadway Rhythm”; “You Are My Lucky Star”; “On a Sunday Afternoon”;” Sing Before Breakfast.” The production numbers for each song range from clever to spectacular. “I’ve Got a Feelin’ You’re Foolin” is sung by Taylor and New York actress June Knight. The special effects are a delight, especially as they are done so long before CGI.

Powell proves, as always, that she is unmatched as a dancer—her energy, grace and strength are a marvel. She dances solo, with Buddy and Vilma Ebsen, with Nick Long, Jr. and with huge choruses.

Nor can the acting be faulted. Jack Benny is excellent as the gossip-obsessed wise-cracking and scheming columnist. Robert Taylor is remarkably poised and mature for his years (24) and even has a nice singing voice. The second banana roles are filled admirably by Sid Silvers and Una Merkel. If Powell and Knight are less impressive when their feet are still, it doesn’t matter—their dancing more than redeems them.

“Broadway Melody of 1936” was a high budget, high gloss, pull out all the stops, MGM production. No expense was spared for the costumes, sets, choreography or photography. The direction by Roy del Ruth is crisp and effective. We could use more films like this in our own difficult times. Review by me for the IMDB.

Robert Taylor and June Knight filmed a dance sequence for Broadway Melody of 1936 that did not appear in the final film.  These pictures are all that is left.

19351935RT1638 (5)1935  19351935RT1638RT1638 (11)

RT1638 (3)RT1638 (8)RT1638 (10)

Posted in Films | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Youngest Profession, 1943, Is Playing on TCM on December 13 (USA)

Posted on December 6, 2017 by giraffe44

The Youngest Profession, 1943, is playing on Turner Classic Movies on December 13 at 12 noon est.  Closed Captioned.  Strictly speaking, this isn’t a Robert Taylor movie but it’s fun and he does appear in it.

RT925

Jean Porter discovers Robert Taylor at her door.

Virginia Weidler and Jean Porter are part of a young girls’ fan club of the stars who collect their autographs. In fact, Virginia is the president of the club, who outlines the rules and lengths one must go through to get the most famous and desired John Hancocks. They must live in a big city like New York, because how else could they come across celebrities like Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, and Robert Taylor! All these make brief appearances, plus another of whom Virginia has a crush on, but, while we get to see him, she never does, in a clever way of closing the film. But, we begin the film in Hollywood, as Lana Turner is dictating a response to a fan’s letter, one that they call a very gracious letter. And, Lana calls the young stargazers “the youngest profession.” The plot revolves around the escapades they go on to get their target and the appeal of the film is just how star-crazy they really are. Jean Porter is a hoot as she goes all agog over Walter Pidgeon and Robert Taylor. I’m surprised to see the low rating of this film, because it was a very funny film and I had a blast. Maybe it seemed rather trivial to everyone else, but sometimes the simpleness of a film is what makes it so enjoyable and laid-back. I do admit though that the humor was not very subtle as most of the characters here get really loud and outrageous, including child actor Scotty Beckett as Virginia’s brother. Another plus is the presence and performance of Edward Arnold as Virginia’s father, who through no fault of his own, is thought to be straying with his secretary. But that is encouraged by character actress Agnes Moorehead. If you want an old-fashioned and very funny film, then hang out with those of The Youngest Profession. Review by allaboutlana for the IMDb.

On the set with Virginia Weidler:

RT6092 RT6098

Posted in Films | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Johnny Eager, 1941, Is Playing on TCM on December 12 (USA)

Posted on December 5, 2017 by giraffe44

Johnny Eager, 1941, is playing on Tuesday December 12 at 12.30 a.m. est. (actually Wednesday Dec. 13).  Closed captioned.  This is one of Mr. Taylor’s best. Don’t miss it.

????

Robert Taylor and Lana Turner in “Johnny Eager.”

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Cast: Robert Taylor, Lana Turner, Edward Arnold, Van Heflin, Robert Sterling, Patricia Dane, Glenda Farrell, Barry Nelson. Slick MGM melodrama with convoluted plot about sociology student (and daughter of D.A. Arnold) Turner falling in love with unscrupulous racketeer Taylor. Heflin won Best Supporting Actor Oscar as Taylor’s alcoholic friend.(TCM)

Having only been familiar with Robert Taylor’s body of forgettable [humpf!] work from the thirties (The Broadway Melodies, Camille, etc), seeing him in the title role of Johnny Eager 1972425_924571320890637_3709082624071824968_nwas stunning. Tom Hanks’s 180 degree turn from silly comedies to Philadelphia might be a modern day equivalent. Taylor steps into a role that would seem tailor made for Bogart, Cagney or Robinson, and does an arguably better job than any of them could have. Yes, Lana Turner is present, and yes, Van Heflin won a supporting Oscar, but Taylor owns this film.

Johnny Eager is one of the best films of the 40s, as well as one of the all time greats.
(Taken from a review by Justin Behnke on the IMDB).

Some behind the scenes photos:

RT1854 RT3977 RT4795 RT4796
Left to right: Robert Taylor and Meryn LeRoy; Mr. Taylor and Lana Turner; filming

RT6281 RT7999RT957
Left to right: Mr. Taylor and Director LeRoy; Mr. LeRoy directs Mr. Taylor and Ms. Turner; Mr. Taylor and Mr. LeRoy go over the script.

 

Posted in Films | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Buried Loot, 1934, Is Playing on TCM on November 27 (USA)

Posted on November 22, 2017 by giraffe44

“Buried Loot,” 1934, is playing on Turner Classic Movies on Monday November  27 (actually November 28) at 5:30 a.m. est.  Not closed captioned.

“Buried Loot” was the first in a series of quarterly MGM short subjects called Crime Does Not Pay. The series ran until 1947.  None of the actors were credited.  After “Buried Loot” the movie-going public began to ask who the handsome young leading actor was.  The studio noticed the volume of letters and realized that they had a hot property on their hands.  Robert Taylor’s career took off from there with such films as Magnificent Obsession (1935) and Camille (1936).

In “Buried Loot,” a young bank clerk embezzles $200,000 then confesses to his boss.  He is sent to prison but not before burying the money to enjoy after his release.  A cellmate talks the clerk into escaping.  I won’t spoil it by telling the rest.

A DVD set of the whole Crime Does Not Pay series is available from Warner Archive and other online retailers.

Here are a few screen shots from “Buried Loot.”

????RT653????????

RT4629RT4628RT4624RT3945

RT2439RT2440RT2443RT4625

Posted in Films | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Small Town Girl, 1936, Is Playing on TCM on November 8 (USA)

Posted on November 2, 2017 by giraffe44

Small Town Girl, 1936, is playing on Turner Classic Movies on Wednesday, November 8 at 10:15 a.m. est. Closed captioned.

abc

Robert Taylor and Janet Gaynor

For most of her career Janet Gaynor did nothing but play small town girls, the best known being Esther Blodgett. But I’ve seen her in films like State Fair and Three Loves Has Nancy and it’s the same part, the girl from the tiny hamlet who conquers the big city and the men in it. With a title like this, there was only one casting possibility.

Janet’s a girl who’s thoroughly stuck in a rut in her New England hamlet and yearns for a little adventure. She finds it in the person of Robert Taylor, a young doctor who comes from a wealthy Boston family. After a night’s carousing Gaynor and Taylor are married, to the chagrin of his fiancée, Binnie Barnes and her boyfriend James Stewart.

Remember this is Boston so Taylor’s father Lewis Stone prevails on Taylor to give the marriage a few months trial. Of course this is where the balance of the story comes in. In many ways this plot seems like a harbinger of The Way We Were.

Taylor’s career was now in full swing as Small Town Girl was the next film after his breakout performance in Magnificent Obsession. Remember in that film he was a playboy who became a doctor. Here’s he’s a doctor who doubles as a playboy. Never mind though, feminine hearts all over the English speaking world were fluttering over MGM’s latest heartthrob. My mother who was a juvenile at this time told me that Taylor’s appeal back in these days was just about the same as Elvis’s.

James Stewart was at the beginning of his career as well as MGM had him in about seven features in 1936, mostly in support. Interesting though with worse career management, he could have gone on playing hick roles like Elmer the boyfriend. But it was also obvious there was a spark of stardom with him as well.

Gaynor would leave the screen a few years later, Taylor was at the beginning of his career. He’d have better acting roles in his future, but for now Small Town Girl is a great example of the screen heartthrob he was at the beginning of his stardom. Fans of both stars will like what they see in Small Town Girl. Review by bkoganbing from Buffalo, NewYork

RT3610

Taylor has Gaynor upside-down.

 

Some behind-the-scenes photos:

small-town (2)RT47881940765

Left to right: Robert Taylor and Janet Gaynor taking a break on the set; filming a scene; Taylor and Gaynor with singer Frances Langford.

Posted in Films | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments