Daily Archives: September 29, 2013

Kid Galahad
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Written by Seton I. Miller from a story by Francis Wallace
1937/USA
Warner Bros.
First viewing

[box] Nick ‘Nicky’ Donati: Say, did you ever see a bellhop didn’t want to be a fighter?[/box]

I thought this was a pretty good boxing movie with strong performances by Edward G. Robertson and Humphrey Bogart.

Nick Donati (Robinson) is a rough-edged fighting promoter who expects 100% obedience from his fighters.  “Fluff” (Bette Davis) is his assistant.  There are hints that Fluff might want something more from the relationship but Nick is oblivious.  Nick’s fighter throws a fight to the thuggish Turkey Morgan’s (Bogart) fighter, Chuck McGraw.  At an after-fight party, bell boy Ward Guisenberry (Wayne Morris) knocks out Chuck defending Flip’s honor. Nick decides Ward has potential.  After Ward knocks out Turkey, Fluff decides to hide him at the farm of Nick’s mother.  There Ward meets and falls in love with Nick’s convent-educated sister.  This does not set well with Nick, to say the least.

This is fairly routine stuff but Robinson takes it to another level when he is on.  Bogart is also dynamic in a one-note tough guy role.  Bette Davis is still playing the ingenue and it doesn’t suit her well.  Possibly my favorite moment of the film came when Robinson spoke Italian with great fluency and at some length in a scene with his screen mother.

Bette Davis was nominated for Best Actress for this film and Marked Woman at the Venice Film Festival and Michael Curtiz was nominated for the Mussolini Cup for Best Director.

Clip – Bette Davis, night club singer (!)

A Star Is Born
Directed by William A. Wellman
Written by Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell, and Robert Carson from a story by William A. Wellman and Robert Carson
1937/USA
Selznick International Pictures
Repeat viewing

[box] Matt Libby: That’s a charming match. A nice girl like Vicki and Public Nuisance Number One.[/box]

I enjoyed this more than my memory of it lead me to expect.

Esther Blodgett (Janet Gaynor) dreams of stardom on her South Dakota farm.  Her folks are opposed but her grandmother (May Robson) sympathizes and finances her trip to Hollywood.  Esther can’t get a break, though.  Then she chances to meet alcoholic movie star Norman Maine (Fredric March) and he helps her get a screen test.  They fall in love and, when Norman promises to reform, marry.  Everything starts coming up roses for Esther, who is rechristened Vicky Lester, but Norman begins a long slow slide.  With Adolphe Menjou as a producer, Lionel Stander as a caustic press agent, and Andy Devine as Esther/Vicky’s friend.

I had forgotten many things about this melodrama, notably what a cynical indictment of Hollywood is concealed behind the tears.  You can really sense Dorothy Parker’s hand in this.  Also, this has got to be one of Fredric March’s very best performances.  He is a wonderful drunk, not comic or exaggerated.  At times, you can kind of see Mr. Hyde peeking through.  Janet Gaynor is also still lovely and vulnerable at this late date in her career.

This was the first all-color film to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.  The film won an Oscar for Best Writing (Original Story) and was nominated for awards for Best Actor (March), Best Actress (Gaynor), Best Director, Best Writing (Screenplay), and Best Assistant Director.  W. Howard Green won an Honorary Award for his color cinematography.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZS5GEVgnVk

Trailer