Rain (1932)

Alfred Davidson (Walter Huston), a self-righteous missionary, his prim, proper wife, Mrs. Davidson (Beulah Bondi) and Sadie Thompson (Joan Crawford), are among the passengers on a ship docked in rainy Pago Pago. When they are all quarantined on the tropical island due to a cholera outbreak, Sadie, who has a questionable background, is subject to the Davidson’s “Christian charity”. Taking it upon himself to save her soul, despite the protestations not only of Sadie but some of the island’s military men stationed there, the inn keeper Joe (Guy Kibbee), and Dr. MacPhail (Matt Moore) another passenger from the ship, Davidson approaches, reproaches, and offers salvation. When Sadie denies his offer, Davidson has the governor of Pago Pago order her back to San Francisco, instead of letting Sadie go on to the next port. She begs Davidson to allow her to remain a few more days, so she can sail to Sydney, Australia instead. Davidson forces her to admit why she doesn’t want to go back to San Francisco- she’s wanted by the police for a crime she didn’t commit. Davidson tells her that to save her immortal soul she must serve the time in jail. After Sadie hurls insult after insult at him, Davidson stands his ground and prays out loud and Sadie experiences a religious conversion. She agrees to return to San Francisco and to serve the jail sentence. For the next few days she’s observed as being in a trance. The evening before she is set to leave, Sergeant "Handsome" O'Hara (William Gargan), who wants Sadie to go to Australia and marry him, tries but fails to get her to leave so he can hide her until the boat comes. Davidson comes to her rescue and dispatches O’Hara. Revealing she is frightened about her new life ahead, Davidson tests her by giving her the option to go to Australia. Sadie refuses and Davidson is full of glee. While native drums beat, Davidson succumbs to her beauty and accosts her. The next morning, he is found dead, having slit his own throat. Back at the hut O’Hara and Joe find the Sadie they first met, back in her own clothes with her make-up and lingo intact. It’s as if the trance has been lifted but who entranced who?

Note the lips and eye make-up here. Perhaps Joan used Sadie Thompson as an inspiration for her "new look" in the fifties?

This was an interesting film that showed missionaries in a negative, fanatical light, more so than The Bitter Tea of General Yen. Ironically, the Davidson character was softened so as not to offend any of the religious viewers. Davidson is a man who assumes Sadie is a bad woman simply because she acts differently from his wife and Mrs. MacPhail. He shows no mercy when Sadie reveals a little about herself and is consumed by completely invading and ruining her life under the guise of saving her soul. Though no synopsis seems to make note of it, I think the way the film plays out leads one to wonder if Davidson was under Sadie’s trance or she under his. This is especially noticeable as we see Davidson restlessly pacing the porch on Sadie’s last night, trying to overcome his temptation. When he succumbs to it his body movements match the beat of the native drums, the light fades and as the camera pans in on his face, the viewer sees the devil within. Very cleverly done in my opinion.

As for the acting, Crawford was still grabbing at her dramatic roots and reviews were poor, with many thinking she was in way over her head. Consideration must be given for this being an early sound film and the transition from silents. Crawford has a few enlightening moments where we glimpse her future success in drama but overall she came off garish and comical. As for Huston, I have yet to see him give a bad performance. He carried the film with a little help from the delightful Kibbee.

Tonight on TCM! One of my mother's favorites!

National Velvet (1944) A British farm girl fights to train a difficult horse for the Grand National Steeplechase. Cast: Mickey Rooney, Donald Crisp, Elizabeth Taylor, Anne Revere Dir: Clarence Brown

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They All Kissed the Bride (1942)

A big thank you to Miss Matilda Dreams! I have been looking for the source of these photos I had and she did a wonderful post with candids from the film- go check it out!
Of course once I had the title of the film, I see that LIFE did a spread on this movie entitled, "He Kissed The Bride".
Here's the blurb:
Actor Allen Jenkins accepts cup for winning jitterbug number as actress Joan Crawford collapses during rehearsal for the movie "They All Kissed the Bride" for which she donated her $112,500 salary to charities.

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TCM MEMORIAL TRIBUTE: JEAN SIMMONS

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Stars! They're just like us!

They cook their own eggs!

They ride bikes!

They take pride in their hygienic talents!

They take the easy way down!

They juggle objects!

They entertain themselves!

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TCM is going on the road with Bing and Bob!!

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Quality Street (1937)

On Quality Street everything is an event. Phoebe (Katharine Hepburn) is being courted by Dr. Valentine Brown (Franchot Tone) and her sister Susan (Fay Bainter) and their noisy neighbors expect him to propose soon. When Brown enlists in the British army instead, relating to Phoebe that he has no 'sweetheart' to leave behind, she is crushed. When Brown returns ten years later, he finds that Susan and Phoebe have opened their own school, and are now both considered "old maids" like most of the ladies on Quality Street. When Brown first sees Phoebe he cannot believe how tired she looks. He asks her to attend the homecoming ball but Phoebe refuses- too humiliated by her own looks. Later on a whim Phoebe puts on a ball gown and does her hair up in ringlets the way she did ten years earlier, there is a marked difference in her appearance and demeanor. When Brown stops by again to persuade her to attend the ball, he doesn't recognize her. Phoebe turns this to her advantage by introducing herself as Livvy, Phoebe and Susan’s niece. From the ball on Livvy attracts many male admirers, as well as the suspicions of her nosy spinster neighbors. All indicators point to Brown asking for Livvy’s hand but once again Brown is deceptive. He instead wants to get Livvy alone to lecture her about being a flirt and admits that he is in love with her aunt Phoebe. Disgusted with how she has behaved, Susan and Phoebe turn circles to avoid letting the truth be known. Will Phoebe accept the long-awaited proposal or will she turn down Dr. Brown for her deceit?

Thought Quality Street is not a particularly wonderful film, Hepburn is gorgeous as a flirtatious young woman and Fay Bainter is a bundle of confused delight trying to keep up with her. I am not particularly a huge fan of Franchot Tone. I've decided that I find his acting flat and uninteresting, he doesn't seem to have any presence on film, more so when he tries to play at romance. I was surprised to find that Joan Fontaine was in this film. She was so well disguised as a spinster, I didn't recognize her. Quality Street was her first film for the RKO studio, she was uncredited.

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My Son John (1952) A woman suspects her son is a Communist spy. Cast: Helen Hayes, Van Heflin, Dean Jagger, Robert Walker Dir: Leo McCarey

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That Touch of Mink (1962)

Cathy Timberlake's (Doris Day) coat and dress are ruined when she is splashed with mud by a passing limousine belonging to tycoon Philip Shayne (Cary Grant). To make matters worse she is on her way to collect her unemployment check and must endure the ironic mix of insults and advances from clerk Everett Beasley (John Astin) and she has an interview for another job that afternoon. Though Philip circled the block to look for the woman he splashed it isn’t until he spots Cathy entering a diner that’s directly across from his office that he realizes he can pay for any damages accrued. Instead of going himself, he sends his neurotic friend and financial adviser, Roger (Gig Young) to apologize for him. However, Cathy thinks it’s rude that Phillip cannot offer an apology himself and is encouraged by Roger to confront Philip and throw his money back in his face. Roger, a former Princeton professor who was lured away from his students when Phillip offered him financial security, would quit his job if he didn’t owe his analyst so much money. So, Roger is keen on seeing someone deny Phillip’s money. However, when Cathy is introduced to Philip, she’s attracted to him immediately, blames the accident on her own carelessness and agrees to travel with him on a business trip to Baltimore. Roger is severely disappointed and also mistaken for Philip by Cathy’s friend Connie (Audrey Meadows) who works at the diner and doesn’t mind physically taking her frustration out on him.
Phillip and Cathy have such a wonderful day together travelling around to different cities on his private jet that Philip offers to take Cathy to Bermuda, then around the world. Cathy mistakes this for a marriage proposal but Philip sets her straight and leaves the decision to her. He tells her he will call her the next day once she has decided. While Cathy makes up her mind to say no with the help of her cynical friend Connie, Philip is attacked by his own conscience and decides he should withdraw his offer. However, while he is brooding over this, Cathy grows impatient and calls him. He tells her of his decision, citing that he knows her answer would be no when Cathy surprises them both of them by saying yes.
After receiving a new wardrobe from Philip, including a mink coat, Cathy is flown out to Bermuda to meet him. While they spend the day together they are constantly reminded of their “situation” from newlyweds, to a priest, to the knowing look from a girl who is more willingly in the same boat as Cathy. This makes her more and more nervous until she finally breaks out in a rash leaving Philip the option of warm milk and butter to help him fall asleep on the couch. The next day they return from Bermuda and Cathy returns all the clothing Philip bought her. Roger is bolstered by this new development and thoroughly confuses his analyst who is more interested in Roger’s stock tips than his personal problems. His analyst believes it's Roger who is being courted by Philip.
Needless to say, Cathy leads Philip on a merry ride trying to the woman he wants and not succeeding. Will turning to deception win the heart of a millionaire who has no interest in marriage?



Subtly like Every Girl Should Be Married (1948), That Touch of Mink, in my opinion, is handled better due to the cast of characters and the comedy in the situations displayed. Instead of seeming too drawn out and embarrassing to watch, like some parts in Every Girl Should Be Married, the problem and solution are hilariously played out and enjoyable to watch. This isn’t my first time seeing this movie but it's so entertaining one is easily drawn in so I had to watch it when I caught it on TCM last night.

Side note:
Cary Grant was a big fan of "The Honeymooners" (1955) and Audrey Meadows in particular, and was responsible for getting her the part of Connie.

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The Major and the Minor (1942) A woman disguises herself as a little girl and ends up in a military academy. Cast: Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Rita Johnson, Robert Benchley Dir: Billy Wilder

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Broadway Bill (1934)

The story of Broadway Bill is one that could rival Seabiscuit who wouldn’t be well known until two years later. Dan Brooks (Warner Baxter) married into his job and though he was thankful at first and the envy of his other brothers-in-law as the crown prince of the J. L. Higgins enterprises, as of late he has been restless and horse-mad. He knows that Broadway Bill can be a champion and yearns to return to his former life on the race track. His father-in-law, J. L. Higgins (Walter Connolly) and wife Margaret (Helen Vinson) refuse to understand or empathize. His only allies are his stableman, Whitey (Clarence Muse) and his sister-in-law Alice aka The Princess (Myrna Loy).
Fed up with how J. L. runs his business, Dan strikes out on his own, leaving all security and money behind. In the course of trying to raise money to get Broadway Bill in the Imperial Derby, he and Whitey and eventually The Princess (who also happens to be in love with him) run into several road bumps along the way from Broadway Bill not wanting to race without his good luck charm, a rooster named Skeeter to Dan being thrown in jail to bad bets and sneaky jockeys.


In typical Capra fashion this is a story of success from the roots up and how people can inadvertently change the course of one another’s luck as well as inspire one another to be better people. With witty repartee and wonderful performances from all the characters- most especially Colonel Pettigrew (Raymond Walburn) and his sidekick Happy McGuire (Lynne Overman), Broadway Bill is a very touching story.

Tonight on TCM! This is a pretty good film featuring two of my favorites.
Sweet Bird Of Youth (1962)A young gigolo returns to his southern hometown in search of the lost love of his youth. Cast: Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight, Ed Begley Dir: Richard Brooks

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Vintage Ads: LUX be a lady tonight...

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