It Happened One Night (1934)

QUICK RATINGS:

Character Development: 3 stars
Cinematography: 2 stars
Plot Development: 3 stars
Costuming: 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3 stars


PLOT SUMMARY:

Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) is an heiress who has just married King Westley, who is not actually a king, but a society gentleman who her father does not like. When the movie begins, Ellie is onboard her father's (Walter Connolly) yacht after he has kidnapped her to try and convince her to annul her marriage. She jumps overboard and swims to shore to bus back to King Westley. On the way, she meets the dashing Peter Warne (Clark Gable), a newspaper reporter who is mostly interested in helping her out to get the 'inside story' on her travels back to her sweetheart. When the bus they are travelling on breaks down, they find themselves hitch-hiking together to New York. From there, it's just a series of wacky hijinx and lots of fun. By the time they end up in New York, Ellie may have found herself in love with someone besides King Westley.

MY REVIEW:

How can a film be bad with Clark Gable in the lead?! I thoroughly enjoyed this classic romantic comedy. Now, if you pause and think about the creepiness factor in Peter's (somewhat gruffly) forcing Ellie to stay in a hotel room with him (don't worry - there are two twin beds!) the first night when the bus breaks down, it is understandable that she is more than a little weirded out by his advances. But, man -- did you see that sexy smirk? C'mon Ellie! It's Clark Gable! I mean, Peter Warne! No wonder she ends up letting her guard down and having a little fun with this delightful gentleman-in-disguise.

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert's performances were magnificent. Their love/hate relationship and flirty banter was delightful! The characters development was good enough and perfectly suited to the romantic-comedy genre. I loved watching Claudette's character soften and embrace the hitch-hiking life to which she was obviously not accustomed.

The costumes were perfect (especially Ellie's silky wedding gown), the comedic timing right on, and the film, highly recommendable. I can't think of anything else to say!



FUN FACTS:

• The movie based on the story Night Bus by Samuel Hopkins Adams. While shooting, Night Bus was the title of the film. They later changed it to It Happened One Night, which is a strange title because the film takes place over several days and nights.
• It was the first film to win all five major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Writing/Adaptation

Looking forward to another Clark Gable flick -- Mutiny on the Bounty is next! -- Critic Fix

Cavalcade (1933)

QUICK RATINGS:

Character Development: 3 stars
Cinematography: 2 stars
Plot Development: 3 stars
Costuming: 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3 stars


PLOT SUMMARY:

This picture presents a cavalcade of English life from New Year's Eve 1899 until New Years Day 1933. Based on a play by Noel Coward, we watch this cavalcade through the eyes of the wealthy Londoners Jane (Diana Wynward) and Robert (Clive Brook) Marryot, their children Joe (Frank Lawton) and Edward (John Warburton) and their servants Ellen (Una Connor), Alfred (Herbert Mundin) and their daughter Fanny (Ursula Jeans) Bridges. It tells the tale of how these two families deal with the tragedies of war, death, and loss. Amongst the events that touch their family are the Boer War, Queen Victoria's death, the sinking of the Titanic, and the Great War.


MY REVIEW:

Although this movie won the Acadamy award for Best Picture, it is relatively unknown. But although it was hard to track down, I thought it was worth the effort. I watched this with my two friends, the Slickpigs, and they both enjoyed it as well. We thought that it portrayed a relatively accurate picture of how two families of different classes would interact and how they would deal with the various tragedies that come into their lives.

Adapted from Noel Coward's play, at times the dialogue felt too 'stagey' for film, but I disagree with the critics who said it didn't translate well to film. The viewer just needs to take the formality and artificiality of the film with a grain of salt.

It is tough to say whether or not the characters developed. The cast is made up of qualified actors portraying clearly defined characters who held my attention onscreen. When tragedy struck, they responded genuinely. But overall, they seemed too much the same at the beginning and end of the film.

That being said, I felt that the mothers (Diana Wynward and Una Connor) outshone their husbands in terms of acting performance. Although there were times when her performance was overdone, I thought that it was fitting that Diana Wynward was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Jane, a woman struggling to find the balance in saving her family, supporting her country, and keeping her dignity. The impact of war on family dynamics is summarized in Jane Marryot's famous line, "The march of time measured by a mother's heart!"

Likewise, I loved the older Fanny and her modern woman characteristics. As a former music student, I am a sucker for ladies who can really nail a performance! Her song, "Twentieth Century Blues," was the highlight of the film for me.

The costumes were terrific. Enough said.

Some of the plot was predictable (of COURSE the son and his new bride aren't left in the happiness of their puppy love - they board the Titanic for their honeymoon), and some of the characters were flat, but I would still recommend this movie. Although the characters faced tragedy, their loyalty to country and to each other was commendable and fun to watch. It is ironic that everyone is so hopeful at the end of the film because it ends right before the dawn of Hitler's reign and WWII.


FUN FACTS:

• There weren't really any fun facts for this film because frankly, it has fallen into obscurity. But don't let that fool you into thinking it's not worth your time! I really enjoyed it -- and so did the Slickpigs!

Grand Hotel

QUICK RATINGS:

Plot Development: 4 stars
Character Development: 5 stars
Cinematography: 4 stars
Costuming: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars


PLOT SUMMARY:

This movie was one of the first to successfully handle an ensemble cast. Several famous actors are guests at the Grand Hotel in Berlin. Grusinskaya (Greta Garbo) is a famous ballerina who is dealing with major depression and a failing career while staying in the hotel. Senf (Jean Hersholt), the head hotel clerk, isn't getting any sleep as he's waiting for his wife to give birth to their child. Preysing (Wallace Beery), is an easily-angered industrialist staying at the hotel to negotiate a business deal. He hires the lovely Flaemmchen (Joan Crawford), a sassy stenographer, to serve as his personal secretary. Otto Kringelein (Lionel Barrymore), is an endearing man who used to work for Preysing. Having been diagnosed with a terminal disease, he has quit his job and moved to the hotel to flagrantly spend away his last days. Finally, Baron Felix Von Greigern (John Barrymore), an adventurer traveling with his Dachshund, is a man in need of money to pay off a heavy debt. His plot is to steal valuable jewels from Grusinskaya's room while she is away for a performance.

When Grusinskaya leaves the hotel to head for the theater, the Baron sneeks into her room to rob her. But Grusinskaya quickly returns because she is too depressed to perform. The Baron must quickly hide himself in her room, where he stays hidden until he sees that Grusinskaya intends to take her own life. He suddenly appears to stop her from suicide and stays in her room to profess his affection for her. Despite the fact that he admits he was trying to rob her, they spend the night together and fall hopelessly in love.

How will the Baron be able to pay off his debts? Will Grusinskaya marry the Baron or will she choose her career? As for the other guests, will Preysing, a married man with two grown daughters, be able to convince Flaemmchen to be his mistress after working hours? Will he be successful in his business negotiations? Will Kringelein get to relax and enjoy his last few days alive? Will Senf's wife make it through several days with no sleep and a wife in labor?


MY REVIEW:

Out of all the Best Pictures I've watched this year (okay so there have only been 5), this was by far my favorite. I was so glad not to be disappointed again! Although my mother said she thought it was depressing, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

First of all, the hotel itself was quite stunning. With lovely rooms and a gorgeous, central, spiraling staircase to connect the many floors, it was a beautiful backdrop for all the crazy scenes. I enjoyed the opening scene when we were introduced to the main characters as they checked in or walked through the hotel lobby. With such a flurry of activity in such a grand space (and in such lovely clothes!), I was immediately drawn in.

A doctor staying the hotel says "Grand Hotel. People come and go. Nothing ever happens." But during the few days that we observe the patrons of this hotel, this statement couldn't be further from the truth. There is a plethora of excitement and drama as the characters mentioned above enjoy a few days in the Grand Hotel.

For once, there was (finally!) good character development. I loved getting to know each of the patrons and observing the developing stories of their lives. It is clear why these stars were famous -- they could actually act! From the simple-minded Kringelein, desperate to enjoy his last days, to the beautiful, lonely Grusinskaya, the characters were fully unique and fully realized. John Barrymore was quite dashing as the Baron, but my favorite was Joan Crawford's Flaemmchen. She really stole the show when she was on-screen, managing to appear both confident and naive.

I guess I should drop a hint that there is a surprise plot twist at the end. And it might intrigue you more if I let you know it involves the m-word. That's right, murder! Other than that, there's not much else to say on this film. It was thoroughly delightful and I would recommend it to anyone. Go out and rent it now!


FUN FACTS:

• During the filming of the busy lobby scenes, the socks were worn on the outside of the actors' shoes to prevent noise. Reportedly two hundred pairs of woolen socks were worn out daily.

Sorry again for the delay, my husband and editor still hasn't had a chance to look at this one and make sure I didn't make any huge errors -- if you see any let me know! Cavalcade should be on here soon! Keep reading -- I promise I'll be better! -- Critic Fix