The Constant Nymph(1943).

The Constant Nymph(1943). A romantic drama. Cast Charles Boyer, Joan Fontaine, Alexis Smith, Brenda Marshall, Charles Coburn, May Whitty, and Peter Lorre. It was adapted by Kathryn Scola from the Margaret Kennedy novel and play by Kennedy and Basil Dean, and directed by Edmund Goulding.

After, composer Lewis Dodd's latest symphony does not go over very well in London, he goes to visit an old friend musician, Albert Sanger. One of Sanger's four daughters Tessa,  falls in love with Lewis and dreams of helping him follow his dream as a composer.

The very ill Sanger has kept his daughters away from society and now worries about what is to become of them. He asks Lewis to inform the girls wealthy uncle, Charles Creighton, if he dies. When the girls play a  song that Lewis wrote for them, Sanger tells Lewis that, the beautiful melody is better than his more intellectual work.

Some time later, Sanger dies. Lewis sends for Creighton, who arrives with his beautiful daughter Florence and Kate travels to Milan to study music and Toni marries wealthy Fritz Bercovy. Lewis and Florence fall in love and when they announce their engagement, the frail heartbroken Tessa faints after hearing the news. Creighton arranges for Tessa and Paula to attend school in England and Lewis and Florence marry.

Six months later, Lewis is frustrated by Florence trying to take over his career and the couple quarrel constantly. When Tessa and Paula run away from their school, Lewis leaves to look for them, not attending the party that Florence has planned to introduce him to her friends. Lewis, later finds them home waiting for him. Paula leaves to join Fritz and Toni, who is pregnant and Tessa stays with Florence and Lewis. When Tessa hears Lewis' latest composition, based on the song that he wrote for her and her sisters, she believes it is not his best work.

Later, Tessa encourages Lewis to put sentiment back into his music and with Tessa's help, Lewis changes his composition. Florence,  now knows that Tessa is her rival and  tries to get rid of her. The night of the first performance, Lewis realizes that he is in love with Tessa and asks her to go away with him, but Tessa refuses because he is married to her cousin. The excitement of Lewis' proposal and the premiere of his composition causes Tessa to have another fainting spell, and Florence insists that Tessa stay home, rather than attend the concert. Will Lewis' concert go well and will Florence decide to let him go?

Fun Fact: Alfred Hitchcock was considered for directing this film. Hitchcock's wife Alma Reville was one of the writers of The Constant Nymph 1928 version.


 

 A very romantic film, with beautiful music by Erich Korngold. Alexis Smith as the unloved wife gives a perfect performance, as does Joan Fontaine and Charles Boyer. The supporting actors are also very good, including Charles Coburn, Peter Lorre, Brenda Marshall, Dame May Witty, and Jean Muir. You will need plenty of Kleenex for the very touching ending.

Brenda Marshall (September 29, 1915 – July 30, 1992) Marshall made her first film appearance in the 1939 Espionage Agent.

The following year, she played the leading lady to Errol Flynn in The Sea Hawk.

After divorcing actor Richard Gaines in 1940, she married the actor William Holden in 1941 and her own career quickly slowed.

She starred opposite James Cagney in the 1942 film Captains of the Clouds.

The Constant Nymph (1943) was a popular success but she virtually retired after this, appearing in only four more films. Among these, she played scientist Nora Goodrich in the grade-B 1946 cult classic Strange Impersonation.

Dive Bomber(1941).

Dive Bomber(1941). Directed by Michael Curtiz. It is known for both its beautiful photography of pre-World War II United States Navy aircraft and as a historical document of the US in 1941, including the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, one of the best known World War II US warships.

The film was the last of a collaboration between director Curtiz and actor Errol Flynn, which began in 1935 and spanned 12 films. The cast also includes: Fred Mac Murray, Alexis Smith, in her first credited screen performance. Flynn, plays a doctor who works on medical research on pilots, with Mac Murray plays the skeptical veteran aviator. The plot is not historically accurate but, contains elements of true events that were part of the aeromedical research.

Dive Bomber was nominated for an Oscar for Best Color Cinematography at the 14th Academy Awards in 1942. The movie is dedicated to the flight surgeons of the US armed forces, in recognition of their efforts to solve the problems of aviation medicine.

During pre-war operations from an aircraft carrier off Hawaii, the VB-4 "High Hats" bomber Squadron arrive in San Diego, one of the pilots blacks out during a high speed dive and crashes. At the base hospital, Navy Lt. Doctor Doug Lee convinces the Senior Surgeon to operate but the pilot dies on the operating table. After Blake blames Lee for making the wrong decision, the doctor decides to become a flight surgeon.

On completion of his flight training, Dr. Lee becomes a assistant for Dr. Lance Rogers, who is working on altitude sickness project that affects pilots in dive bombers. Lee flies with Blake as his pilot and observes Blake blacking out. He experiments with the successfully flight tests it himself. Even though he has qualified as a pilot, Lee is considered a "grandstander". His judgment over pilots' ability to fly comes into question when he grounds a pilot, Lt. Tim Griffin, who is suffering from chronic fatigue. In anger, Griffin quits the Navy, and joins the RAF in Canada but visits his old squadron when he is flies a new fighter from the Los Angeles. On his return flight, Griffin, finds himself in trouble and is killed attempting to land at an emergency field.

Lt. Commander Blake, volunteers as a "guinea pig" pilot for aerial experiments. The first flight test of a pressurized cabin nearly ends in disaster when Blake passes out, forcing Dr. Lee to take over. During ground testing of a new invention of a pressure suit, Blake realizes that he will not pass his physical and will be grounded. Will Blake go ahead and make the test flight successfully?

I thought this was an exciting and beautifully filmed aviation drama about two naval officers who put aside their personal differences to work together. Mac Murray and Flynn, have very different acting styles, but also work very well together.

Biographical film: Night and Day(1946).

Night and Day(1946). Biographical film starring Cary Grant as American composer and songwriter Cole Porter. The movie was directed by Michael Curtiz. The music score by Ray Heindorf and Max Steiner was nominated for an Academy Award. The film features several of the best-known Porter songs, including the title song, "Night and Day", "Begin the Beguine" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy".

Alexis Smith plays Linda Lee Porter, Porter's wife of 35 years. Monty Woolley and Mary Martin appear as themselves, and the rest of the cast includes Jane Wyman, Eve Arden, Alan Hale, Dorothy Malone, Donald Woods, and Ginny Simms.

The film is the fictionalized story of Cole Porter's life, as a Yale University law student who is more interested in making a living in the theater than the law. During the Christmas holidays, Cole travels home to Indiana with his law professor, Monty Woolley, and his friend, Ward Blackburn. Also.. visiting the Porter home is Cole's cousin Nancy and her wealthy friend, Linda Lee. At home, Cole tells his grandfather Omer that he wants to be a songwriter.

After returning to the city, Cole and Monty put together a show called "See America First", starring Gracie Harris. Nancy, Ward and Linda are in the audience on opening night, but Cole's family refuses to come. The Lusitania, is sunk by the Germans the same night, and Cole's show closes after only one performance.

Cole then joins the French army and is injured. While recovering in a French hospital, he finds Linda, working as a nurse. To lift Cole spirits, Linda locates a piano and Cole writes the song, "Night and Day." Linda invites Cole to join her in a villa on the Riviera, but.. Cole does not want to take her money anymore and makes plans to return to America to get back to his work.

In New York, Cole finds a job playing the piano in a music store. Tired of  the same old songs, Cole's partner, singer Carole Hill, sings one of his songs, which gives, Cole and Monty, the idea to produce another show, The New Yorkers .

Things are going well and Cole, is offered the opportunity to write a show in England. There he finds Linda, they marry and return to New York, where Cole begins working on another show. Cole makes many promises to Linda about taking a trip together, but it is one show after another. Linda becomes tired of Cole's promises and leaves for Europe on her own. Cole's mother telephones and informs him that his grandfather is dying, Cole flies back to Indiana, to make up with Omer. Cole, stays in Indiana after the funeral and, during a storm, is badly injured when he is thrown by a horse, and he loses the use of his legs. Cole makes Monty, promise not to tell Linda about his injury. Will Cole and Linda become reunited?

This is a beautiful, entertaining film with a fun dialogue and a splash of drama. If you are a Cary Grant fan, you will love this film.

Selena Royle(November 6, 1904 — April 23, 1983), parents were playwright Edwin Milton Royle and actress Selena Fetter.

She turned to acting despite the objections of her parents. Her first professional role was as Guinevere in her father's play, Lancelot and Elaine.

Eventually she landed a part on her own in the 1923 Theatre Guild production of Peer Gynt with Joseph Schildkraut and became a Broadway actress.

She made one film in the 1930's, Misleading Lady, but otherwise worked on the stage and on radio, starring on the shows Hilda Hope, M.D. and Kate Hopkins.

In the 1940's, she returned to film playing maternal characters such as Ingrid Bergman's mother in, Joan of Arc (1948).

She also made several appearances on early television. However, in 1951, when she refused to testify about her alleged Communist sympathies before the House Un-American Activities Committee, her acting career came to a sudden standstill.

She appeared in only two more films afterwards, including the low-budget, Robot Monster.

The Two Mrs. Carrolls(1947).

The Two Mrs. Carrolls(1947). Noir. Directed by Peter Godfrey and produced by Mark Hellinger, with Jack L. Warner as executive producer, from a screenplay by Thomas Job based on the play by Martin Vale. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Barbara Stanwyck and Alexis Smith with Nigel Bruce.

While on vacation in Scotland, Sally Morton meets and falls in love with painter Geoffrey Carroll, but is heartbroken when she finds out that he has an invalid wife and a daughter. Back home, Geoffrey come up with a plan to get rid of his wife, using another name, buys poison. Then sends his daughter Beatrice, away to school and takes over the care of his wife.

Two years after the death of Geoffrey's wife, he and Sally have been married a year and live with Bea. Geoffrey's paints a beautiful portrait of his first wife which he calls.. "Death". Things are not going well in his studio and he is not very happy when Charles Pennington, Sally's former fiancee visits with Mrs. Latham and her daughter Cecily, who wants him to paint her portrait.

Geoffrey needs the money to pay Blagdon's blackmail demands, agrees to do the work and begins an affair with Cecily.

Later when Sally, becomes ill, Dr. Tuttle believes her symptoms is a bad case of nervous. Geoffrey, begins making plans to send Bea back to boarding school and he has begun to paint a new painting, which he refuses to let Sally near the studio.

Geoffrey then travels to London to meet Blagdon, who has demanded another payment. While he is gone, Sally, who knows about his affair with Cecily, finds Bea packing for school, where she learns that she was also sent to school before her mother died. Sally now suspects that Geoffrey is trying to kill her. Will he succeed with his plans or will Sally out smart him?

The story is very interesting even though it has a few odd moments. A perfect movie, for the Bogart fans, who want to see him in a role that is a little different.

Nigel Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953), was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Doctor Watson in a series of films and in the radio series The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes). Bruce is also remembered for his roles in the Alfred Hitchcock films Rebecca and Suspicion.

The Smiling Ghost (1941).

The Smiling Ghost (1941). Directed by Lewis Seiler. Cast: Brenda Marshall, Alexis Smith, Wayne Morris.

The story begins when unemployed engineer Lucky Downing, is hired by wealthy Mrs. Bentley to pretend to be engaged to her granddaughter, Elinor Bentley Fairchild. Unknown to Lucky, all of Elinor's former fiancees have had horrible accidents and have ended up crippled or dead..

When Elinor, meets Lucky and his Valet Clarence at the station, and Lucky is happy to see that she is very beautiful. So.. when he meets her relatives, he is surprised to find that they are all kooky or sinister.

Soon after Lucky, meets with reporter Lil Barstow, who has been writing Elinor's story for the local newspaper. Lil, tells Lucky about her former fiancees and tries talking him into leaving before something happens to him. He decides to stay, after Elinor tells him that she has fallen in love with him. Lucky tries to stop Lil, from writing his story, but.. she takes him to visit Paul, who believes that Eggleston is not really dead and is killing Elinor's fiancees out of jealousy. Lucky suggests that he and Elinor pretend to marry to lure the killer or the ghost out of hiding. When Lucky, is attacked, will the mystery be solved?

This is another one of those films you dont hear alot about...but, I have to say it is a Awesome film...Wayne Morris absolutely wonderful as the hero and Willie Best gives a excellent performance as Luckys Valet ... You will fall in love with the cast of family characters.

Brenda Marshall (September 29, 1915 – July 30, 1992), made her first film performance in the film, Espionage Agent(1939). The following year, she played the leading lady to Errol Flynn in, The Sea Hawk. After divorcing actor Richard Gaines in 1940, she married the actor William Holden in 1941. She performed with James Cagney in the film, Captains of the Clouds(1942). The Constant Nymph (1943), She also played scientist Nora Goodrich in the the film, Strange Impersonation(1946).

Happy Birthday: Alexis Smith!

Alexis Smith (June 8, 1921 – June 9, 1993) was a stage, film, and television actress. She performed in Hollywood movies in the 1940s and had a notable career on Broadway in the 1970s, winning a Tony Award in 1972.

Fun Facts:

Tall, graceful, talented, Canadian-born actress who was married for 49 years to actor Craig Stevens.

During the 1959 filming of The Young Philadelphians (1959) starring Paul Newman, she fell during a horse riding sequence and broke her back.

Had her own night club act in the 70s which she took to Los Angeles and Canada.

Her first professional dance performance was in 1934 in the ballet "Carmen" at the Hollywood Bowl.

Signed by Warner Brothers after being seen in a college drama production, she was billed as "The Dynamite Girl" and "The Flame Girl".

First video of 4. Alexis Smith and Errol Flynn. In the film, Gentleman Jim(1942). Errol Flynn, plays heavyweight boxing champion James J. Corbett. The movie was based upon Corbett's autobiography, The Roar of the Crowd, and directed by Raoul Walsh.

In 1890s, boxing is illegal. James J. Corbett, a bank teller, attends a match with his friend Walter Lowrie. When a police raid arrest Judge Geary, Corbett's fast talking gets his boss out of trouble. The judge wants to improve the image of boxing by recruiting men from respectable backgrounds. He asks British coach Harry Watson to help join him. Watson, finds that Corbett, is a excellent fighter. Corbett's arrogance irritates Victoria Ware, but His charm eventually wins her over. (Sorry Becky, I could not stop myself. :D)

Please click here to learn more about Alexis Smith.

Film Noir: Conflict (1945).

Conflict (1945). Film noir directed by Curtis Bernhardt, produced by William Jacobs with Jack L. Warner as executive producer from a screenplay by Arthur T. Horman and Dwight Taylor, based on the story, The Pentacle by Alfred Neumann and Robert Siodmak. Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Alexis Smith and Sydney Greenstreet. The film is the only one which Bogart and Greenstreet co-starred and Bogart, not Greenstreet, was the villain.

On Richard and Kathryn Mason's, fifth wedding anniversary, Kathryn accuses Richard of having fallen in love with her younger sister, Evelyn Turner, which he does not deny. At a party celebrating the couple's anniversary hosted by family friend and psychologist Dr. Mark Hamilton, Evelyn meets with Mark's colleague, Professor Norman Holdsworth.

On the way home, Kathryn suggests to Evelyn to go back home to pay a visit to their mother. Evelyn agrees. Distracted by watching Evelyn in the rear view mirror, Richard crashes their car and suffers a broken leg. He then decides to come up with a plan to kill his wife.

Richard pretends that he needs a wheelchair, even after his leg has healed. His physician, Doctor Grant, says the problem is psychological. He then suggests that he start swimming to strengthen his leg, so a car trip to a mountain resort lake is planned. At the last minute, Richard has to stay home to do some work, he suggest that Kathryn go on ahead by herself and he will meet her later. On the drive up the mountain she comes across a car that is blocking the narrow deserted road. Richard walks out of the fog and kills her. Afterward, he pushes her car down a steep slope. He returns home in time to set up an alibi and file a missing person report..

Odd things begin to happen that make him believe she still maybe alive. He smells her perfume, finds her jewelry, sees an envelope addressed with her handwriting. He must go back to the scene of the crime, where he finds someone waiting for him, but who?

Fun Fact:

Jack L. Warner had Joan Crawford, who had just joined Warner Bros. and was looking for her first role at the studio, in mind for the role of Kathryn Mason, and sent the script for the film to her. However, after reading the script, Crawford told her agent to tell Warner that "Joan Crawford never dies in her movies, and she never ever loses her man to anyone".

This is a really good film with Humphrey Bogart at his sinister best. Mystery loving audiences will love the psychological plot.

Alexis Smith (June 8, 1921 – June 9, 1993). Her first credited role was in the feature film, Dive Bomber (1941), playing the female lead opposite Errol Flynn. Her performance in the film, The Constant Nymph (1943), which led to bigger parts. During the 1940s she appeared alongside some of the most popular male stars of the day: Errol Flynn in, Gentleman Jim (1942) and San Antonio (1945) (in which she sang a special version of the popular ballad "Some Sunday Morning"), Humphrey Bogart in, The Two Mrs. Carrolls (1947), Cary Grant in version of, the life of, Cole and Linda Porter in Night and Day (1946), and Bing Crosby in, Here Comes the Groom (1951).

Among Smith's other films are Rhapsody In Blue (1945), Of Human Bondage (1946), and The Young Philadelphians (1959).

Rose Hobart (May 1, 1906 – August 29, 2000), father was a cellist in the New York Symphony. Her first film role was the part of Julie in the first talking picture version of, Liliom (1930). She co-starred with Fredric March and Miriam Hopkins in the original film version of, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde(1931). Ironically, her co-star in, Dr. Jekyll and Mr, Hyde, Fredric March, starred in the 1934 film version of, Death Takes a Holiday.

Hobart often played the "other woman" in movies during the 1940s. Her last major film role was, Bride of Vengeance(1949).

During the 1950s she became an acting counselor. In the 1960s she took on television roles, including a part on Peyton Place.

Two Favorite Alexis Films

Monty, here are the trailers for two of my favorite Alexis films. Dive Bomber, and Gentleman Jim.