Pre- Code: Upper World (1934).

Upper World(1934).Cast: Warren William, Ginger Rogers and Mary Astor.

Rich railroad tycoon Alex Stream, is a loving family man. His wife Hettie's, first priority in life is her rich society friends.

When Alex rescues drowning showgirl Lilly Linder, he finds her very charming and she thanks him by cooking dinner for him.

When Hettie forgets their wedding anniversary and makes other plans, Alex invites Lilly to join him for dinner. Soon after, Alex finds himself spending a lot of time with Lilly.



Lilly's boyfriend, tries to convince her to blackmail Alex, and when she refuses, Lou steals Alex's letters to her. When Lou confronts him, Alex believes that Lilly was also involved in the plan. While he tries to get the letters back from Lou, he shoots and accidentally kills Lilly. Alex shoots Lou in self-defense, then tries to make it look like a murder-suicide. Alex thinks that nobody has seen him, but a policeman recognised his car parked outside the apartment and is convinced that he is the murderer. Will Alex be able to prove his innocence?

Both Mary Astor and Ginger Rogers are both entertaining, in this early movie in their film careers. William is his typical cool self. Dickie Moore is also good as William's son and Naish steals the scenes as the ruthless wannabe gangster. Sidney Toler, the future Charlie Chan, plays the cop out to catch William. It is also fun to see a younger Andy Devine.

Warren William (December 2, 1894 – September 24, 1948) was a Broadway and Hollywood actor, who was nicknamed the "king of Pre-Code".

He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

After moving from Broadway to Hollywood in 1931, he reached his peak as a leading man in early 1930's pre-Code films. He was known for playing heartless businessmen and lawyers, including the Sam Spade character in the second filming of, The Maltese Falcon, called Satan Met a Lady (1936).

He also played sympathetic roles as in, Imitation of Life, in which he portrayed Claudette Colbert's love interest. He appeared as her love interest again that year, when he played Julius Caesar in the film, Cleopatra. He was the swashbuckling d'Artagnan in, The Man in the Iron Mask(1939).

William, was the first to portray the defense attorney, Perry Mason and starred in four Perry Mason mysteries.

He also played Raffles-like reformed jewel thief, The Lone Wolf beginning with The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt (1939) and he starred as detective Philo Vance, in two films in that series, 1934's The Dragon Murder Case and 1939's The Gracie Allen Murder Case.

From The Barabra Stanwyck DVD Collection: Internes Can't Take Money (1937).

Internes Can't Take Money (1937). Cast:Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea. McCrea portrayed Dr. Kildare in the character's first screen performance. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer continued the Dr. Kildare series with Lew Ayres as Kildare and Laraine Day as a nurse in love with Kildare, similar to Stanwyck's role in this film.

Exhausted from searching for her lost child and beaten down by two years in jail, widow Janet Haley faints at Mountview General Hospital, where Intern Dr. Jimmie Kildare treats her burns. Later at the bar where Jimmie is having a beer, Janet asks gangster Dan Innes to help her find her kidnapped daughter. Innes demands $1,000 for the information, but Janet is unable to pay. When gangster boss Hanlon collapses at the bar from a knife wound, Jimmie saves Hanlon's life with Janet's help.

The next morning, when Janet goes to find out more information about her daughter from Innes, he propositions her, but she refuses him. To make things worse, she is fired from her job because of tardiness. Later, Jimmie goes to check up on Janet because she did not show up for her follow-up appointment. He first stops at the bar, where the bartender gives him $1,000 from Hanlon for saving his life. Janet tries to steal the money, but Jimmie catches her and, disappointed, leaves. With nowhere else to go Janet decides to take up with Innes.

Jimmie returns the money to Hanlon, explaining that "interns cant take money" for their services. Wanting to repay Jimmie, will Hanlon and his men be able to find Innes and Janet, before they leave town and will Janet be reunited with her long-lost daughter?

Barbara Stanwyck, was very believable playing the desperate mother. Joel McCrea's performance as a doctor, was also very believable. They had wonderful on screen chemistry. I find it amazing that Barabra Stanwyck seems to have on screen chemistry with all her leading men.

Lloyd Nolan (August 11, 1902 – September 27, 1985), was relegated to B movies for the most part. He costarred with actresses: Mae West, Dorothy McGuire, and the former Metropolitan Opera soprano, Gladys Swarthout. Under contract to Paramount and 20th Century Fox studios, he performed in roles in the late 30s and early-to-mid 40s and performed as the lead character of the "Michael Shayne" detective series. Oddly, the first screen version of Raymond Chandler's novel The High Window was transformed in 1942 from a Philip Marlowe adventure into part of the Michael Shayne series starring Nolan as Shayne.

His most famous films include: Atlantic Adventure, Ebb Tide, Wells Fargo, Every Day's A Holiday, Bataan, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Peyton Place, The House on 92nd Street and The Street with No Name.

The Great Dramas: The Night of the Iguana (1964).

The Night of the Iguana (1964). Based on the 1961 play The Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams. Directed by John Huston. Cast: Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, and Deborah Kerr. It won the 1964 Academy Award for Best Costume Design, and was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. Actress Grayson Hall received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and Cyril Delevanti received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

A defrocked Minister by the name of Shannon, is now working as a tour guide for Blake Tours, his first job is to take a group of Baptist School teachers on a bus to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Charlotte's aunt, accuses Shannon of trying to seduce her niece and fires him. Panicked, Shannon drives the bus and ladies, to a Costa Verde Hotel in Mismaloya on the coast of Mexico, where he tries to prevent Fellowes from calling his boss.

Shannon is surprised when he hears that his old friend Fred, died a month earlier and the hotel is now run by Fred's widow, Maxine Faulk.

Soon after, Hannah Jelkes, a painter from Nantucket who travels from place to place with her elderly poet grandfather show up. They have run out of money and Shannon convinces the not to happy Maxine, to let them stay.

While Shannon ties to battle his demons, Miss Fellows niece continues to make trouble for him.

Shannon suffers a breakdown, the cabana boys tie him in a hammock, Hannah calms him with poppy tea and understanding..



Night of the Iguana is very emotional film. The characters all have their troubles, but.. they are also thoughtful and face life head on. Creating a film that is absolutely amazing. One that you will want to watch many times.

Great Dramas: San Francisco(1936).

San Francisco (1936) Drama-adventure film directed by Woody Van Dyke, based on the April 18, 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Cast: Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, Spencer Tracy and Jack Holt.

"Blackie" Norton owns the Paradise Club on Pacific Street. He hires a classically-trained singer, Mary Blake, a romance develops between the two. Complications begin when Mary is hired by the Tivoli Opera House on Market Street and she becomes involved with, Jack Burley .

Blackie's long time friend, Roman Catholic Father Tim Mullen , keeps trying to reform him, while the other nightclub owners try to talk Norton into running for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in order to protect their interests. Father Tim, informs Mary that the new church organ was paid for by Blackie. On April 17, 1906 the San Francisco Police Department shuts down the Paradise. Then, at 5:13 a.m. April 18, 1906, the earthquake hits and the fires erupt. The water mains are broken. Mat has been taken from the destroyed Hall of Justice on Washington Street, a nurse tells Blackie, Mat will not survive. Blackie goes to Nob Hill, as the US Army troops from the Presidio have orders to blow up the mansions. Will Blackie ever find Mary alive?

Wonderful film about history, great acting and special effects. I also loved the cast and the great story line that will grab you from the beginning. A movie you will not soon forget.



Fun Facts:
One of Mary's opera gowns was later used for "Glinda" in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

The dress Jeanette MacDonald wears while singing "Would You" was re-worn by Judy Garland in For Me and My Gal (1942).

Jessie Ralph (November 5, 1864 – May 30, 1944), made her Hollywood debut in 1916, she became a permanent actress in 1933. She was 70 at this time, her roles were those of frumpy old ladies, but.. she stole all the scenes she was in. Her best known roles are as Greta Garbo's maid in Camille, and as W.C. Fields mother-in-law in The Bank Dick. She performed in a total of 55 movies.

List of Jessie Ralph movies I have seen:
Captain Blood (1935)
San Francisco (1936)
Camille (1936)
After the Thin Man (1936)
The Good Earth (1937)
Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)

Great Dramas - The Chalk Garden (1964)

A grandmother seeks a governess for her 16 year old granddaughter, Laurel (Hayley Mills)who manages to drive away each and every one so far by exposing their past, with a record of three in one week! When an applicant named Miss Madrigal (Deborah Kerr) with a mysterious past manages to get the job, Laurel vows to expose her. Meanwhile, Laurel's married-divorced-married mother tries to get her back. This is a terrific film with solid performances by Kerr and Mills. It's always a joy to watch Ms. Kerr perform in her films because she never disappoints. The Chalk Garden features her in one of her best films. And Hayley Mills holds her own as Laurel. The Chalk Garden is one of my favorite films.

Great Dramas: I Confess(1953).

I Confess(1953). A Drama directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Cast: Montgomery Clift, Anne Baxter, and Karl Malden . This was the only film Hitchcock made with these three actors. Biographers say he had trouble with "Method" actors such as Clift and Paul Newman, who worked with Hitchcock in, Torn Curtain (1966).

Father Michael Logan, is a priest in a church in Quebec City. He hires a caretaker, Otto Keller and a housekeeper, Otto's wife Alma. Otto Keller, also works part-time as a gardener.

Keller asks if Father Logan, will hear his confession. He confesses that he accidentally killed a rich lawyer Villette. Because of the binding secrecy of the confessional, Father Logan cannot tell the police anything he now knows about this crime.

At the time of the murder, two young girls saw someone leaving the house of the murdered man wearing a cassock. Evidence all points to Father Logan, who can not provide a alibi for the time of the murder.

Logan, in his early life before he became a priest, was in love with Ruth.

In flashbacks: After Logan returns home from fighting in the war, Ruth and Logan ended up stranded over night on an island during a storm.

In the morning, Villette finds them there and an argument breaks out and Logan learns that Ruth is married to a politician. Heartbroken, Logan leaves and does not see her for years. After which, Ruth is blackmailed by Villette. She meets with Logan on the night of the murder to ask for help.

Ruth tells the police about her meeting with Father Logan to provide him an alibi. Police believes that Father Logan killed the blackmailer Villette to protect Ruth and himself. Otto Keller, takes advantage of the situation and lies to the police in order to keep suspicion from himself. Will Father Logan be convicted for the murder?

 "I Confess" is a very interesting film with great actors and should be viewed by Hitchcock fans.

Great Dramas - Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Excellent film from Billy Wilder (Some Like It Hot) about a struggling young screenwriter (Holden) who runs into former silent film star Norma Desmond (Swanson) who is dreaming of a comeback. She hires him to patch up her script so Cecil B. DeMille can direct her. The lady is a little around the bend, but the writer needs money so he takes the job. This is a marvelous film with great performances. And it holds up today beautifully. William Holden is great as Joe, the writer. It's one of his best parts ever. But it's Gloria Swanson who owns this picture. She is simply amazing. And the dialogue in this film is some of the best you will ever hear in a movie. Great stuff.

 Movie Quote:
Joe Gillis: There's nothing tragic about being fifty. Not unless you're trying to be twenty-five.

Great Dramas: Mr. Skeffington (1944).

Mr. Skeffington (1944). Directed by Vincent Sherman, based on the novel of the same name by Elizabeth von Arnim. Cast: Bette Davis and Claude Rains.

When Fanny learns that her brother Trippy, has embezzled money from Jewish stockbroker Job Skeffington, she would do anything to save him, including marry his boss. Because of his prejudice against Skeffington being a Jew, Trippy leaves to fight in the Lafayette Escadrille in World War I.

Job loves Fanny, but.. she does not return his feelings and mostly ignores him. She becomes pregnant with his child, but, after she learns of Trippy death, she blames him and leaves his bed. She enjoys playing the wealthy socialite, with a long line of younger lovers.

Lonely, Job has his own affairs, when Fanny finds out, she divorces him. Her daughter, also named Fanny, wants to be with her father and begs him to take her with him to Europe. Fanny is relieved to be free of her child and does not see her for many years.

Even though Fanny lives a fast party girl life, she keeps her beauty until she catches diphtheria, it takes over health and her beauty. In denial, she invites her old lovers (and their wives) to a party. Everyone is shocked by how much Fanny has changed. To make things more complected, her latest suitor Johnny Mitchell, falls in love and marries her daughter, who has returned from Europe because of the rise of the Nazis. Now, Fanny is left very much alone.

Fanny's cousin George Trellis, brings Job back to Fanny's home, unannounced. The Nazis have left Job penniless and blind, George tells Fanny and he asks her if she will help Job, as he has nowhere else to go..

When she enters the parlor, Fanny, sobbing, takes his arm and guides him up the staircase, she tells the maid that "Mr. Skeffington has come home." Job had once, told Fanny that, "A woman is beautiful when she's loved, and only then." George tells Fanny that, at that moment, she has never been more beautiful.



 I thought Claude Rains was wonderful as the patient Job Skeffington. Bette Davis, seems to really take her part as Fanny very seriously. Even though this may not be one of the best movies of Bette Davis career, it is one of my favorite movies.

Great Dramas: An Affair to Remember(1957)

An Affair to Remember (1957). Cast: Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and directed by Leo McCarey.The movie was a remake of the film Love Affair(1939). Cast:Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. An Affair to Remember was almost identical to Love Affair on a scene to scene basis. McCarey used the same screenplay as the original film, which was written by Delmer Daves and Donald Ogden Stewart.

The theme song "An Affair to Remember (Our Love Affair)' was composed by Harry Warren with lyrics by Leo McCarey and Harold Adamson. The song is sung by Vic Damone during the opening credits and then sung later by Deborah Kerr's character, a nightclub singer. Kerr's singing was dubbed by Marni Nixon, who also dubbed for Kerr in the film The King and I.



Ladies man and artiest Nickie Ferrante, meets Night Club singer Terry McKay, aboard the SS Constitution traveling from Europe to New York. Each is engaged to someone else. They soon begin a love/friendship. One of my favorite scenes is when Terry joins Nicky for a few hours visiting his grandmother beautiful home, on the Mediterranean coast.

Before the ship reaches New York they agree to tie up loose ends of their lives and to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months.

On the day of their reunion, Terry, running and not watching the on coming traffic, is hit by a car. Seriously injured, she is rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile Nickie, waiting for her at the top of the Empire State Building, is unaware of what happened and after many hours, believes she has rejected him.

Six months later, she sees Nickie with his former fiancee at the ballet,who does not notice her condition says "hello" as he passes by.

Later Nickie, finds her and wants her to explain why she did not meet him. Surprised and happy, Terry tries to avoid the subject, never leaving the couch. As he is leaving, Nickie mentions a painting he had done of her that had been given to a woman. He is about to say that the woman was in a wheelchair when he suddenly, realizes the woman was Terry. He walks into her bedroom and sees his painting. He then knows that something had happened to keep her from meeting him at the Empire State Building.

I thought this was a wonderful film with Beautiful costumes, scenery, clever photography ( open patio door shows the Empire State Building in its reflection). Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr make this a never-forgotten romantic classic.




Fun Facts:

Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant improvised many of their scenes throughout filming, and a number of lines that made it to the final cut of the film came from the actors' improvisation.

Ingrid Bergman was the first choice to play Terry McKay.

Deborah Kerr plays Terry McKay, previously played by Irene Dunne in Love Affair (1939), of which this film is a remake - both were directed by Leo McCarey. The year before this film was made, Kerr played Anna Leonowens in The King and I (1956), also a role that had previously been played by Irene Dunne in the black-and-white classic Anna and the King of Siam (1946). "The King and I" is a musical based on the same book.

Second of three movies that paired Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant.

Neva Louise Patterson(10 February 1920 – 14 December 2010). In 1952, she played "Helen Sherman" in The Seven Year Itch. Her first movie was the 1953 film Taxi. Other film credits include The Buddy Holly Story, All of Me, and as Cary Grant's fiancee in An Affair to Remember.

Great Dramas this month on Noir and Chick Flicks - The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)

I mentioned to Dawn that we would concentrate on dramas during this month here on Noir and Chick Flicks. She agreed and I figured we would focus on some of the classic great dramas of all time. Dramas that focused on family life, married life, dramas dealing with important issues such as race, women's rights, medical dramas, prison dramas, etc. We could go on and on. But since November is a time of being thankful, I wanted to showcase some dramas that are very emotional and tug at the heart and make you think. So I hope everyone will enjoy this month here on Noir & Chick Flicks. And I decided to kick things off with the 1946 classic film The Best Years of Our Lives, which I recently wrote about on my blog, All Good Things.

This is one of my favorite films of all time, sitting right there nestled in my top 10. The story in this film centers on three returning WW Two veterans after the war has ended. Frederic March is Al Stephenson, who returns to his loving wife Milly (a magnificent performance by Myrna Loy), his two children Peggy (a terrific Teresa Wright) and Rob (Michael Hall). Al returns to an influential banking position, but finds it hard to reconcile his loyalties to ex-servicemen with new commercial realities. He has several scenes where he copes by drinking heavily. Dana Andrews is Fred Derry, an ordinary working man who finds it difficult to hold down a job or pick up the threads of his marriage with Virginia Mayo. He ends up falling for Peggy, and Peggy lets her mom know that she doesn't mind busting up the marriage to be with Fred. I was like, heck yeah, go for it Peggy. That's when I fell in love with Teresa Wright at that exact moment. And the last soldier is Homer Parrish (played by real life amputee Harold Russell) who unsure that his fiancée's (Cathy O'Donnell) feelings are still those of love and not those of pity. Each of these three men face a different crisis in their lives and try to cope and come through it emotionally sound. This movie is awesome. I can't find any faults with it. From the top notch cast to the expert direction by William Wyler to the epic music score by Hugo Friedhofer and the gorgeous cinematography by Gregg Toland. The Best Years of Our Lives is one of the best films ever made.

Facts about the film:

In 1946 this became the most successful film at the box office since Gone with the Wind (1939) which was released 7 years earlier.


For his performance as Homer Parrish, Harold Russell became the only actor to win two Academy Awards for the same role.


Myrna Loy receives top billing as she was the most successful female star at the time.

William Wyler, who served as a major in the Army Air Force during World War II, incorporated his own wartime experiences into The Best Years of Our Lives. Just as Fred Derry did in the movie, Wyler flew in B-17s in combat over Germany, although rather than being a bombardier, as Derry was, he filmed footage for documentary films. Additionally, Wyler modeled the reunion of Al and Milly, in which they first see each other at opposite ends of a long hallway, on his own homecoming to his wife, Talli.


This is the first film role for which Cathy O'Donnell, in the role of Wilma Cameron, receives screen credit. Her film debut was in Wonder Man (1945) as an uncredited extra in a nightclub scene.


In 1946 this became the most successful film at the box office since Gone with the Wind (1939) which was released 7 years earlier.


In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #37 Greatest Movie of All Time.