Cass Timberlane(1945).

Cass Timberlane, is a novel written by Sinclair Lewis, published in 1945. It is Sinclair Lewis' nineteenth novel and one of his last.It was made into a romantic drama film starring Spencer Tracy and Lana Turner, directed by George Sidney, and released in 1947. Timberlane is a minor character in Lewis's novel Kingsblood Royal.

While Judge Cass Timberlane, a kind-hearted, bachelor, is trying a boring divorce case, he finds a notebook that Jinny left in the courtroom. Attracted to the much younger Jinny, Cass searches for her in the neighborhood where she lives, and finds her playing baseball. Cass offers to umpire her game, after which he takes her out to dinner.

The two fall in love, much to the disappointment of Cass's society friends, who believe that he is wrong to cross social lines. With the exception of his friend attorney, Bradd Criley.

Cass, marries Jinny and as time passes, Cass soon realizes that Jinny is unhappy living in the small town of Grand Republic.

Jinny eventually becomes pregnant, but when the baby is stillborn, she goes into a deep depression. Cass, tries to cheer up his wife by teaching her how to fly an airplane and supporting her while she becomes a stage actress.

Jinny, gets herself into trouble with her performance, while rehearsing a love scene with her co-star, Bradd, who is transferred to his company's office in New York City as a result.

Cass, suggests they take a trip to New York, so he can visit an old friend to look into becoming partners in his law firm. Jinny, wants to stay in New York, after her wonderful day in New York with Brad. When Cass, tells her that he has rejected a job offer in the city, she breaks it off with him.

Cass, tells Jinny that she is welcome to stay in New York with Bradd. It turns out that Bradd, does not really want to marry Jinny. Heartbroken, she jumps out of the speeding car in which they are driving and is seriously injured.

After Lillian Drover, the wife of Jinny's doctor, tells Cass about Jinny's injuries, will Cass rush back to New York to be with her?

This is one of my favorite Spencer Tracy films and he gives an excellent performance. Lana Turner, is also very good. The scenes between she and Zachary Scott have enough sparks to make you wonder if they are guilty of adultery. This is a wonderful film that was well worth seeing.



Fun Facts:

MGM reportedly paid close to $150,000 for the film rights to Lewis' novel.

Walter Pidgeon who has a brief cameo in the film, was at one point considered for the title role.

Jennifer Jones, Vivien Leigh, and Virginia Grey were among those thought out for the female lead.

Fay Hendry, the mother of Sonya Hendry, a young girl who appeared in the film, was awarded nearly $30,000 for injuries she sustained when the girl was struck by a falling reflector at the site of location filming.

Tracy was not initially pleased with the studio's choice of director, hoping to have George Cukor or Vincente Minnelli assigned the position.

The poem that Cass Timberlane recites at the picnic with Virginia is "First Fig" by Edna St. Vincent Millay and goes "My candle burns at both ends / It will not last the night / But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends / It gives a lovely light!"

In late 1946, Marie McDonald campaigned for the female lead.

Margaret Lindsay (September 19, 1910 - May 9, 1981) After attending National Park Seminary in Washington, D.C., Lindsay convinced her parents to enroll her at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.

She then went abroad to England to make her stage debut. She performed in plays: Escape, Death Takes a Holiday and The Romantic Age.

Lindsay was often mistaken as being British due to her convincing English accent, which impressed Universal Studios enough to sign her for their 1932 version of, The Old Dark House.

After some minor roles in Pre-Code films such as Christopher Strong and Baby Face, which starred Barbara Stanwyck, Lindsay was cast in the award-winning, Cavalcade.

Later, Lindsay performed in a small but memorable role as Edith Harris, a doomed English bride whose honeymoon voyage takes place on the Titanic. Her work in Cavalcade earned her a contract at Warner Bros. where she became a supporting player, working with Paul Muni, Errol Flynn, Henry Fonda, Warren William, Leslie Howard, George Arliss, Humphrey Bogart, Boris Karloff and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

Lindsay was cast four times as the love interest of James Cagney, from 1933-1935. She performed with Cagney in four films: Frisco Kid, Devil Dogs of the Air, G-Men and Lady Killer. Lindsay co-starred with Bette Davis in four films: 1934's Fog Over Frisco; in 1935's Dangerous (for which Davis won her first Best Actress Academy Award); in Bordertown, co-starring Paul Muni, and as Davis's rival for Henry Fonda's affections in Jezebel (1938), which earned Davis her second Best Actress Academy Award.

The Law in Her Hands (1936), she performed a leading role as a mob lawyer. It was rare among gangster films of the 30's to have a female in such a male-dominated role. Made after the Motion Picture Production Code came into effect, The Law in Her Hands was forced into a reactionary stance towards the gender switch and concluded with a plot twist that was the complete opposite of the Pre-Code period (1929–1934), when "female characters on the screen could say, do and be whatever they wanted".

Lindsay's best known film role was, The House of the Seven Gables in 1940, with George Sanders and Vincent Price.

Her 1940s film series work in Hollywood included: Ellery Queen series from 1940-1942. Lindsay, performed in a supporting role in the 1942 film, The Spoilers, starring John Wayne and in Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street in 1945. While her work in the late 1940s would occasionally involve a supporting role in MGM films like Cass Timberlane with Spencer Tracy, her film career faded, soon after.

She returned to the stage and co-starred with Franchot Tone, in The Second Man. 1950s and 1960s She made her television debut in 1950 in, The Importance of Being Earnest. More television work soon followed.

Lindsay performed in only four films during the 1950s and two in the 1960s. Her final feature film was, Tammy and the Doctor (1963). Lindsay lived with her sister Helen in Hollywood. Later in life, she lived with her youngest sister Mickie.

Despite being romantically linked to actors such as William Gargan and Edward Norris, she never married. Margaret Lindsay's sister, Jane Kies (1909–1985), was also an actress under the name of Jane Gilbert. In 1940, Jane married the son of Hedda Hopper, actor William Hopper, best known for his role as Paul Drake in the Perry Mason television series. Their daughter Joan was born in 1942, and the couple divorced in the early 1960s. Lindsay's niece Peggy Kenline and great-nephew Brad Yates were also actors.

The Law in Her Hands (1936).

The Law in Her Hands (1936)Directed by William Clemens. Cast: Margaret Lindsay, Glenda Farrell, Warren Hull and Lyle Talbot.

Two best friends Mary Wentworth and Dorothy Davis, work as waitress to pay their way through law school. After, passing the bar exam the girls open their own practice. Their friend, Franz, has a picture of the girls taken, just as gangster Angie Simelli, is throwing a smoke bomb in Franz's restaurant. In hopes to scare Franz in paying racketeer Frank Gordon, protection fees. Simelli, is then arrested and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Mitchell.

Gordon, finds witnesses to swear that Simelli was not at the restaurant at the time of the incident, but.. Mary and Dorothy have the photo as prove. Gordon, impressed by Mary, offers her a job as his lawyer, but.. she turns him down.

Also impressed, Robert.. who, will do and say anything to make her to quit and marry him. She asks him for a year to try and build her law practice. Mary, loses her first case in court when a dishonest lawyer plants a bottle of liquor in a coat she was planning on using as evidence in an important court case.

Robert, wants her to represent a man who has already signed a confession. Mary decides to use the same kind of trick that defeated her in her last case and wins her case. She is then forced to take Gordon's case with a surprise twist ending.

 Glenda Farrell

 The film, The Law In Her Hands, seems to make fun of women who want careers. The heroine's boyfriend, who is also district attorney, is such a jerk that you wont believe what he does to get his own way. The teaming of Margaret Lindsay and Glenda Farrell, is what makes this a fun film. If you are into the clothes of the 30's, you will enjoy the girls beautiful suits.

Margaret Lindsay (September 19, 1910 - May 9, 1981)  After attending National Park Seminary in Washington, D.C., Lindsay convinced her parents to enroll her at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. She then went abroad to England to make her stage debut. She performed in plays: Escape, Death Takes a Holiday and The Romantic Age.

Lindsay was often mistaken as being British due to her convincing English accent, which impressed Universal Studios enough to sign her for their 1932 version of, The Old Dark House.

After some minor roles in Pre-Code films such as Christopher Strong and Baby Face, which starred Barbara Stanwyck, Lindsay was cast in the award-winning, Cavalcade. Later, Lindsay performed in a small but memorable role as Edith Harris, a doomed English bride whose honeymoon voyage takes place on the Titanic.

Her work in Cavalcade earned her a contract at Warner Bros. where she became a  supporting player, working with Paul Muni, Errol Flynn, Henry Fonda, Warren William, Leslie Howard, George Arliss, Humphrey Bogart, Boris Karloff and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Lindsay was cast four times as the love interest of James Cagney, from 1933-1935. She performed with Cagney in four films: Frisco Kid, Devil Dogs of the Air, G-Men and Lady Killer.

Lindsay co-starred with Bette Davis in four films: 1934's Fog Over Frisco; in 1935's Dangerous (for which Davis won her first Best Actress Academy Award); in Bordertown, co-starring Paul Muni, and as Davis's rival for Henry Fonda's affections in Jezebel (1938), which earned Davis her second Best Actress Academy Award.

The Law in Her Hands (1936), she performed a leading role as a mob lawyer. It was rare among gangster films of the 30's to have a female in such a male-dominated role. Made after the Motion Picture Production Code came into effect, The Law in Her Hands was forced into a reactionary stance towards the gender switch and concluded with a plot twist that was the complete opposite of the Pre-Code period (1929–1934), when "female characters on the screen could say, do and be whatever they wanted".

Lindsay's best known film role was, The House of the Seven Gables in 1940, with George Sanders and Vincent Price. Her 1940s film series work in Hollywood included: Ellery Queen series from 1940-1942.

Lindsay, performed in a supporting role in the 1942 film, The Spoilers, starring John Wayne and in Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street in 1945. While her work in the late 1940s would occasionally involve a supporting role in MGM films like Cass Timberlane with Spencer Tracy, her film career faded, soon after.

She returned to the stage and co-starred with Franchot Tone, in The Second Man. 1950s and 1960s She made her television debut in 1950 in, The Importance of Being Earnest. More television work soon followed. Lindsay performed in only four films during the 1950s and two in the 1960s. Her final feature film was, Tammy and the Doctor (1963).

Lindsay lived with her sister Helen in Hollywood. Later in life, she lived with her youngest sister Mickie. Despite being romantically linked to actors such as William Gargan and Edward Norris, she never married.

Margaret Lindsay's sister, Jane Kies (1909–1985), was also an actress under the name of Jane Gilbert. In 1940, Jane married the son of Hedda Hopper, actor William Hopper, best known for his role as Paul Drake in the Perry Mason television series. Their daughter Joan was born in 1942, and the couple divorced in the early 1960s. Lindsay's niece Peggy Kenline and great-nephew Brad Yates were also actors.

Pre Code: The House on 56th Street (1933)

The House on 56th Street(1933). Drama. Cast: Kay Francis and Margaret Lindsay.

The film begins with Peggy Martin, who is living with Lindon Fiske, but.. she really is in love with another man, Monte Van Tyle. The couple marry against his family's wishes and move to 56th St., soon they have a baby girl. Things are going well, until a very ill Fiske, comes back into Peggy's life. When she refuses to leave her family to come back to him, he threatens to commit suicide. Some how, the gun goes off and she is sent to prison for twenty years, for a murder she did not commit.

While Peggy is in jail, Monte is killed in World War I and their daughter Eleanor is told that her mother is also dead. Soon, after Peggy's release, she meets her future partner, gambler Bill Blaine. They go to work for Bonelli, a New York politician who has opened a gambling house in Peggy's old home on 56th St. No one can read Peggy's poker face.

Not even Eleanor, who visits the gambling house and it soon becomes obvious that she inherited her mother's love of gambling and begins to win big money. Peggy, recognizes her now grown daughter and does not like the path she is following. Peggy, decides to teach Eleanor a lesson and makes sure she does not win. Things Take a turn for the worse when Blaine calls Eleanor, into his office and threatens to tell her husband about her debts, to prevent him from doing so, Eleanor.. shoots and kills him. How will Peggy protect her only child from going to prison?

This story is full of unexpected twists and turns and Kay Francis, plays a very brave character who stands up to the plate no matter what life throws at her.

Margaret Lindsay (September 19, 1910 - May 9, 1981). Her time as a Warner Bros. contract player during the 1930s was particularly productive. She was best known for her supporting work in films such as Jezebel (1938) and Scarlet Street (1945) and her leading roles in lower-budgeted B movie films such as the Ellery Queen series at Columbia in the early 1940s. Critics regard her portrayal of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Hepzibah Pyncheon in the 1940 film adaptation of The House of the Seven Gables as Lindsay's standout career role.

Green Light(1937).

Green Light (1937). Directed by Frank Borzage. Cast: Errol Flynn, Anita Louise and Margaret Lindsay. The film is adapted from a novel written by Lloyd C. Douglas. The novel is related to Douglas' previous book, Magnificent Obsession, which was also turned into a movie.

Newell Paige, life is ruined when he takes the blame for a patient's death caused by his mentor, Dr. Endicott, and is asked to resign.

He packs up and travels to Montana to work on a cure for Rocky Mountain spotted fever with his friend, bacteriologist John Stafford. As luck wold have it, Paige.. is in love with Phyllis Dexter, the dead patient's daughter.

Things become very complicated when she finds out that he also, maybe responsible for her mother's death.

In Montana, Paige begins working to discover a serum to combat the fever, using himself as a guinea pig for his experiments. After learning the truth Phyllis, travels to Montana to beg for his forgiveness just as Paige falls ill. Will she get there in time?

 

Errol Flynn, looks as handsome as ever. Walter Abel, gives a good performance as a dedicated physician and Henry O'Neill, is also gives a very believable performance as the doctor who makes a serious mistake during the operation. This film, maybe interesting only in the fact that Flynn plays an offbeat role as a physician.

Margaret Lindsay (September 19, 1910 - May 9, 1981), was best known for her supporting work in successful films of the 1930's and 194'0s such as: Jezebel (1938) and Scarlet Street (1945) and her leading roles in lower-budgeted B movie films such as the Ellery Queen series at Columbia in the early 1940's.

Her performance as Hepzibah Pyncheon, in the 1940 film adaptation of The House of the Seven Gables as Lindsay's standout career role.

Pre - Code: Baby Face(1933).

Baby Face (1933). A dramatic film directed by Alfred E. Green. Cast:  Barbara Stanwyck and George Brent. Based on a story by Darryl F. Zanuck. This Pre-Code Hollywood film is about an young woman who uses sex to advance herself socially and her career. The film's open discussion of sex made it one of the most notorious films of the Pre-Code Hollywood era.

The story begins when Lily Powers, the daughter of Nick Powers, a speakeasy owner, tries to keep her distance from men, who her father forces on her. It does not take long before Lily, decides to give in and use men to get what she wants.

She leaves town with her maid Chico and takes a job in a bank, where she seduces: Jimmy McCoy, his boss Brody and Ned Stevens, Brody's supervisor. Stevens, who has fallen under Lily spell sets her up in an elegant apartment, even though he is engaged to Ann Carter, the daughter of one of the bank's high power executives.

Out of jealousy, Stevens kills Carter, then himself, creating a scandal at the bank. The bank decides to send Lily Paris to stop the scandle.

When Courtland Trenholm, is transferred to Paris, he too falls in love with Lily and marries her. Trenholm signs over all his money to Lily and when the bank falls into bankruptcy, Lily refuses to help him. Feeling helpless Trenholm decides to shoot himself, will Lily arrive in time to save his life?

Barbara Stanwyck, is wonderful as the bad girl, who knows how to work all the men in her life.

John Wayne, is a unsuccessful suitor for Stanwyck. This would be the only time these two performers appeared together on screen.

Margaret Lindsay (September 19, 1910 - May 9, 1981). After some minor roles in Pre-Code films such as Christopher Strong and Baby Face, Lindsay was cast in the film, Cavalcade. Her performance in, Cavalcade earned her a contract at Warner Bros.

Lindsay played Edith Harris, a doomed English bride whose honeymoon voyage takes place on the Titanic. 

Lindsay was cast four times as the love interest of James Cagney, from 1933-1935 in the classic films: Frisco Kid, Devil Dogs of the Air, G-Men and Lady Killer.

Lindsay co-starred with Bette Davis in four films: 1934's Fog Over Frisco, 1935's Dangerous, Bordertown, Jezebel(1938), The Law in Her Hands (1936). Author Roger Dooley identified the film as "being the only film of the 1930's to have a pair of female legal partners".

Made after the Motion Picture Production Code came into effect. Lindsay's favorite film role may have been, The House of the Seven Gables(1940).

Her 1940's film series included the Crime Doctor series, as well as her continuing role as Nikki Porter in, Columbia's Ellery Queen series from 1940-1942.

Lindsay performed in a supporting role in the 1942 film, The Spoilers, starring John Wayne and in Fritz Lang's, Scarlet Street(1945).

After performing in Cass Timberlane with Spencer Tracy, her film career began to fade.

Her last film was, Tammy and the Doctor (1963).

Early in her career, Lindsay lived with her sister Helen in Hollywood.

Later in life, she lived with her youngest sister Mickie. Margaret Lindsay's sister, Jane Kies (1909–1985), was also an actress named, Jane Gilbert.

In 1940, Jane married the son of Hedda Hopper, actor William Hopper, best known for his role as Paul Drake in the Perry Mason television series.

Lindsay's niece Peggy Kenline and great-nephew Brad Yates were also actors.

The Case of the Curious Bride(1935).

 

The Case of the Curious Bride(1935). Mystery film, the second in a series starring Warren William as Perry Mason.

The story begins when Rhoda Montaine, an old friend of lawyer Perry Mason, who is asked to help a friend of hers who husband, was thought to be dead, is still alive. Rhoda, maybe the one in trouble, Perry has the coroner, exhume her first husband, Gregory Moxley. Instead of a corpse, they find the statue of a wooden Indian. Perry decides to confront him in his home, but when he arrives, he finds Moxley dead. Perry then visits Rhoda, where her current husband, Carl Montaine, reveals that Rhoda has left him to protect him from a scandal. Perry follows her to the airport and has her surrender to the press. C. Phillip Montaine, Carl's father, insists that Rhoda's marriage to his son is illegitimate, which would allow Carl to testify against her. To prevent that, Perry hires another woman to pretend to have married Moxley before Rhoda. Perry's detective, Spudsy Drake, discovers that Moxley is married to showgirl Doris Pender, even though her brother Oscar admits he was at Moxley's apartment on the night of the murder, he denies having committed the crime. Perry throws a party, inviting all the suspects. Will Perry find the real murder?

If you are a fan of the 30's detective films, you may enjoy this film too. Of course... it is always fun to see a yearly Errol Flynn performance.

Fun Facts:

One of Errol Flynn's earliest films, his role consisted of lying on a marble slab as a corpse. There was also a flashback sequence towards the end of the film showing how Flynn was killed. The film in question has appeared at least twice on Turner Classic Movies during Errol Flynn festivals despite his very limited ( less than two minutes) screen time.

Unlike the novels and the Raymond Burr TV series, which used Los Angeles as a location and/or base, here Perry Mason's offices are in San Francisco.

Margaret Lindsay (September 19, 1910 - May 9, 1981). After some minor roles in Pre-Code films such as Christopher Strong and Baby Face, Lindsay was cast in the film, Cavalcade. Lindsay was selected for a small role as Edith Harris, a doomed English bride whose honeymoon voyage takes place on the Titanic.

Her performance in, Cavalcade earned her a contract at Warner Bros. where she became a  supporting player, working with Paul Muni, Errol Flynn, Henry Fonda, Warren William, Leslie Howard, George Arliss, Humphrey Bogart, Boris Karloff and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Lindsay was cast four times as the love interest of James Cagney in Warner films from 1933-1935. She performed with Cagney in four films: Frisco Kid, Devil Dogs of the Air, G-Men and Lady Killer.

Lindsay co-starred with Bette Davis in four films:  1934's Fog Over Frisco; in 1935's Dangerous, Bordertown, Jezebel(1938), The Law in Her Hands (1936), in which she played a mob lawyer. Author Roger Dooley identified the film as "being the only film of the 1930s to have a pair of female legal partners". Made after the Motion Picture Production Code came into effect.

Lindsay's favorite film role may have been, The House of the Seven Gables in 1940, with George Sanders and Vincent Price. Directed by Joe May from a screenplay by Lester Cole, the film's musical score by Frank Skinner was nominated for an Academy Award.

Her 1940s film series included Columbia's first entry in its Crime Doctor series, as well as her continuing role as Nikki Porter in, Columbia's Ellery Queen series from 1940-1942.

Lindsay performed in a supporting role in the 1942 film, The Spoilers, starring John Wayne, and in Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street in 1945. While her work in the late 1940s would occasionally involve a supporting role in MGM films, Cass Timberlane with Spencer Tracy, after which her film career began to fade. Her last film was, Tammy and the Doctor (1963).

Early in her career, Lindsay lived with her sister Helen in Hollywood. Later in life, she lived with her youngest sister Mickie.

Margaret Lindsay's sister, Jane Kies (1909–1985), was also an actress named, Jane Gilbert. In 1940, Jane married the son of Hedda Hopper, actor William Hopper, best known for his role as Paul Drake in the Perry Mason television series.  Lindsay's niece Peggy Kenline and great-nephew Brad Yates were also actors.