Bedtime Story (1941).

Bedtime Story (1941). Comedy film directed by Alexander Hall. Cast: Fredric March, Loretta Young and Robert Benchley.

After seven years of marriage, stage actress Jane, has her heart set on leaving the stage and live on a farm in Connecticut. Her husband, producer-playwright Luke Drake, has different plans and is ready to start rehearsals for his new play and is late showing up for their retirement party.



Where Luke, informs Jane and the others that he has sold their dream farm and bought a theater. Heartbroken, she packs her suitcase and travels to Reno for a divorce. Wanting to stop the divorce, Luke plants a false story in a gossip columns, announcing that he is ill and that he has cancelled his play. Reading a newspaper article, that Luke is not well and has given up working, she rushes back only to find that it's not true.

Jane, goes back to Reno to get her divorce and begins dating banker, William Dudley. Luke follows Jane to Reno and arrives at her hotel just as William Dudley, shows up to take her to dinner. When Luke asks for a chance to talk to Jane alone, Dudley hands over the keys to his car and Luke and Jane go for a drive to talk things over.

Luke, accidentally runs out of gas and needing a place to stay for the night they get a hotel room. While there, she helps him with his script and tells him to cast someone else to perform in it. She, then tells Luke, that he owes her $4.40 for his share of the gas and hotel.

When Luke reads that Jane has become engaged to Dudley, he wants to win her back. Learning that the police plan to raid a club named Billy's that night, Luke suggests to Jane that she and Dudley join him for dinner. Asking Jane to meet him at the theater, Luke then phones Dudley and asks him to meet them at Billy's.

When Jane arrives at the theater in the middle of rehearsals, Luke pretends to chastise Virginia's performance and Jane offers to coach her. Jane, gives such a wonderful reading that Virginia leaves the stage. Now, without a leading lady Luke, says he has to cancel the play, Jane then offers to take the part until he can find someone to perform in the part. As they leave the theater, a policeman informs them that Dudley has been arrested and Jane, realizing that she has been tricked backs out of her promise. Then bails Dudley out of jail and elopes with him.

The next morning, Luke and Eddie, arrive at the apartment with flowers, to apologize. Only to find out that Jane has just married William. Luke, hires two men to act as inspectors, questioning Jane on the validity of her marriage.  She hands William all of her Reno receipts... except the one from the California hotel. When she refuses to give Luke that receipt, he admits the inspectors are fake. Their friend Emma, comes over to tell Jane, that the production has shut down and that Luke, paid them off with the last of his money.

Realizing how much he loves her, Jane hands Emma, the receipt and tells her that she wants the money Luke, owes her for the hotel room. It takes Luke a minute, to realize that with the receipt, he can prove that Jane's marriage is not legal.

At the hotel, Luke sends a parade of plumbers, electricians and maids... to interrupt Jane and William on their wedding night. Will he be able to break up the honeymooning couple for good?

"Bedtime Story", is a stylish comedy with a wonderful cast. Frederic March, was at the height of his movie career and Loretta Young, also has some fun scenes in the film. The supporting cast: Eve Arden, Allyn Joslyn, Helen Westley and Joyce Compton, will charm their classic movie fans.

Helen Westley (March 28, 1875 – December 12, 1942). A character actress and member of the original board of the Theatre Guild.

Westley, played roles, both comic and dramatic in many films: Death Takes a Holiday, All This and Heaven Too, four films opposite child star Shirley Temple (including Dimples and Heidi), the 1934 surprise hit Anne of Green Gables, the 1935 film version of Roberta, and the 1936 film version of Show Boat, in which she replaced Edna May Oliver.

She also appeared in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm in 1938 with Shirley Temple and Randolph Scott as Aunt Miranda.

In 1936 she played in Banjo on My Knee with Barbara Stanwyck, Walter Brennan and Buddy Ebsen.

Westley was married to John Westley, an actor on Broadway, on October 31, 1900. The couple separated in 1912 . The marriage ended in divorce. The couple had one daughter, named Ethel.

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.

Happy Birthday: Eve Arden!

Eve Arden (April 30, 1908 – November 12, 1990). Her 60-year career she performed in many supporting and leading roles.

Personal Quote:

"I've worked with a lot of great glamorous girls in movies and the theater. And I'll admit, I've often thought it would be wonderful to be a femme fatale. But then I'd always come back to thinking that if they only had what I've had - a family, real love, an anchor - they would have been so much happier during all the hours when the marquees and the floodlights are dark."

Eternally Yours(1939)

Eternally Yours (1939). Director: Tay Garnett. Cast: Loretta Young, David Niven, Broderick Crawford, Billie Burke, Eve Arden, Hugh Herbert, C. Aubrey Smith, Virginia Field, Zasu Pitts, Raymond Walburn.

While Anita is making plans to marry Don, she meets Tony a magician and they fall in love and marry. Anita goes on the road with Tony’s act, even performing in his show with him. But his stunts become more and more dangerous and Anita can no longer take it. She divorces him and to get over the heartbreak, she marries Don. But Anita can’t escape Tony for long and not long after her wedding they’re stuck at the same party together.

The first half of the movie is very charming. David Niven, was quite impressive as a dare devil magician, who becomes torn between his fans and his commitment to his wife, which makes for a very interesting love story. Niven and Young, have wonderful on screen chemistry.

 

Virginia Field (November 4, 1917 – January 2, 1992) was a British-born film actress who performed in over 40 films including: Ladies in Love (1936), Waterloo Bridge (1940), Repeat Performance (1947), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949) and Dial 1119 (1950).

She started her film career in England then was brought to the U.S. to perform in, Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936). In the late 1930's she performed in various parts in, Mr. Moto movie series.

Fields married three times, including a marriage to actor Paul Douglas and a marriage to actor Willard Parker.

Motherhood + Noir = Mildred Pierce (1948).

Mildred Pierce (1945). Noir. Cast: Joan Crawford, Ann Blyth, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, and Eve Arden. Screenplay by Ranald MacDougall, William Faulkner, and Catherine Turney was based upon the 1941 novel Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain. Director: Michael Curtiz and produced by Jerry Wald with Jack L. Warner as executive producer. Mildred Pierce was Crawford's first starring film for Warner Bros. after leaving MGM and won her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

She was not at the award ceremony because she was home in bed with pneumonia. However, there was a story circulated that she faked her illness. Joan did not think she would win the Academy Award and she did not want to attend the ceremony to be humiliated. It was said that after she heard that she won the award for Best Actress, she jumped out of bed, did her make up and put on her best negligee to meet the press.

The film, begins with Beragon being shot. He whispers "Mildred" as he dies. The police believe that the murderer is Mildred Pierce's first husband. She then tells her life story in flashback:

We see a very unhappy Mildred married to a unemployed Bert Pierce, who cheats on his wife and walks out. He worked in real-state with his partner, Wally Fay.

Mildred's wants to spoil daughter Veda, who longs for the life the family cannot afford. Mildred finds a job as a waitress.

One day, Veda gives their maid Lottie Mildred's waitress uniform, which forces Mildred to admit that she is a waitress, embarrassing Veda.

When, Mildred's younger daughter Kay dies of pneumonia, Mildred throws herself into her restaurant. With the help of Ida, Mildred's new restaurant is a success. And Mildred opens a chain of "Mildred's" throughout Southern California.



Mildred continues to try to please Veda, by going into a loveless marriage with gold-digger Monty Beragon in order to improve her social standing.



Beragon lives the wild life supported by Mildred. When Veda becomes romantically involved with Monty, things come to a head at the beach house where the story began.

The movie is very interesting all the way through, because.. of the interesting characters:

Eve Arden, who provides the humor and wise cracks.

Ann Blyth, as the Daughter, is one of the worst kids in the history of film.

Joan Crawford, character is a hard-worker, good business sense (until the end).

Fun Fact:

Monty's Beach House, was owned by the film's director, Michael Curtiz. It was built in 1929 in Malibu. It collapsed into the ocean after a week of heavy storms in January 1983.

Zachary Scott (February 21, 1914 – October 3, 1965), was best known for his roles as villains and "mystery man". He was a distant cousin of George Washington, and his grandfather had been a very successful cattle rancher.

Scott was planning to be a doctor like his father, Zachary Scott Sr. (1880–1964), but after attending the University of Texas for a while, he decided to switch to acting.

He signed on as a cabin boy on a freighter which took him to England, where he acted in repertory theatre for a while, before he returned to Austin, and began acting in local theater.

Alfred Lunt discovered Scott in Texas and convinced him to move to New York City, where he appeared on Broadway. Scott made his debut on Broadway in a revival of Ah, Wilderness! in 1941 with a small role as a bartender.

Three years later, Jack Warner saw him in a performance of, Those Endearing Young Charms and signed him to appear in The Mask of Dimitrios.

He appeared the next year in the film, Mildred Pierce. In the film, Scott was Joan Crawford's gold-digger love interest, whose mysterious murder formed the basis of the plot.

In 1946 Scott and his first wife Elaine socialized regularly with Angela Lansbury and her first husband, Richard Cromwell. Elaine Scott had met Zachary Scott back in Austin and she made a name for herself behind the scenes on Broadway as stage manager for the original production of Oklahoma!. The Scotts had one child together.

Scott went on to star in: The Southerner, The Unfaithful, Cass Timberlane, Flamingo Road, Flaxy Martin, Guilty Bystander, Wings of Danger, and Shadow on the Wall.

He later starred in, The Young One (La Joven, 1960), Bunuel's second English language movie (the first being Adventures of Robinson Crusoe).

In 1950, Scott was involved in a rafting accident. Also during that year, he divorced his first wife, Elaine, who subsequently married writer John Steinbeck.

Since Warner Bros. did not continue to promote his films, he turned back to the stage, and also appeared on television.

During this period Scott remarried and he and his second wife, actress Ruth Ford, had a child together as well (he adopted her daughter from a previous marriage).

He moved back to Austin, where he died from a brain tumor at the age of 51.

In 1968 the Austin Civic Theatre was renamed the Zachary Scott Theatre Center to honor their native son. His family has endowed two chairs at the University of Texas's theatre department in his name. A street at the old airport Mueller Redevelopment in Austin is named in his honor.

Manpower(1941).

Manpower(1941). Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Marlene Dietrich, and George Raft. The memorable posters for the movie stated, "Robinson - He's mad about Dietrich. Dietrich - She's mad about Raft. Raft - He's mad about the whole thing." The film was written by Richard Macauley and Jerry Wald. Director: Raoul Walsh. Robinson and Raft, got into a fistfight on the set that made the front pages of the newspapers. Victor McLaglen, was going to play Robinson's role, which would have made it a supporting part and Raft did not want to share the leading man status on the film. As a result Robinson was cast instead.

Raft chose Manpower over the remake of the 1931 Pre-Code version of, The Maltese Falcon and the role of "Sam Spade" went to Humphrey Bogart instead.

The script is one of many reworkings of the plot line for a 1932 Robinson movie called Tiger Shark, in which Robinson played the same part, only as a tuna fisherman instead of an electric power lineman. The supporting cast of Manpower includes Alan Hale, Sr., Frank McHugh and Eve Arden.

The story begins, while lineman Hank McHenry, is working on a high power line during a rain storm, he falls ending up with a permanent leg injury. No longer able to work on the lines, he is made foreman.

A bad storm downs some lines and one of his men is killed on the job. Hank, must tell his friends daughter Fay, who just got out of prison. Hank, hands her some money, claiming that it came from her fathers insurance.

Fay, who works in a nightclub, isn't fooled by Hank's kind gesture, but takes the money anyway. Johnny's warns Hank not to see Fay.

After a short time, Hank asks Fay to marry him, although she is not in love with him, she agrees. Trying to protect his friend Hank, Johnny, offers to buy her off, but fails.

Soon after, Johnny is seriously injured at work and Hank brings him home so they can help him with his recovery.. Fay falls in love with Johnny, but when she tells him about her feelings, he becomes angry with her.

Hank's team travels to work at Boulder Dam and Fay decides this would be the best time to leave Hank. Looking for work at the nightclub where she used to work, Fay is caught in a raid. Rivalry between the two friends Hank and Johnny get out of hand.. Who will come to Fay's rescue?

Manpower (1941) Movie Clip.

I thought it was a very entertaining movie with a strong cast. I also enjoyed Eve Arden, in her usual role as the wisecracking best friend of the leading lady..

Comrade X (1940)

Comrade X is a 1940 lighthearted spy movie, starring Clark Gable and Hedy Lamarr and directed by King Vidor. Recommended by Paul.

Newspaper reporter McKinley B. Thompson, wants to hide his identity as Comrade X, the reporter who is writing stories about Russia for the big newspapers. Vanya, the valet in his Moscow hotel, has found out who he is and demands that the he take his daughter out of the country before she is shot as a Communist. Thompson agrees to meet Vanya's daughter, a streetcar conductor who uses the name Theodore. Thompson tries to convince the girl to go to America with him, but she wants to investigate him first.



Later, Theodore shows up on Thompson's doorstep and announces that they will be married because that is the only way they can leave the country. After returning from their wedding he is questioned about the camera of Comrade X that was found in Vanya's room. Sentenced to death, Thompson offers to expose the head of the counter-revolution in exchange for his life and those of Vanya and Theodore.

Taken to the commissar's office, Thompson is shocked to find not Vasiliev but Michael Bastakoff, the new commissar and the former leader. Tricking Bastakoff by offering to turn over his evidence, Thompson escapes with Vanya and Theodore. The threesome steal a Russian tank with the general inside and followed by the Soviet army. Will they cross over the Romanian border in time?

The second and final film Hedy Lamarr and Clark Gable made together. It's a fun comedy and Hedy Lamarr is just adorable in all her interesting outfits. Clark Gable's humor works perfectly in this movie.

Eve Arden (April 30, 1908 – November 12, 1990). Her 60-year career crossed most media frontiers with supporting and leading roles, but she may be best-remembered for playing the sardonic but engaging title character, a high school teacher, on Our Miss Brooks, and as the Rydell High School principal in the films Grease and Grease 2.

At age 16, she left Tamalpais High School and joined a stock theater company. She made her film debut, in the backstage musical, Song of Love (1929). She played a wisecracking showgirl who becomes a rival to the film's star, singer Belle Baker.

Her film career began in 1937, when she performed in the films: Oh Doctor and Stage Door. Her Stage Door performance as the witty supporting character, was to be a template for many of Arden's future roles.

Her many memorable screen roles include: Mildred Pierce (1945) for which she received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress, and James Stewart's wistful secretary in, Anatomy of a Murder (1959). (One of her co-stars in that film was husband Brooks West.) She also performed some acrobatics while trying to steal a wallet from Groucho Marx in the film, At the Circus (1939).

EVE ARDEN

Eunice Quedens, first performance was at age seven, when she won a WCTU medal for her recital of the poem "No Kicka My Dog." After graduating from high school, she became a actress on the California stock company circuit.

She played a seductress in the Columbia talkie, Song of Love (1929), where she plays the vamp who attempts to steal leading man Ralph Graves from Baker. This is not the typical Arden role.

Dancing Lady(1933). A story about the love triangle involving Clark Gable, Franchot Tone for Joan Crawford's hand. It is the first film where Fred Astaire, plays himself, singing and dancing. Eve Arden, plays a would-be actress faking a southern accent in a very short scene. It is also the first film where the three stooges were actually billed as "stooges." After her performance in Dancing Lady(1933), she wanted to change her name for professional reasons. Supposedly, she came up with the idea for her new name from a container of Elizabeth Arden cold cream.

Several performances in Ziegfeld Follies followed, and in 1937 Arden returned to films as a character actress. Stage Door(1937), The entire cast is excellent: Katharine Hepburn is the new girl who quickly meets the `regulars': Ginger Rogers, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Ann Miller, Gail Patrick and Andrea Leeds. From Stage Door(1937), Eve Arden, was typecast as the sarcastic "best friend" who seldom got the man but always had the best lines.

A couple of her best known film roles:

Cover Girl (1944). Is one of my favorite Rita Hayworth musicals. The story is about a dancer who wants to be a cover girl and makes it big in show business. She does it without the help of her talented dancer/director boyfriend (Gene Kelly). Kelly is given the chance to choreograph the spectacular musical numbers.

The Doughgirls (1944). Eve Arden, who made a career of playing second banana, is wonderful as a Russian soldier. Jame Wyman, though not a blonde, delivers one "dumb blonde" line after another. Jack Carson is his usual funny self. Charley Ruggles is a lecherous old man. Alan Mowbray is a broadcaster. "The Doughgirls" is really a female Marx Brothers circus.

She earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in Mildred Pierce (1945). Eve Arden, was wonderful as Mildred's best friend.

 

In July of 1948, she performed the popular radio comedy Our Miss Brooks. Our Miss Brooks was transferred to television in 1952, running five seasons.

Next was the less successful 1957 The Eve Arden Show. This failure was long forgotten by her stage performances as Auntie Mame and Hello, Dolly! and her well liked film performances:

Anatomy of a Murder(1959). A great story and a great cast, Otto Preminger as director, knew exactly how to put together a film..

Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960). A look at the inner strength of these characters, as they struggle with money troubles and their love lives.

In 1967, she returned to TV to co-star with Kaye Ballard on The Mothers-in-Law which lasted two years.

And in 1978, she became known to a new generation with her performance as Principal McGee in the film version of Broadway's Grease. One of the best Broadway musicals ever adapted for the big screen, set at Rydell High circa 1950's with Travolta, in a leather jacket, with a heart-of-gold Danny Zuko remembering his "Summer Nights" with Olivia Newton-John, as goody-goody Sandy who learns a few things from "The Pink Ladies".

In 1985, Eve Arden came out with her autobiography, The Three Phases of Eve.

STAGE DOOR (1937).

Stage Door (1937). Adapted from the play by the same name. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, Gail Patrick, Constance Collier, Andrea Leeds, Samuel S. Hinds, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden and Ann Miller.

When Terry Randall, an aspiring actress arrives at the Footlights Club, she is greeted by a group of actresses and chorus girls. Terry's uppity manner immediately alienates her from her roommates.

Terry Randall: I see that, in addition to your other charms, you have that insolence generated by an inferior upbringing.

Jean Maitland: Hmm! Fancy clothes, fancy language and everything!

Terry Randall: Unfortunately, I learned to speak English correctly.

Jean Maitland: That won't be of much use to you here. We all talk pig Latin.

Because of her relationship with producer Anthony Powell, known womanizer, Jean also dislikes room mate, Linda Shaw.

Loved by all is Kay Hamilton, a actress who had done very well so far and has since been unable to find work.

Jean is spotted during a dance rehearsal by Powell, who arranges an audition for her and her partner Annie at a nightclub.

Later, Kay faints in Powell's office when she learns that the producer has refused to see her. Angry, Terry bursts into Powell's office and gives him what for, for his callous behavior. Powell dismisses Terry, but when he is later approached by a potential backer who has made casting Terry a part of his offer, agrees to star her in his next play, Enchanted April.

 

 Powell then invites Jean to dine with him and to spite Linda, Jean accepts. Powell shows Jean, pictures of his young son and estranged wife and plays a "poor little me" routine to win her over. When Jean becomes drunk, Powell sends her home, where Terry helps her to bed.

Later, Powell tells Terry that he wants her to star in Enchanted April. Kay is stunned to learn that Terry has been cast in the role and wishes her room mate's good luck. In spite of Terry's bad performance during rehearsal, Powell keeps her in the show. What will it take to turn Terry's out look on life?

A wonderful film, with great dialogue. The real treat for viewers in this film, is the chance to see several popular young actresses early in their careers.




Fun Facts:

Ann Miller was only 14 years old when she performed in this film. She had lied about her age and produced a fake birth certificate. Miller was tall and beautiful at age 14 that she pulled it off. It is quite impressive to see her holding her own while dancing with Ginger Rogers, by then the dance partner of Fred Astaire.