Tonight's movie was Merrily We Go to Hell. Frederic March seems to almost be in preparation for his future role in A Star is Born,
playing a drunken reporter, who marries wealthy, loving, and innocent
Sylvia Sidney. Our initial reaction was - why on earth would a lovely
woman like Joan (Sylvia Sidney) be attracted to this drunken fool. He
forgets who she is five minutes after meeting her; then shows up hours
late for their first date. At their engagement party, he shows up late,
and so drunk he has passed out in a cab.
It's not clear if the
film considers Jerry an alcoholic or not. He seems quite able to stop
drinking any time he wants to (the usual claim of drunks); there is also
a certain luridness in his drinking. Yes, he is amusing, but not in the
Nick Charles (The Thin Man) way. He humor is vague and silly.
He forgets what he says after he says it. We find out later that he is
drinking to forget a past girlfriend; when he meets her again, he again
begins drinking (having given it up for his now-wife Joan). Finally, his drunkenness and infidelity drive his wife to drink.
As a brief
aside, we have here an early film of Cary Grant, playing a friend of Jerry's
and date of Joan's. I believe he also has a one second bit (we only see
his back) as an actor in a play (it WAS his voice). Interesting to see
Cary Grant not the romantic lead. It won't last for very long.
Here's a scene with March and Sidney:
Without
giving away the ending, there is no joy here; no real redemption. Will
our couple stay together? Will the drinking resume? And what about that
last line. Just who is Joan talking about when she mentions "my baby".
It does give one pause.
Hello! The Movie Night Group started many years ago - Once a week, some friends and I get together and watch
classic films. We try to do "themes". Just recently, we discussed my blogging our discussion, as a record for us, and to share our opinions with all of you. So, after our "Movie Night", I'll
get back to you on our discussion.
Right now, we are revisiting
PreCode films (we've previously done both of the Forbidden Hollywood
sets), and are using the Universal Pre-Code Hollywood Collection for
our viewing. We started with The Cheat, starring Tallulah
Bankhead. Our reaction - WOW! It's rather over-the-top: Bankhead as a
compulsive gambler who gets herself entangled with a sadist.
We were
fascinated with Irving Pichel who plays our villain, Hardy Livingstone.
(Mr. Pichel later went on to be a director. Among his films was Santa Fe
with Randolph Scott). Mr. Pichel's Hardy starts out appearing rather
effete, but turns out to be a sadistic maniac. Mr. Pichel was
wonderful, making the change from ladies' man to sadist seamlessly.
We
were also amazed by a photo that is in the dvd box that is NOT in
the film. It's very sensational - obviously shot to publicize the movie. It's also
not in the movie (and couldn't be. I won't tell you why.)
I hope you get to see this movie. It's interesting, and not a bit boring. And, quite intense. You might be surprised!
