King Creole 1958

Today is Elvis Presley's birthday! I am not a huge Elvis fan, but I am a fan of his work in 1958's King Creole. Shot in black and white in New Orleans (and Paramount, naturally), this film shows Elvis as a true actor. With Michael Curtiz directing and Hal B. Wallis producing you can't go wrong.  

Elvis plays Danny, a high school student who just can't seem to graduate due to his "bad attitude". He tries hard but finds work more important than school due to the fact that his mom passed away and his dad can't seem to hold a job. Working at a night club, he finds himself helping Ronnie, played by Carolyn Jones. You might know her as Morticia from the original Addam's Family. Shes being pushed around and Danny steps in. Before they part she drops him off at school and demands a kiss. 

Danny learns his dad got a job at the pharmacy. Later that night, Danny is working the club when he runs into Ronnie and learns she's the arm candy of big wig club owner Maxie Fields played splendidly by Walter Matthau. Maxie insists Danny sing for the club and he does, wowing the crowd. Rival club owner Charlie (Paul Stewart) hears Danny and offers him a job at his club, the King Creole. Danny accepts and is soon the hit of the town. 

The opening act for Danny on his first night shows a cute number performed by French actress Liliane Montevecchi. She wears a banana costume very reminiscent of Josephine Baker and struts around with bananas hanging from her suit and palm tree props. 

           

Wanting to make some extra cash, Danny meets the local scrappy gang who work for Maxie. They ask Danny to serenade the Five and Dime while they go in and steal. The plan works and Danny meets counter girl Nellie (played by Dolores Hart). She is as sweet as they come and has no problem telling Danny how she feels about him. She feels a lot.

Soon Danny finds him self seeing Nellie and Ronnie, and playing nightly at The King Creole. Maxie doesn't like the hype and forces Danny to work for him. In the mean time, Danny's dad is getting pushed around at work and the gang decides to mug the boss and steal his cash. Danny is in on the gig too, but things go wrong and Danny's dad is the one hurt. 

Danny needs to get away. The pressure from Maxie is too heavy and Nellie wants to get more serious. He ends up Ronnie's beach house and they plan a future away from Maxie. Will their plan work? What about Nellie? You'll have to watch to see what happens next.

The soundtrack to this film is great, with Elvis singing many numbers like "New Orleans", "Dixieland Rock", and "Hard-Headed Woman" along with an opening song, "Crawfish" sung with Kitty White that starts the movie out strong.  Some thought he would be nominated for an Oscar for his roll but that didn't pan out. Ten days after the film wrapped, Elvis entered the army and started basic training. Nellie played by Dolores Hart left Hollywood several years after this film was made and became a nun, and is the Reverend Mother at a Monastery in Connecticut.  In a documentary about her life, she was asked why she left her acting career of 16 years for the church. She responded, "God is bigger than Elvis". 

James Dean was supposed to snag this role but Hal B. Wallis wanted Elvis for his musical abilities. Elvis's manager, the Colonel Tom Parker, was very against him playing Danny, but eventually he got the role. Elvis was known to spend more time with the crew and extras hanging out an playing music than sitting in his dressing room. Walter Mathau was the "veteran" actor on set and was told by Michael Curtiz that he was a high priced actor but to act like a low priced actor. Elvis asked him for advice on the set which Walter obliged.  Filming proved to be tricky with rain delays and the daily mob that formed outside the Roosevelt Hotel where Elvis and others were staying. Shooting proved difficult too to due to the large onlooking crowds. Elvis was document as saying this was the favorite of all his films. 

Box Office Poison

Ready for your daily trivia: what do Kay Francis, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, and Mae West all have in common?  If you were going to say that these gals, including Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich were all at one time tagged as box office poison, you are correct! While MGM had a stellar year in 1939 with films such as Gone With the Wind, Wizard of Oz, and The Women to name a few, just a year prior the industry was not as stable. The war was looming, and studios were dumping loads of cash into stars hoping to get a huge return, and some just weren't. Katharine Hepburn had success with Holiday co-starting Cary Grant, but other films such as Break of Hearts, and A Woman Rebels flopped. Mae West had made loads of dough for Paramount and wanted $300,000 a film, but they weren't drawing in the crowds like they used to. 

                                       

  On May 3, 1938, the Independent Theater Owners Association published an ad in the Hollywood Reporter naming names and letting all of Hollywood know just what they felt about big stars with big salaries who's movies were "drawing in nil". Harry Brandt was responsible for the ad and didn't stop there. He went on to add to his star list in an article for the Independent Film Journal including Norma Shearer and Delores Del Rio, and even added some men to the list, John Barrymore and strangely Fred Astaire. While it's true Barrymore was having a hard time with alcohol and could not read his lines without cue cards, Fred Astaire had a relevant career that would see more highs than lows. 

                                                                               

When the ITOA published in the Hollywood Reporter, it took the industry little time to notice. Before long the news was everywhere and started affecting contract negotiations and salaries. Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons even got in the mix. But in the end it didn't make much difference to some stars who continued to have lasting solid careers in Hollywood. It was just momentary ruckus that got Hollywood in a tizzy. Looking back decades later and who was "box office poison" it might be a bit comical as Katharine Hepburn, Fred Astaire, and Joan Crawford won Oscars later in their career, with Katharine winning 4 and being nominated 12 times. Way to pull out of the trenches!

       

     

1940's My Favorite Wife

What better for a lazy day after Christmas than to watch my favorite player Cary Grant in the adorable film My Favorite Wife. 

Grant plays Nick, a widow ready to remarry to Bianca, played by Gail Patrick. The two hit the courthouse to marry but Nick realizes he has to clear up some business. Wife number one was Ellen (Irene Dunne) who died seven years back in a shipwreck leaving Nick and twin babies to fend for themselves. Ready to move one, he needs to dissolved his first marriage by having her declared officially dead before he can get hitched again. 

Just as the new couple starts their honeymoon, Ellen returns. She tells her mother-in-law that she was stranded on a deserted island and was rescued. She is ready to see her family, but learns of her hubby's new marriage. They are even staying in the same hotel as they once did! Ellen goes to find Nick and they have a brief encounter. Nick finally sees his old bride - he thinks -  and before he can find out for sure, Ellen plays a prank by sending the newly weds champagne before he can get downstairs to understand what is happening. 

While Nick tries to rationalize what he just saw, Bianca is ready to get this vacation started. Nick is confused. He loves his wife but thought she was dead, like, really dead, but he also has a new bride. He gets Ellen her own hotel room so they can talk.

What the hell, Ellen?!

Nick is going to tell Bianca but he chickens out. He avoids her and calls her from the payphone in the lobby pretending to be on a plane. She obviously doesn't buy it.

Ellen goes to their home and tries to build a relationship with the children who don't know yet they she's their mother. When Nick returns home Ellen finds our he has not yet told Bianca the truth about who she is. Ellen is angry, but to be civilized, she pretends to be an old southern friend.

Nick hears during their conversation that Ellen was not alone on the island. His jealousy soars. He gets mad at Ellen as she says, "Well Nicky, it wasn't like it was arranged." Nick wants to spy on this mystery man for he is also staying at the same hotel.  To his dismay Nick discovers the man his wife spent the last seven years with in seclusion isn't a toad but a heartthrob. He watches in astonishment as his wife's island mate Stephen (played by Randolph Scott) does some fancy ring work as he dives in the hotel pool.  

Ellen knows Nick will be upset learning that she was alone with such an attractive man, so she gets an "unattractive" man to act as Stephen, played by character actor Chester Clute, so Nick will get off her back. She has no idea he knows the truth. 

Nick isn't buying it and takes Ellen back to the pool so she can run into Stephen.

Stephen learns that Nick has a new bride and tells Nick that he would like to marry Ellen. Some bickering occurs and Ellen takes a stand, all before falling into the pool, fur muff and all. Resting in her hotel room until her clothes are dry, Ellen asks Nick to get her more clothes. He isn't about to let her and Stephen be alone any longer and makes him tag along.

Back at the house, Nick's current wife is convinced her man has gone mad and hires a doctor. Nick tries to convince them what is going on but they think he is crazy, that is until he gets arrested for bigamy! The four of them end up in the courtroom.

Stephen wants Ellen, Bianca wants Nick, and the two actually married ones aren't sure what to do. 

Finally the children learn their mother's identity and they all head for the mountains to think things over. The rest of the film is funny and heartwarming as the family tries to move forward despite their current situations. 

Cary also dresses up as a playful Santa. 

Irene and Cary were a great match. My Favorite Wife started out as a sequel to their first film The Awful Truth from 1937. While The Awful Truth came together smoothly, My Favorite Wife had issues. The writers couldn't figure out an original story and they couldn't think of a third act. The Breen office found the idea of bigamy and newlyweds waiting to consummate their relationship while one person also wanting someone else a problem. The film did prove to be a success and with Grant now of such high fame, he also made two and a half percent of the film's gross earnings on top of his $50,000 salary. Irene and Cary would go on to play husband and wife one more time in 1941's Penny Serenade. 

Christmas in Hollywoodland

How does your Christmas tree look this year? Let's take a look at some of our favorite oldies taking part in a favorite Christmas tradition. Get out the tinsel!

Anne Rutherford (you might remember her as Carreen in Gone With the Wind, and the Andy Hardy movies) Nice faux festive lederhosen!

Deanna Durbin rock'in the popcorn balls and garland

The power couple admiring little Stephen and their perfectly trimmed tree. 

Josephine Baker and a few of her twelve kiddos making the tree sparkle.

Carole Lombard wondering if she made the right outfit choice. 

Lets not forget the many films displaying fabulous Christmas trees! 

Sophia and Bill toasting to their mini tree in The Key

Bette Davis and crew with their giant tree in The Man Who Came To Dinner

Barb and a heavily tinseled tree in Christmas in Connecticut

A modest but pretty tree in Holiday Inn

Cary working using his angel powers in The Bishop's Wife

A tabletop number in Roadblock

The Christmas tree of all Christmas trees in White Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from The Affair 

1940's Remember the Night

One of my favorite Christmas movies is not as well known as classics like White Christmas, or It's a Wonderful Life, but full of sentiment just the same. Starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray in their first of four pairings, Remember the Night follows John Sargent (MacMurray) and Lee Leander (Stanwyck) on an unlikely journey considering their circumstances. 

Lee is in trouble for stealing some jewels. She tries to make a run for it, but gets caught in the chase. She winds up in court with a wacky defender and John as the prosecutor. After a feeble attempt to acquit her, the judge orders the court to resume after Christmas leaving Lee stuck in the slammer. John has a soft spot and makes her bail so she won't be locked up over the holidays. 

Before John knows it, Lee is out on bail and in his apartment!  This puts a stick in John's spokes as he plans to take a road trip to visit his mother for Christmas. Lee doesn't have anywhere to go, and even after suggesting she go back to jail, John decides to buy her dinner and think of a solution.  He takes her to a swanky place with draped walls and chandeliers courtesy of interior decorator, A.E. Freudeman. Lee explains why she steals, they realize they are from the same place, and John decides to give her lift to her mother's house along the way. 

As their journey begins they end up in cow pasture, and get taken in for trespassing and stealing milk. After some quick thinking by Lee they are back on the road - but as fugitives! They reluctantly stop by Lee's mother's house. John learns that Lee's mother is still upset about her actions and shows no love by their impromptu visit. Feeling pity for Lee yet again, he decides to take her to his family's house for Christmas.

Lee is falling for John but knows that with her reputation she would not be a good fit for him. She is proud of his accomplishments as a lawyer and doesn't want to jeopardize his career. Once they arrive at the family home, she is welcomed and adored, even after hearing about her legal situation. The family celebrates the holiday together and John starts to have affections for Lee. They leave for New York by route of Canada as to avoid the cops from the farm fiasco. They spend a night at Niagara Falls and it's clear the two are "falling" for each other.  John suggests they skip town and run away together. Lee wants to go back to NYC and set things straight. 

Once back to the city Lee's trial resumes. John tries to do a lousy job so Lee will get off. Lee, knowing John is too good and decent for her, decides to plead guilty. You'll have to watch to see what transpires in the end, but this film does not have your your typical happy ending, especially for a Christmas film. I happen to love the ending as it is both romantic and realistic. 

This film was written by Preston Sturges who would continue to succeed at his craft with screenplays for The Palm Beach Story, Sullivan's Travels, and one of my favorites, The Lady Eve, of which also stars Stanwyck. It's important to note the film has a racial stereotyped character named Rufus played by Fred Toones. Toones's career included 225 credits, and most of his acting consisted of roles playing janitors, cooks, servants, and bellhops, which was typical for the times. Toones acted in six Oscar nominated films including Imitation of Life, 1937's A Star is Born, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. When he wasn't on set, Fred ran the shoe shining stand on the lot when he was contracted with Republic Pictures.  

Sturges became pals with Stanwyck during production and told her he would write a film just for her, which turned out to be The Lady Eve. He was so unhappy with the decisions made by director Mitchell Leisen on this film that he decided to direct his screenplays going forward. He started a brief production company with one of my favorite players, Howard Hughes, called California Pictures. This ended shortly after it started due to production disagreements and Howard being, well, Howard. Soon after, Hughes would buy RKO Pictures.