Wonderland Burlesque's Let's Go To The Movies: That Girl! Edition, Part X

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Let's Go To The Movies

That Girl! Edition, Part X

Who's that girl? Well, I'll tell you who...

This week, we actually get to the movie which inspired this ten part series. Plus we've got burlesque queens, a mobsters gal (on film and in real life!), one featuring a pair of industry groundbreakers, a trio of Hindi films along with a pair of movies featuring my favorite attempted-murderess!

Who's that girl, indeed!

Yes, you know the ones...

The ones whose essence can instantly be captured with one or two words before attaching the word 'girl'. Sure, she's a full-blooded woman (in most cases), but let's keep it young and vital and grant her 'girl' status anyway.

What makes her tick? And what sells tickets?

So, with this final look at the women who put the 'girl' in films, let's pop some corn, grab a seat on the aisle and marvel at these golden ladies of the silver screen.

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The Telephone Girl

(1927)

(A telephone operator finds herself embroiled in a political power game. Doing the right thing, she refuses to cooperate and finds love in the process.)

(Based on the 1911 play, The Woman, by William C. deMillethis silent drama was directed by Herbert Brenon, and stars Madge Bellamy, Holbrook Blinn, and Warner Baxter.)

(Bellamy  was a stage and film actress and a popular leading lady in the 1920's and early 30's. Her career declined during the sound era and ended following a romantic scandal in the 1943.)

Madge Bellamy

(Poor Madge! By 1940, it was pretty much over for Ms. Bellamy. Then, on January 20, 1943, a scandal finished her for good. Her former lover, a wealthy lumber executive, broke off their five year relationship without warning. When Bellamy found out he then married a model shortly after, she went to San Francisco to confront him. After stalking him for four days, she fired a gun at him three times - two of the bullets hit his car, while the third missed altogether. The shooting and a subsequent filing for palimony generated publicity for Bellamy, but effectively ended her already fading career.)

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The Play Girl

(1928)

(When a flower shop clerk, is sent to a bachelor's apartment to deliver and arrange a bouquet, she discovers a guest, young and handsome man, taking a bath. The scandal causes her to lose her job and become a playgirl until the man in the bathtub, her true love, asks her to marry him.)

This silent romantic comedy was directed by Arthur Rosson and stars Madge Bellamy, Johnny Mack Brown and Walter McGrail.

(Some say there was a curse on this particular film project. It seems cinematographer Rudolph Berqquist and studio electrician Thomas Rafferty were both killed in separate accidents and and writer Reggie Morris died of a heart attack during filming. All three deaths occurred within two weeks.

Madge Bellamy

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The Good Bad Girl

(1931)

(A gangster's moll breaks it off with her racketeering boyfriend in order to pursue a respectable rich man. She marries the rich man and they have a child. However, after giving birth to their child, her shady background becomes an issue for her rich husband, who is so embarrassed by her former associations that he sues for divorce. That comes to a halt once the gangster is killed by a detective hot on his trail and the rich husband decides to forgives all.)

Based on a novel by Winifred Van Duzer, t(his romance was directed by Roy William Neill and stars Mae Clarke, James Hall, and Marie Prevost.)

Mae Clarke

(Clarke started her professional career as a dancer in NYC, sharing a room with Barbara Stanwyck. Signed to Universal Studios, she starred in many films including 1931's The Front Page and Frankenstein with Boris Karloff  in which she played the role of Henry Frankenstein's fiancée, Elizabeth, who is attacked by the monster on her wedding day. She is responsible for one of cinema's most famous and frequently parodied scenes; in 1931's The Public Enemy, James Cagney pushes a grapefruit into her face before leaving her for Jean Harlow.)

 

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Guard That Girl

(1935)

(A pair of private detectives are hired by an attorney to protect a young woman who is to inherit three-million dollars the following Thursday. It seems she's in danger at the hands of five relatives who want her out of the way so they can inherit the fortune instead. The detective's girl Friday, who is in love with one of her bosses, volunteers to impersonate the young heiress. Accompanied by the detectives, posing as her chauffeur and fiancé, a police dog and a maid provided by the attorney, the girl Friday makes her way to the family's country estate. There, she meets the relatives: a crabby dowager and her bitter, unmarried daughter, a good-natured drunken cousin and an uncle who just happens to be an archery expert. Things go bump in the night and the day as numerous attempts are made on the girl Friday's life, a burglar kills the dog with a rake, the gardener is revealed to be a private detective hired by someone associated, and a secret passageway is discovered.) 

"The richest girl in the world is on the spot!"

(This mystery was written and directed by Lambert Hillyer and stars Robert Allen, Florence Rice, and Ward Bond.)

"Can you guess..."

(Rice began her career in the late 1920's. After several Broadway roles, she made her way to Hollywood, where she acted in almost 50 films between 1934 and 1943. Cast as the reliable girlfriend in several films for MGM, the studio eventually provided her with more substantial roles in prestige films. However, Rice never became a major player, despite being paired opposite Robert Young in a number of movies. Her most notable performances were in 1937's  Double Wedding with William Powell and Myrna Loy, 1938's Sweethearts with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, and the 1939 Marx Brothers film, At The Circus. By the 1940's, the quality of her roles steadily decreased and she retired in 1947.)

Florence Rice

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Smart Girl

(1935)

(A young woman lands a job as a clerk at a hat company only to discover it is on the verge of financial ruin. Befriending the owner, she convinces him to take a gamble on several of her daring designs. They prove a hit, saving the company while endearing her to its owner.)

(This romantic drama was directed by Aubrey Scotto and stars Ida Lupino, Kent Taylor, and Gail Patrick.)

 Patrick was an industry groundbreaker. She made a career cast as the bad girl or the other woman in more than 60 feature films between 1932 and 1948. Films of note 1936's My Man Godfrey, 1937's Stage Door, and 1940's My Favorite Wife. After retiring from acting, she became president of Paisano Productions and executive producer of television's popular crime drama, Perry Mason, making her one of the first female producers, and the only female executive producer in prime time during the nine years the show was on the air. In addition, she served two terms as vice president of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and as president of its Hollywood chapter; the first woman to do so in the academy's history, and its only female leader until 1983.)

 (Lupino was an industry groundbreaker as well.  She enjoyed a 48 -year career as an actress, director, writer, and producer, appearing in 59 films, while directing eight.  As an actress, her best known films were 1939's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with Basil Rathbone, 1940's They Drive by Night with George Raft and Humphrey Bogart,  1941's High Sierra opposite Bogart; 1941's The Sea Wolf with Edward G. Robinson and John Garfield; 1941's Ladies in Retirement  with Louis Hayward; 1942's Moontide with Jean Gabin; 1943's The Hard Way, 1947's Deep Valley with Dane Clark, 1948's Road House with Cornel Wilde and Richard Widmark, 1956's While the City Sleeps with Dana Andrews and Vincent Price, and 1972's Junior Bonner with Steve McQueen.)

Widely regarded as the most prominent female filmmaker working in the 1950's Hollywood studio system, Lupino co-wrote and co-produced several social-message films and became the first woman to direct a film noir, 1953's The Hitch-Hiker. "Her short yet immensely influential directorial career, tackling themes of women trapped by social conventions, usually under melodramatic or noir coverings, is a pioneering example of proto-feminist filmmaking." Her 1949 film, Not Wanted, dealt with unwed pregnancy, 1950's Never Fear, which was loosely based upon her own experiences battling paralyzing polio, 1950's Outrage - one of the first films to deal with rape. In addition she is responsible for1953's critic's favorite, The Bigamist,  and 1966's popular The Trouble with Angels. 

Ida Lupino and Gail Patrick

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Sarong Girl

(1943)

(A crusading D.A. orders the police to shut down a South Seas-themed girly show and arrest all its participants. However, the lead dancer evades jail time when her attorney convinces the judge that she has a an elderly mother to take care of - which she does not. The attorney then searches the local senior homes for a suitably sweet old lady to fit the bill. Meanwhile, the lead dancer, furious that her revue has been shut down, seek revenge on the D.A. by seducing his son.  But, once her newly-acquired 'mama' learns of the plan, the older woman exerts her influence and the young dancer sees the error of her ways.)

(This comedy was directed by Arthur Dreifuss and stars Ann Corio, Tim Ryan, Irene Ryan (The Beverly Hillbillies), Mantan Moreland, William Henry, Damian O'Flynn and Johnnie Davis.)

 (Corio as a popular American burlesque dancer and actress. She altered her last name a bit because some family members did not approve of her profession.)

 

(Corio was also a very innovative woman. After the mayor of NYC closed down all the city's burlesque houses in 1939, she headed for Hollywood, where, between 1941 and 1944, she appeared in several B-movies featuring her in scanty costumes, the best known of which are 1941's Swamp Woman and 1942's Jungle Siren opposite Buster Crabbe. During WWII, she guest starred on several radio programs and became one of the volunteer pin-up girls for YANK magazine. Then, in 1962 she put together an off-Broadway show titled, This Was Burlesque for which she directed and performed. A best-selling book with the same title followed in 1968. In 1981, the show was remounted for Broadway in an effort to compete with Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney in Sugar Babies running just a few blocks up the street.)

Ann Corio

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Follies Girl

(1943)

"A streamlined musical extravaganza!"

(An Army private falls  a dress designer working on a burlesque show run by his father.)

(This musical comedy was directed by William Rowland and stars Wendy Barrie, Doris Nolan, and Gordon Oliver. Other than a brief cameo, it served as Barrie's final film appearance.)

(In 1932, Barrie made her screen debut in the film. By 1934, she was under contract at the Fox Film Corporation and moved to the states. There, she appeared opposite Spencer Tracy in the romantic comedy, 1935's It's A Small World. She would go on to appear opposite Lawrence Tibbett, James Stewart, Richard Greene, Basil Rathbone, George Sanders, and Lucille Ball - in 1939's Five Came Back. Making her final film appearance in 1954, she then turned to television, where she experienced a modicum of success. Barrie was allegedly engaged to and had a daughter named Carolyn with the infamous gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel!)

Wendy Barrie

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Diary Of A Bad Girl

(1956)

AKA: The Width Of The Pavement/Le Long des Trottoirs

(A devoted and passionate social worker from a well-to-do family finds herself moved by the plight of of a young girl in distress. The social work persuades her family to take the girl in, but things quickly sour, resulting in the girl getting kicked out after being accused of something she didn't do. Left to fend for herself, the girl falls under the influence of a shady pimp and who forces the girl into a life of prostitution.)

(This French drama/romance was directed by Léonide Moguy and stars Anne Vernon, Danik Patisson, and François Guérin.)

Anne Vernon

 (Vernon is a French actress who appeared in 40 films between 1948 and 1970, three of which were entered into the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival. She is perhaps best known for her work as the umbrella-shop owner, in Jacques Demy's 1964 musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, starring Catherine Deneuve.)

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C.I.D. Girl

(1959)

(A pair of crooks run a successful den of thieves which distributes illegal  booze and drugs. Most dependable among their number  is a  kind-hearted, but illiterate young man who only participates in these crimes because he is responsible for the upbringing of his younger brother, who is living and studying far away. When a gypsy girl joins the den, the honorable young man conspires with her and others to thwart the den's illicit activities. With the sudden appearance of the young man's brother on the scene, things go topsy turvy resulting in many misunderstandings.) 

(This crime/mystery was directed by Ravindra Dave and stars Geeta Bali, Balraj Sahni, and Subbiraj.)

Geeta Bali

(Bali, wife of noted film actor Shammi Kapoor, was an Indian actress who appeared in Hindi language films. She began her film career as a child actress, at the age of twelve, becoming a star during the 1950's. She worked with her future brother-in-law, Raj Kapoor in 1950's Bawre Nain and future father-in-law, Prithviraj Kapoor in Anand Math. Bali met Shammi Kapoor while working on the film Coffee House. They married and had two children. Unlike other actresses who gave up films after marrying into the Kapoor family, Bali kept acting until her death. She did more than 70 films in a 10-year career, her last being 1963's Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai. Bali died on January 21, 1965, at the age of 35, due to smallpox.)

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Rocket Girl

(1962)

  (A noted scientist in space research works in partnership with a wealthy man whose son is after the professor's beautiful daughter. However, it turns out the girl only has eyes for her father's assistant. A flying saucer lands in North India and a giant creature emerges from it, creating havoc and destruction. Eventually it is killed by the Professor and his team. Victorious, the group begins to build a rocket, which will be helmed by the professor, his daughter, and his assistant. Jealous, the wealthy man's son tries to sabotage the launch, but when he attempts to disable the rocket, he finds himself trapped on board. The rocket lands on a planet ruled by an evil queen who sets her sights on the young assistant. Escaping, they make their way to the moon where the meet people who inhabit its surface. Eventually, the wealthy man's son is discovered. The stowaway is dealt with harshly and they all return home to India, where they are celebrated as heroes.)

(This sci-fi/fantasy romantic drama was directed by Nanabhai Bhatt and stars Master Bhagwan Sudesh Kumar and Nilofer. At the time, there was lots of talk throughout the world about space travel and the Indian Film Industry responded with, its first space-related movie.)

Naaz

(Naaz was a child star known as Baby Naaz. Her family was obsessed with film and her mother pushed her into the industry, making her the sole breadwinner in the family. While her talent and fame was undoubted, she had difficulty establishing herself as an adult actress, with the common belief being she didn't know how to choose proper roles. That said, she continued to find work as an actress until her dying day.)

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Cobra Girl

(1963)

(A powerful shape-shifting sorcerer. attacks and seizes control of a kingdom, killing the king in the process. The sorcerer holds the empress and three princesses captive. However, the eldest daughter manages to escape. It's revealed that, by winning the kingdom, he is now in possession of one of two pieces of the Naag Mani from the Mandir of Naag Dev. If he finds the second, he will become all-powerful. Ten years later, the eldest princess is ready to take back her father's kingdom. Facing many obstacles and risking the lives of her sisters and mother, she takes on the evil shape-shifting sorcerer to avenge her father's death.) 

(This action/fantasy film was directed by Nanabhai Bhatt and stars Ragini,, Mahipal, and Ramayan Tiwari.)

Ragini

(The era of dance in Hindi cinema is considered to have begun with the entrance of Ragini and other South Indian actresses. Ragini was an Indian actress and dancer - the youngest of the Travancore Sisters; Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini, she started her career in the mid-1950's along with her sister Padmini. Ragini has appeared in movies of different Indian languages, including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu and hasalso starred opposite Shammi Kapoor in 1958's Mujrim. Sadly, Ragini died of breast cancer in 1976.) 

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Who's That Girl

(1987)

"A funny thing happened on the way to the bus station."

(When an uptight tax lawyer is asked to escort a young woman newly released from prison, his life turns upside down. Convicted of a crime she may or may not have done, she persuades him to help her prove her innocence, leading to many a chaotic adventure in the city's criminal underworld.)

 

(This slapstick comedy was directed by James Foley and stars Madonna and Griffin Dunne.)

(Madonna had been offered the lead role in the Blake Edwards comedy film Blind Date opposite to Bruce Willis, but, upon finding that Willis was cast, she chose to do a movie then-titled Slammer, explaining, "The thing I had planned to do after Shanghai Surprise was Blind Date at Tri-Star. I was supposed to have the approval of the director and the leading man, but they didn't tell me they'd already hired Bruce Willis. That... just didn't work out.")

(The movie kept the title Slammer until Madonna wrote the song Who's That Girl and decided to use it as the theme song - a smart move, since the song went to #1 on Billboard's Hot 100. Overall, the soundtrack album fared much better than the movie - perhaps not surprising since its budget was much larger than that of the film.)

(Her then-husband, Sean Penn, was set to co-star, however, after the negative reaction to their 1986 film, Shanghai Surprise, producers shopped around until deciding to go with Griffin Dunne (son of writer Dominick Dunne) who was a current 'hot property' thanks to his great notices for his work on 1985's After Hours. Madonna had also considered casting Penn as the role of the detective, however he was serving 60 days in jail for violating the terms of his probation, which resulted from when he assaulted a friend of Madonna's and an extra on the set of 1986's At Close Range.)

(Madonna selected friend, James Foley, who had previously directed two of her videos (Live To Tell and Papa Don't Preach) and Penn's At Close Range, to direct.)

(Regarding Madonna, Foley said she was very uptight and into every detail, frequently lingering on the set to watch filming even after her scenes were finished. "That's probably why it wasn't so good. In Desperately Seeking Susan, when she didn't know what she was doing, she was being natural and at her best." That said, Foley felt she was never a "pain-in-the-ass", since she "won't skimp, especially on cost, and she should know that Warner had a tight schedule and constraints on the budget. They still did not trust Madonna when it came to acting. Hell, they even gave a greater percentage of the budget to the soundtrack.")

(Griffin Dunne said of the experience, "Madonna likes her first take best. I think my best is around fourth. She always says, 'You got it, you got it', and she was driving me crazy just like her character would. We had to make a compromise as to which take is the best.")

(Almost from day one, Foley accepted the movie's fate: "I knew it was doomed before even filming started. The day before the first shoot, I sat in my hotel and looked to the script thinking, 'Damn, wish I could re-write this whole thing.' After the film was released, my dad called me up saying 'you know The New York Times are calling it the worst film of the year.'" Madonna's reaction was quite succinct; Foley recalls running into her in a hotel lobby. "She just looked to me once and said, 'So it's a flop right?' That's the only time she ever mentioned the film. Even Sean also never mentioned it in front of her.")

(Fun facts: 1/ Stanley Tucci appears briefly as a dock worker at the start of the film - his first appearance in a feature film. Even though his part is brief, his voice is unmistakable. 2/ Madonna and Haviland Morris, who plays a supporting role in the film, both auditioned for the female lead in 1984's Footloose, losing out to Lori Singer.)

(A Not-So-Fun Fact: At one point the crew was shooting in front of Trump Plaza. The orange ogre came down from his penthouse for a photo op with the paparazzi, ensuring he'd be seen with Madonna in the New York Post the following day.)

Madonna

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And that's all for now... and the last of the 'girl' films!

Tune in next week.

Same time, same channel.

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Who's That Girl - Madonna