Wonderland Burlesque's Let's All Go To The Movies: She's A Lady! - Part VI

Wonderland Burlesque's

Let's All Go To The Movies:

She's A Lady!

Part VI

Sometimes? It takes a lady.

Or so these films would have us believe.

They promise lots of drama, the occasional comedy or musical, and a little bit of dirt!

Let's take a walk down Hollywood Blvd. and shine a light on these magnificent classic films.

This way, if you please. But remember...

Ladies first!

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Careless Lady

(1932)

Innocent Sally Brown believes men are only attracted to experienced women, so she poses as the wife of an unmarried businessman on a trip to Paris.

This pre-Code American comedy was directed by Kenneth MacKenna and stars Joan Bennett, John Boles, Minna Gombell, Weldon Heyburn, Nora Lane, Josephine Hull, and Raul Roulien.

Joan Bennett had a long and lengthy career, appearing in over 70 silent films before she ever spoke a word on screen. First, she was a sweet blonde ingénue, then a dark-haired seductress, and finally a glamourous matron. Her career was briefly derailed in 1951 when her third husband (she married 4 times) shot her longtime agent point blank in the MCA parking lot because he thought they were having an affair (they weren't). But the scandal took its toll... and she had to get a new agent!

Josephine Hull, who had a rewarding career playing bubbly matrons, would go on to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her work in 1950's Harvey, opposite Jimmy Stewart.

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Libeled Lady

(1936)

Warren Haggerty is the chief editor of the New York Evening Star. He keeps on delaying his marriage to Gladys because of problems at work. When a five million dollar lawsuit is filed by Connie Allenbury for falsely printing she is a marriage-breaker, he concocts a masquerade marriage between Gladys and a known Don Juan, Bill Chandler. The goal is to catch Connie alone with a married man and up to her old tricks.

This American screwball comedy was directed by Jack Conway and stars Jean Harlow, William Powell, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy. It was written by George Oppenheimer, Howard Emmett Rogers, Wallace Sullivan, and Maurine Dallas Watkins. It was the fifth of fourteen films in which Powell and Loy were teamed, due to their success in the Thin Man series.

This had originally been proposed as a starring vehicle for Marion Davies as Connie Allenbury opposite William Powell as Chandler, with Gladys and Warren as supporting roles. The story was eventually reworked so MGM could beef it up to support four stars. Rosalind Russell was originally cast in the role of Connie Allenbury which was later given to Myrna Loy. Loy received third billing despite being the central lead character. Lionel Barrymore was originally cast in the role Mr. Allenbury which was taken over by Walter Connolly.

Jean Harlow and William Powell were a couple at the time the film was made. She desperately wanted the part of Connie Allenbury (Myrna Loy's role) so that she and Powell's character would end up together, but the director and the MGM execs wouldn't allow it. They wanted the film to be another Powell/Loy vehicle and knew audiences wanted Powell and Loy to end up together in their films. Harlow was very disappointed but had already signed on to the film and had no choice but to play the role of Gladys Benton. In the end, she liked the film and agreed that she was more suited to the role of Gladys.

While Spencer Tracy and Jean Harlow play an engaged couple in this film, it was Harlow and William Powell who were contemplating marriage off-screen during production. Unfortunately, Harlow would die the following year, before she and Powell could wed. She was only 26 years old. When Harlow was entombed in Glendale's Forest Lawn Cemetery in 1937, she was dressed in the gown she'd worn in this film.

Reportedly, while shooting the movie, the four stars became close friends, and William Powell even gave up his old habit of hiding out in his dressing room between scenes so he could join in the fun. One of the biggest jokes was a running gag Spencer Tracy played on Myrna Loy, claiming that she had broken his heart with her recent marriage to producer Arthur Hornblow Jr. He even set up an 'I Hate Hornblow' table in the studio commissary, reserved for men who claimed to have been jilted by Loy. That said, rumor had it that Spencer Tracy and Myrna Loy were having an affair during the making of the film.

Jean Harlow was forced to stay out of the production for ten days due to a severe case of sunburn poisoning.

This film received only one Oscar nomination, which was for Best Picture. The Great Ziegfield, another film featuring Myrna Loy and William Powell, was also nominated that year - and won.

A highly energetic Technicolor remake came out in 1946 called Easy to Wed, with Lucille Ball in the Jean Harlow role, Keenan Wynn in the Spencer Tracy role, and Van Johnson in the William Powell role. The remake compares well to the famous original, with the same frantic pacing, snappy dialog, and skilled performances.

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Vivacious Lady

(1938)

On a quick trip to the city, young university professor Peter Morgan falls in love with nightclub performer Francey Brent and marries her after a whirlwind romance. But when he goes back home, he can't bring himself to tell his conservative, ultra-respectable family about it.

Adapted from a short story by I. A. R. Wylie, this American black-and-white romantic comedy was directed by George Stevens and stars Ginger Rogers and James Stewart. Released by RKO Radio Pictures, the screenplay was written by P.J. Wolfson and Ernest Pagano, the music score was by Roy Webb, and the cinematography by Robert De Grasse.

Ginger Rogers recommended Jimmy Stewart for this film, even though they had not worked together on a film previously. The two were dating at the time, and, with Rogers being one of RKO's biggest stars, she got her way.

After four days of shooting in April 1937, James Stewart became ill, and then left to star in Of Human Hearts (1938). RKO considered replacing him, but shelved the production until December of 1937 instead. Actors Donald Crisp and Fay Bainter, who were cast in the original production, were replaced by Charles Coburn and Beulah Bondi.

Since Ginger Rogers' legs were insured for $500,000, they were strapped with boards and padded for protection during the fight scene. Filming on The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939) started soon after this movie wrapped, and RKO could not afford to have an injured musical star.

This film is one of five times that Beulah Bondi portrayed James Stewart's mother. The others are: It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Of Human Hearts (1938) and once on his television series, The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971).

Two years after this film was released, Rogers and Stewart both received best acting Oscars (Kitty Foyle (1940) and The Philadelphia Story (1940), respectively). In the wake of their increased world-wide fame, RKO re-released Vivacious Lady and it earned nearly triple what it earned on its initial release.

Vivacious Lady was nominated for two Oscars: for Best Cinematography and Best Sound, Recording

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Funny Lady

(1975)

The continuing story of Fanny Brice as an established star on Broadway as a headliner for the Ziegfeld Follies, Fanny and the rest of the world are hitting difficult times entering the 1930s. Her marriage to Nicky Arnstein, whom she still loves is ending in divorce, and even Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. is having trouble coming up with money to continue to produce the Follies. Along comes brash nightclub owner, song lyricist and wannabe impresario, Billy Rose, who says he can raise the money and has the material to produce his own revue. He wants Fanny to be the headliner. Fanny is both attracted to and repelled by Billy because of his chutzpah, his stubbornness. She also knows that underneath his crass veneer is the soul of a true hustler - much like she was when she was first starting out and much like she still is now. Through their professional trials and tribulations, the two slowly start to fall for each other. But Fanny is quick to admit that Nicky is still never far from her mind, and their road to love appears difficult, at best.

This American biographical musical comedy-drama served as a sequel to the 1968 film Funny Girl. Directed by Herbert Ross, the film stars Barbra Streisand, James Caan, Omar Sharif, Roddy McDowall and Ben Vereen, with a primary score by John Kander and Fred Ebb.

Producer Ray Stark was forced to sue Streisand in order to make this movie after she initially refused; She only had one film left on her contract with him. Upon completion of filming, she presented him with a mirror on which she'd written in lipstick, "Paid in full."

The producer of both Funny Girl and Funny Lady, Ray Stark, was married to Frances 'Fran' Arnstein, Fanny Brice's daughter!

Both James Caan and Dustin Hoffman were being considered for the co-starring role of Billy Rose. Though Caan got the part, many reviews remarked that the handsome, athletic actor was an unlikely Rose, who in real life was short, moon-faced, and overweight. Other candidates for the role included Robert Blake, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Barbra Streisand was considering Robert Blake for the role of Billy Rose, whom he resembled more than James Caan. Streisand had Blake come to her house and read the script with her. After the read-through, an impressed Streisand asked Blake if he'd like to do the part. "I just did," said Blake, miffed that he had been made to audition. He walked out of Streisand's house, and the role was given to Caan. Later, Streisand claimed it that it came down to who did audiences want her to kiss - Robert Blake? No. James Caan? Yes!

James Caan proved himself a bit of a troublemaker on set - a fervent rodeo fan with the nickname 'The Jewish Cowboy', the actor crept off during production to be in a roping competition in nearby Palm Springs. He returned with a broken thumb that had to be placed in a cast and director Herbert Ross had to come up with inventive ways to film around it.

Several scenes were cut from the final film; these include: additional and longer scenes with Ben Vereen, scenes of Streisand as Fanny Brice's popular Baby Snooks radio character, a scene of Streisand riding horses, and a dramatic scene with Brice and her very young daughter.

Barbra Streisand did not want James Caan to douse her with the talcum powder. She feared the powder was toxic and, when breathed in, would coat her lungs. Caan agreed to hold back, but when cameras were rolling he hit her with it anyway. The scene was only filmed once, and both stars got a big laugh of it. It ended up being one of Streisand's favorite moments on film.

In the scene where Fanny is flying, in real life, there was an error in the control tower which forced the aircraft to circle the airport for almost 30 minutes. Streisand, who has a fear of flying, was screaming the whole time.

The film was nominated for numerous awards. Oscar nominations went to James Wong Howe for Best Cinematography, Ray Aghayan and Bob Mackie for Best Costume Design, Kander and Ebb for Best Original Song (How Lucky Can You Get), Peter Matz for Best Scoring of an Original Song Score and/or Adaptation, and the sound team for Best Sound. In addition, Streisand, Caan and Vereen all received Golden Globe Award nominations, as did Kander and Ebb and the film itself. But in the end, the film failed to take home any awards.

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Lucky Lady

(1975)

It's 1930. Claire, an American living in Tijuana, Mexico, has just buried her husband Harry, who owned a dive bar there. Walker Ellis, a loser with whom she has long had a thing on the side, agrees to wrap up her affairs in Tijuana for her so that she can move stateside promising that they can be together after an appropriate grieving period. Wrapping up those affairs includes smuggling one last truckload of illegal Mexican immigrants across the border. When that job fails to go according to plan, Walker is forced to go into business running rum across the border with Kibby Womack, a man he was attempting to smuggle across the border. Kibby, an American, is in trouble with Uncle Sam. Instead of travelling overland, Walker hires young Billy Mason  to Captain a sailboat to transport the goods.  Billy is a young, quiet man unwise to the ways of the world, but wise when it comes to the sea. As Walker, Claire, Kibby, and Billy navigate the waters, they encounter two inherent risks. The first is the U.S. Coast Guard, who can do nothing as long as they remain in international waters. Typically, the coast guard tries to 'starve' them out, keeping them at sea until their supplies run out and they have no choice but head for shore. The second problem are other rum runners. While the small players generally leave each other alone, the east coast mob has sent a man to gain a foothold in the illegal trade, with plans for that foothold to become a stranglehold. Things on the sailboat turn increasingly interesting as Claire convince Kibby and an initially reluctant Walker that their three-way partnership should extend into the bedroom!

This American comedy-drama was directed by Stanley Donen and stars Liza Minnelli, Gene Hackman, Burt Reynolds and Robby Benson.

Stanley Donen was quoted as saying during pre-production for this film that only two women - Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli - could possibly play Claire. He ended up with Minnelli.

Donen originally wanted Paul Newman and Warren Beatty for the lead male roles with production scheduled to begin in October 1974. However the stars could not be locked down.

Gene Hackman replaced George Segal in the role of Kibby Womack after a leg injury sidelined Segal. Hackman was cast only a week before principal photography started in Mexico. His salary for this movie has been estimated at being between 1.25 and 1.5 million dollars. Talent agent Sue Mengers said that "it was almost obscene for him not to do the film" with the amount of money he was being offered. One of four Gene Hackman movies released in 1975. Hackman once said of this movie: "In terms of physical pressures and mental strain, it was the hardest film I've ever had to do."

Liza Minnelli sings in this movie. The one song she sings  at the Aquarium Club speakeasy is called Get While the Gettin's Good. This song was written by Cabaret (1972) composers John Kander and Fred Ebb who also composed this movie's Lucky Lady theme.

This movie originally had a ten million dollar budget with a twelve week shooting schedule. This blew up to a twenty-two million dollar budget and a twenty week shooting schedule.

Steven Spielberg was offered this film. He chose Jaws (1975) instead, which was shot almost concurrently with this film. At the time, this was considered a glossy A-list production and Jaws was considered to be a quickly forgotten summer flick.

Despite the fact that his last hit movie was in 1967, Stanley Donen kept getting hired as director of a long string of flops in the 1970s and '80s. Liza Minnelli, Burt Reynolds, and Gene Hackman were all critical of Donen's directing, editing, and general misunderstanding of this movie, an uneasy mix of comedy and violence. Three separate endings had to be filmed because Donen couldn't figure out what tone was needed. 

Fox had sent him the script and he liked it well enough to meet the authors and worked on the rewrites but not satisfied with them. "Stanley wanted very much to play up the relationships, the menage-à-trois," said Huyck. "Which was fine with us. The script was probably overloaded with action since we wanted to sell it. Actually, action is boring to write. We have much more fun with dialogue." The writers said their inspiration for the lead characters were Jean Harlow, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy.

Over a year he kept trying to find an ending where the two men weren't killed without success so he filmed the original ending. However, after the first preview  he knew the ending had to be changed. Gene Hackman and Burt Reynolds agreed to do it for nothing but Lisa was filming in Rome so Gene, Burt and Stanley flew over there and shot the new ending, but it didn't work due to poor makeup. A month before the release a new ending was written with the same dialogue being spoken in the dark but with the lit ends of 3 cigars showing. The lights come on and all three are in bed together but now they're 75 years old. Test audiences and studio executives balked at being left with this image at the end of the film. Unable to get Liza back again, another the planned ending was ditched,

Burt Reynolds made four films in 1975. He says that director Stanley Donen made a complete mess of this movie during editing. He maintains that Liza Minnelli's work should have won her another Oscar, until it was all but ruined by Donen, a notion Hackman also believed to be true. Reynolds once said of this movie: "In retrospect, it was a grueling film to make, one of the toughest."

Liza Minnelli once said of this movie: "It took every ounce of craftsmanship you had ever learned, every bit of stamina, to do this picture." Liza Minnelli was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical despite the film resoundingly being thought of as a critical and box office flop.

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And that's all for now.

Tune in next time...

Same place, same channel.

Get While The Gettin' Is Good - Liza Minelli

from the 1975 motion picture Lucky Lady