Followers

Total Pageviews

Thursday, November 14, 2024

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

Wonderland Burlesque's
Let's All Go To The Movies
She's A Lady!
Part XV

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!

--- ---

The Notorious Lady 
(1927)

Patrick Marlowe, a British Army officer who adores his wife, kills another man when he finds her in his room; though innocent, Mary claims to be guilty to save her husband's life. Patrick takes the name of John Carew and goes to South Africa near the diamond fields; later, Mary goes with Mrs. Rivers to Africa and en route meets Anthony Walford, who falls in love with her. Patrick, who hopes to get some diamonds for Mary, is joined by Anthony on a hazardous expedition down the Munghana River; and though they find diamonds, they are attacked by natives and Anthony's leg is broken. At Anthony's request Patrick returns, but thinking Mary loves the other man, he avoids her. Following their reconciliation, an expedition finds Anthony in time to save him.


Based on the 1925 play The River by British writer Patrick Hastings, this 1927 American silent drama film was produced by Sam E. Rork and distributed by First National Pictures. It was directed by veteran director King Baggot and stars Barbara Bedford and Lewis Stone.


 Producer Rork's daughter, Ann Rork, has a leading role in the film.


This film can be seen in its entirety for free on YouTube.





--- ---

The Midnight Lady
(1932)
AKA: Dream Mother

A woman who owns a notorious big-city speakeasy is looked down upon by the community at large. But when her long lost daughter is accused of murder, she steps up and takes the rap for her - even though the daughter has no idea that her mother is even alive!


This American pre-Code crime drama was directed by Richard Thorpe and stars Sarah Padden, John Darrow and Claudia Dell.


Only one reel of this film - real #4 - still exists. It's held in the UCLA Television & Film Archives. That said, you can watch it in its entirety for free on YouTube.

--- ---

The Misleading Lady
(1932)

Tired of her social set, their trivial activities and tedious gossip about society divorces and award-winning race horses, Helen yearns for something meaningful in her life. However, Helen doesn't intend to bring forth this new purpose by caring for the sick and starving masses in India, or helping out charities and orphanages. Instead, she decides that the key to her spiritual uplift is to become an actress; so, she tries to secure the title role in a scandalous new play entitled The Siren.


Based on the 1913 Broadway play of the same name by Charles W. Goddard and Paul Dickey, this American pre-Code comedy was directed by Stuart Walker, and stars Claudette Colbert and Edmund Lowe.


A remake of the 1920 Metro silent film starring Bert Lytell and Lucy Cotton, which was also based on the play


Upon completion of this film on March 1, 1932, Paramount Pictures permanently closed its Astoria Studios in Astoria, Queens, New York City.


Claudette Colbert

--- ---

The Missing Lady
(1946)

A jade statue known as 'The Missing Lady', is stolen and its owner killed. Lamont Cranston, alias The Shadow, sets out to catch the killer, but is blamed for the murders himself! For each time he investigates some facet of the case another suspect turns up dead!


This American mystery film was directed by Phil Karlson and stars Kane Richmond and Barbara Read.


This was the third and final in a series of three films released by Monogram starring Richmond as The Shadow, the others being The Shadow Returns and Behind The Mask.


Leonard Maltin wrote that of the three Monogram Shadow films released in 1946, The Missing Lady was "the best of the series, played like a straight film noir and offering a few surprise twists".


Barbara Reed was a Canadian-American film actress of the 1930s and 1940s, who appeared in 21 films during her career. She was married to William Talman who starred in the television show Perry Mason opposite Raymond Burr. Reed committed suicide when she was 45 years-old.


This film can be seen in its entirety for free on YouTube.





Barbara Reed and Kane Richmond

--- ---

The Imperfect Lady
(1947)
AKA: Mrs. Loring's Secret

While touring with a dance troupe in 1892, Millicent Hopkins meets Clive Loring who is campaigning for Parliament in the English Midlands. They fall in love and Millie remains behind at her father's home while her friend Rose Bridges and the rest of the company go to London. Lord Belmont, Clive's older brother, tells her that a marriage below Clive's station would jeopardize his future happiness. She resolves to drop out of his life and, without telling him, rejoins the troupe at the Empire Theatre. Millie and Rose, leaving the theatre without removing their makeup, are stopped and questioned by a bobby. They flee and Millie takes refuge in the rooms of a sympathetic stranger, Spanish concert pianist Jose Martinez, where she remains most of the night. The next morning, a Scotland Yard Inspector arrives and arrests Martinez! Secrets, scandals, forbidden love, class distinction, with much more to be revealed.


This American historical drama was directed by Lewis Allen and stars Ray Milland, Teresa Wright and Cedric Hardwicke.


This picture was filmed in 1945, but not released until 1947.


Actress Lillian Fontaine, mother of actresses Olivia De Haviland and Joan Fontaine, appears in this film.


One of five films in 1947 which future Oscar winner Anthony Quinn appeared in.


Two years earlier, in 1945, Ray Milland appeared in Lost Weekend, in a role that would win him an Academy Award for Best Actor.


In 1942, Teresa Wright won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Mrs. Miniver with Greer Garson.







Teresa Wright and Ray Milland

--- ---

And that's all for now.

Tune in next time...

Same place, same channel.

--- ---

Lady (Hear Me Tonight) - Modjo

1 comment:

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Ok, so is it really really bad I want to be Eiffel Towered by Ray Milland and Kane Richmond??

XOXO