Maid of Salem (1937) Colbert and MacMurray in Salem!

 

Maid of Salem (1937) / Paramount Pictures

Directed By: Frank Lloyd

Starring: Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Gale Sondergaard, Louise Dresser, Beulah Bondi, Bonita Granville, & Virginia Weidler.

~ The motion picture is based on the book with the same title by Arthur Miller who also wrote "The Crucible."

Plot:

It is Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th Century and the townspeople are in the hysteria of all things witches and evil by the devil. It is what we know in the society scared of the unknown and rather throw a target on poeple that they were taken over or were pure evil though they had mental, physical or were jsut going through bad times.

Barbara Clarke (Colbert) is a young lady whom resides in the town of Salem and she meets a dashing man Roger Coverman (MacMurray). The two young people fall in love with one another though Roger is an unknown person hailing from Virginia. The stranger stirs up the nervousness from the people in the town thinking he is possibly evil. With Barbara showing affection for him the town also starts to think that she too is a wicked witch going to do harm onto them.

The question now is will the town let their own fears of the unknown take over to do away with the young couple or will they escape to their freedom, one will have to watch to find out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vivacious Lady (1938) "you'll be reminded of me"

Vivacious Lady (1938)
Directed By: George Stevens
Starring: Ginger Rogers, Jimmy Stewart, Charles Coburn, Beulah Bondi, & Jack Carson

~ Nomianted for two Academy Awards for Best Cinematography & Best Sound, Recording.
~ A radio production in 1940 was done starring Ginger Rogers, Fred MacMurray & Charles Coburn.

Plot:

Professor Peter Morgan (Stewart) whom is from a very nice repsected family and small town goes into NYC to rescue his troubled cousin. While in NYC Peter meets a nightclub singer whom is from a very different world than he named Francey (Rogers). They both seem to be smitten with one another and fall head over heels. Things happen fast and before we know it the couple are wed in the city. Peter heads back with his new wife to his small town to introduce Francey to his parents. Well, this does not go off as well as planned.

since his parents are stunned by this nightclub singer whom is vastly different than they. Peter gets cold feet and has trouble finding the right words to tell his parents the news so does not say anything. Francey meets her rival whom has her eyes set on Peter. There are choice words thrown at Francey so a few slaps and a good catfight ensues between the ladies. This is darn funny! Peter is a professor at a college so Francey stays at a lady's dorm for the evening so things cool down. Peter's mother Martha (Bondi) then goes to talk with Francey whom then finds out by accident that they are wed. The two ladies have a good conversation and respect one another. Peter's father Peter Morgan Sr. (Coburn) heads over and knows of the marriage and is angry and wants them to divorce and no such thing is going to happen. Martha decides she is tired of the marriage and being bullied and leaves with Francey to NYC. Both ladies think they are better off as single dames but find themselves very sad and teary eyed. To the amazement both Peter and his father whom was in an accident to get to them get to the train and all is well, I love a good ending! The two couples are happy!

Remember the Night (1940) a Preston Sturges Xmas classic!!

Remember the Night (1940) / Paramount Pictures
Directed By: Mitchell Leisen
Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Beulah Bondi, and Elizabeth Patterson

~ This is a true overlooked Christmas classic written by one of my favs of Hollywood classics by writer Preston Sturges that is worth watching.  ~

Tagline: "BARBARA and FRED in 1940's first great love affair ...!"

Quotes:
"That gag's so old its got whiskers!" &
"One of these days one of you boys is going to start one of these scenes differently and one of us girls is going to drop dead from surprise."

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Stanwyck & MacMurray Info:
Set in the 1940's this classic film pairs our couple of Stanwyck & MacMurray fpr the first time on film. The pair would star in four films in total being "“Double Indemnity,” “The Moonlighter” (1953) and “There’s Always Tomorrow “(1956).  We love this couple and it showed with this first pairing on screen. Both later in 1940 reprised the roles for a live radio broadcast.

Plot:
Stanwyck plays Lee Leander whom prior to Christmas decides to shoplift a lovely bracelet from a department store. Lee is caught by the New York City department store and is prosecuted though by the NY District Attorney assigned to the case being John Sargent (MacMurray) decides to let her go over the Chrsitmas holiday on bail. John decides to take bring Lee to her hometown in Indiana since he too is from that state. It has been a long time since Lee has visited her small town and her mother so this will be a welcomed visit and an interesting trip on the road with the D.A. John. Unfortunately, when Lee arrives to her monther's home the visit does not go so well since her monther does not forgive her from actions done years prior and wants nothing to do with her. Lee is crushed and can not stay at home so John is very kind and brings Lee back to his mother's home. When arriving they both get a very warm reception from both John's mother (Beulah Bondi) and aunt Aunt Emma (Elizabeth Patterson).  Over the course of the holiday time the love between John and Lee is evident and they too see it but have a difficult time since knowing what looms when they get back to NYC. This is a true classic for the holidays worth seeing!!!