Mata Hari (1931) MGM Studios Directed By: George Fitzmaurice Starring: Greta Garbo, Ramon Novarro & Lionel Barrymore
Costumes By: Adrian
Tagline:
"The most dangerous spy of all time"
~ This is a pre-code motion picture based on the life of Mata Hari (the lady's real name was Margaretha Geertruida Zelle). Mata Hari was an exotic dancer and was executed for espionage in WWI.
Quote: "The only way to resign from our profession is to die."
Plot:
During WWI in 1917, Mata Hari (Greta Garbo) is in Paris living a double life. Mata Hari is an exotic dancer and also secretly a spy for Germany. Her beauty has found to be a great gift where she has been able to obtain vital information from French and Russian officers in the bedroom. One person she has won over is General Shubin (Lionel Barrymore) who is a Russian General. Mata Hari's seductive ways are working very well for her with the higher power's that be in the millitary.
The French Secret Service is onto Mata Hari but has yet to be able to obtain the evidence needed to arrest her. Meanwhile. General Shubin is very much in love with her but for her it is only an act for her work. During this time Mata Hari meets a young and dashing Russian pilot Alexis Romanoff (Ramon Novarro). Mata Hari spends the night with the smitten pilot and she is able to obtain secret documents. The one item that she was not planning was that she is truly attracted to Alexis Romanoff and starts to see him more with deeper and true love from both for one another. This is a dangerous thing for any spy to tangle with where her judgement will be cloudy.
General Shubin finds out about the love affair that is going on between Mata Hari (his love) and Alexis Romanoff. The general is furious and blinded by his overwhelming jealousy and quickly acts upon his anger. Since his love is truly playing games with him and loves another she was not going to get away with her acts as a spy. The general finds the key evidence that the French Secret Service has been awaiting for and gives it to them very happily. Mata Hari is then arrested on the evidence of being a spy and doing acts such as war crime. Will Mata Hari ever be with her beloved Alexis and will he forgive her...you will have to see and think about that.
Classic Radioland: Bette Davis in "The Little Foxes"Here our classic film buffs is our fourth installment of our classic radioland article for all you lovers of movies and radio programs. This time around we are featuring leading lady Bette Davis in the classic radio production of "The Little Foxes."
Starring:
Bette Davis, Otto Kruger, Teresa Wright, Charles Dingle & Lurene Tuttle
Background:
"The Little Foxes" radio and film production are based on Lillian Hellman's play. Screen Guild Theatre's Radio Show, August 6th 1945. The motion picture was also famously starring Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, Teresa Wright, & Richard Carlson. The radio production re-teams Bette & Teresa.
This story tells about a rutheless family being The Giddens residing in the deep south. Regina (Bette Davis) is a money hungry woman who due to her being a woman she missed out on receiving any inheritance from her wealthy parents. Now she plans along with the rest of her family to wed her daughter to her brothers son to ensure the family's wealth. Very difficult decisions were made to ensure Regina's and her two brother's finances. Both the film and radio adaptation are very worthy of hearing/watching.
Now, turn the lights down, get something good to eat/drink and snuggle up and enjoy this great radio performance of "The Little Foxes!"
In Pictures: Bette DavisHere is our fifteenth installment of this very successful feature to "Love Those Classic Movies!!!" where we simply enjoy via beautiful pictures some of our favorite golden age classic stars. Not a lot of writing at all or tid bits or extras just simply as it is stated, "in pictures!" Hope you all enjoy one of the original queens of the silver screen Bette Davis and her brilliance in pictures, cheers!!!!
Joan Crawford, Jack Warner & Bette Davis
Bette Davis 1942
Joan Crawford & Bette Davis on the set of "What Ever Happened of Baby Jane?"
The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941) Warner Bros Directed by: William Keighly Starring: Bette Davis, James Cagney, Stuart Erwin & Jack Carson
Music By: Max Steiner
Comstume Design: Orry-Kelly
Taglines:
She Came Collect and his heart paid the freight . . . in the year's romantic explosion !
~ This great teaming of Davis & Cagney (the two biggest stars of Warner Bros) is a funny gem and they shine together on screen. This is actually the 2nd film that two made the first being, "Jimmy The Gent" (1934).
Plot:
It is the beginning of the 1940's and the sensation of big bands and the bandleaders being a hot commodity is in full swing. This is no different for heiress Joan Winfield (Bette Davis) who meets a handsome bandleader being Alan Brice (Jack Carson). Joan is right away smitten with the star bandleader and his suave ways. The two met and very quickly decided to elope since Joan's father is surely not going to approve. Alan and Joan the lovely young couple decide to hire a pilot, Steve Collins (James Cagney) to whisk them away for the nuptuals.
Steve Collins is aware of Joan's status in society and how this wedding would be an issue with her family. Prior to taking off with the young couple, Steve makes a phone call to Joan's father Lucius (Eugene Pallette) who wants to prevent this wedding at all costs. Steve makes an offer that Lucius can not refuse which is for a fee he will ensure the marriage will not happen. Upon returning Joan to her father he would be paid a handsome sum which would free him of debt. The offer is agreed upon.
Steve then tells Alan something to get him off the plan as his scheme begins......with Alan off the plane the fun begins! Steve flies out with him and Joan on board and leaves Alan behind. Joan then finds out of this and is very angry so finds a parachute to jump out and be with her bow. The issue is that the parachute is on wrong and Steve sees this and tries to help her by doing so the plan crashes nearby a ghost town called Bonanza.
A lot of action and adventure occurs while they are in the ghost town from meeting the lone resident being Pop Tolliver, Joan's trying to escape into an abandoned mine, and the both are trapped in a cave together. They both notice an attraction for one another though Allan is on his way to the ghost town to rescue his soon to be bride with a judge in tow for the wedding ceremony. Even more crazy antics occur in this delightful comedy very worth watching!
Quotes: Joan Winfield: [singsong] I'm not going anywhere with you! Steve Collins: Oh yes you are! Joan Winfield: No I'm not I'm not I'm nooooot. Steve Collins: Then Stevie will just have to come in and taaaake you!
Jezebel (1938) Warner Bros. Directed by: William Wyler Starring: Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, George Brent, Fay Bainter & Margaret Lindsay
Nominated for: four Academy Awards
Won 2 Acardemy Awards - Best Actress (Bette Davis) & Best Supporting Actress (Fay Baniter)
Costumes: Orry-Kelly
Music: Max Steiner
~ this film was Bette Davis's concelation for not attaining the part as Scarlett in "Gone With The Wind"
Quotes:
Julie Marsden: This is 1852 dumplin', 1852, not the Dark Ages. Girls don't have to simper around in white just because they're not married. Julie: It's not a question of provin' your love by layin' down your life for Pres. Nothin' so easy. Have you the knowledge and the human strength to fight for his life and for your own as one will have to fight? Amy, it's no longer you or me. Amy Bradford Dillard: What do you mean? Julie: I'll make him live, I will. Whatever you might do, I can do more, 'cause I know how to fight better than you. Amy, if you knew the horror of that place. It isn't a hospital. It's a desolate island haunted by death. They'll put Pres in an open shed with a hundred others. You must be there with him day and night, watchin' every breath he draws. You must bathe him, keep him clean, give him drugs, fight for his food and water. You must keep the livin' from him and the dead. Be there by him with your body between him and Death. Julie Marsden: It's gorgeously red! Preston Dillard: You can't wear red to the Olympus Ball! Aunt Belle: Maybe I'll love her most when she's meanest, because I know thats when shes lovin' most. Aunt Belle: I'm thinkin' of a woman called Jezebel who did evil in the sight of God. Julie: Pres, I can't believe it's you here. I've dreamed about it so long. A lifetime... No, longer than that. I put on this white dress for you. To help me tell ya how humbly I ask you to forgive me.
Plot:
Setting is the deep south, New Orleans with the time period being 1852. The plantations are grand with white pillars and magnolia trees with all the amble plushness that was the antebellum period. We meet Julie Marsden (Bette Davis) a young and wealthy young lady who is part of high society. Julie is very strong willed and opinionated which was very much not what a lady was to be or do at that time. Julie thought for herself and was not shy to speak or walk right into a bank where it was men only. Julie is shopping and looking for the perfect gown that all deputants attend being the Olympus Ball. Here we see yet more of the no non sense and spoiled young lady where a red gown is brought by and she decided to purchase and wear it to the ball, a big no no since all ladies wore pure white.
Julie's love was a wealthy Preston Dilard (Henry Fonda) who was part of a well to do baking family in New Orleans. This young couple was indeed in love though Julie seems to test his committment and temper in many ways often. Julie speaks back to him and really tests the limits when wearing the disrespectful red gown to the ball and does not listen to Pres to change. Preston decides to let her attend the ball but with out him. Julie being strong willed decides to go with another admirer Buck Cantrell (George Brent). All eyes are drawn in awe and disgust upon Julie's arrival at the ball. Julie goes at the last moment with Pres to this ball and she then has seconds thoughts but he makes her dance when no one else wanted to be near her and with a loud message left the floor upon her arrival on it.
Preston makes the orchestra play and the horrified Julie is made to dance in all her shameful disrespect.
Julie tests everyone in her life including her Aunt Belle (Fay Bainter) who warns her that all the pushing and games being played will eventually drive Preston away. Julie several times such as arriving late and in her riding clothes to her own party which is a slap to everyone. This action was crude and showing a lack of respect to her Aunt and Preston. This young couple during this time are engaged. All of these games that Julie plays finally brings Preston to break the engagement and head north for family work. Aunt Belle strongly urges and pleads with Julie to save what the young couple has and run after him though regretfully Julie does nothing of the sort. The last thing Preston has a remembrance is a slap to the face from the then angry Julie so it ends poorly for all.
One year passes and the great news of Preston is in the air, he is heading home! Julie is happy and decides to mend the fences and wears the white gown that was meant to be for the Olympus Ball. This Julie thinks and her pleading for forgiveness will bring Preston back to her. Unfortunately, for Julie..Preston is married to a northern woman named Amy (Margaret Lindsay). Julie is sadden of this events and still tries to win back her bow but to no luck. She has driven him away and with no future with them together. A dual occurs, yellow fever, and many other dramatic instances unfold within Julie's life. The ultimate test is then made when illness of the yellow fever hits home for Julie and reunites Preston and Julie. We fade out with the couple surrounded by fire and other ill fated individuals being sent to an island....is it Amy or Julie that are the other half of Preston's life when they look at one another......you need to watch to find out!!!!
