Swing High, Swing Low(1937).

Swing High, Swing Low(1937). Romantic/musical starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. This is the second film adaptation, after The Dance of Life (1929) and before When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948).

While traveling by cruise ship, Maggie King, masquerading as a hairdresser to pay her way to California, meets a soldier named, Skid Johnson. After they arrive, Skid offers to drive Maggie and her friend Ella into Panama City and introduces them to his roommate, Harry. Skid, gets into a fight defending Maggie, at a night club and they both land in jail.



After they go before a judge the next morning, Maggie's, ship has sailed on without her. Harry and Skid, invite her to move in with them. Skid, gambles away his trumpet and Maggie convinces Murphy, the owner of a cafe, to give her the money to buy back Skid's trumpet and then hire him to play at the club.

After Maggie, becomes angry with Skid, who spent the night with Anita, a girl who works at the club. Skid, decides to marry to Maggie.

A New York agent, tells Skid about a job in New York at the El Greco. Skid is a big hit, with Anita's help, but.. he keeps putting off sending money for Maggie's ticket to join him. Concerned Maggie, borrows money from Murphy and sends a telegram to Skid, but .. Anita, sees it first and tosses it out. When Maggie, arrives in New York, with no one to meet her, she calls Anita's room and Skid answers the phone. Heartbroken, Maggie files for divorce, will Maggie have a change of heart and get back together with Skid?

Please click here to view the full movie Swing High Swing Low.

Fun Fact:

The lead was originally offered to Gary Cooper, who turned it down, then to Bing Crosby, who also turned it down, then to Fred Mac, who took it.

I loved the night club scene with Anthony Quinn. Wonderful little movie for all Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray fans.

Jean Dixon (July 14, 1896 – February 12, 1981). While living in France, she studied dramatics under Sarah Bernhardt. She was on the Broadway stage a number of years before Hollywood called her in 1929. She mostly played the streetwise, smart-mouthed friend of the leading lady. Her most famous performance was in the film, My Man Godfrey (1936).

Filmography:
The Lady Lies (1929)
The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933)
Sadie McKee (1934)
I’ll Love You Always (1935)
She Married Her Boss (1935)
My Man Godfrey (1936)
You Only Live Once (1937)
Swing High, Swing Low (1937)
Holiday (1938)
Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)

Too Hot to Handle(1938).

Too Hot to Handle(1938). Cast: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Walter Pidgeon. Many of the gags in this film were put together by Buster Keaton.

Journalist Chris Hunter, is famous for being a trickster and he and his assistant Joselito decides to send footage of a fake bombing raid to his rival, Bill Dennis. To get even, Bill stages a "mercy flight" to bring cholera serum to China. As the plane lands Chris drives onto the field in an ambulance and photographs the arrival of the plane, but.. the ambulance gets in the way causing the plane to crash. After Chris saves pilot Alma Harding, she tells him that it was all a joke. Which begins Chris Hunter's and Bill Dennis's, friendly rivalry trying to scoop each other for news. The rivalry gets a little too intense when Alma Harding, becomes their love interest. You will love the zingers and the direction the plot moves from one fun situation to the next.

Virginia Weidler (March 21, 1926 – July 1, 1968), made her first film with Mickey Rooney in, Love Is a Headache (1938). After which Weidler, was cast in larger roles. She was one of the all-female cast of the 1939 film The Women, as Norma Shearer's daughter.

Her next major success was, The Philadelphia Story (1940) in which she played Dinah Lord, the witty younger sister of Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn). After a string of box-office disappointments, her film career ended with the 1943 film, Best Foot Forward.

At her retirement at the age of 17, Weidler had performed in more than forty films, and had acted with some of the biggest stars of the day, including Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in, Too Hot to Handle, Bette Davis in, All This and Heaven Too and Judy Garland in, Babes on Broadway.

The Painted Veil (1934).

The Painted Veil (1934). Directed by Ryszard Bolesławski. Cast: Greta Garbo Herbert Marshall, Warner Oland and Jean Hersholt.

After her sister Olga gets married, Katrin, the daughter of an Austrian medical professor, dreams of leaving her boring life in, Austria. When Dr. Walter Fane, a British bacteriologist, asks her to marry him and move to Hong Kong, she jumps at the chance, even though she does not love him.

After Walter, becomes involved in his medical work and does not have much time for his new wife, is when unhappily married Jack shows Katrin, all the popular city's land marks and Jack finds the opportunity to kiss her. Katrin, shocked by his actions still agrees to go with him to watch dancers performing at a Buddhist festival. Jack tells Katrin, that he is love with her and Katrin tells him that she is not in love with her husband.



Later, Katrin tells Walter that she is tired of him not being home very much. Walter comes home early the next day, but finds Katrin's bedroom door locked and Jack's hat on a table. That evening, Walter confronts Katrin and she admits that she is in love with Jack. Heartbroken, Walter tells Katrin, that he will give her a divorce only if Jack promises in writing that he will divorce his wife and marry her. When Katrin goes to Jack, with the terms he tells her that a divorce would ruin his life and breaks off the affair.

Heartbroken, Katrin travels with Walter to China, where a cholera epidemic has broken out. While Walter, tries to get the epidemic under control, Katrin grows more and more depressed. He tells her that he still loves her, but will send her back to Hong Kong. She tells him that she now knows what a good man he is and that she's ashamed of having betrayed him.

It is not long before, Jack realizes his is still in love with Katrin and leaves Hong Kong for to find Katrin. Walter, returns from the village after ordering it to be burned to stop the spread of the disease. He is happy to find that Katrin, was still there helping the children at the orphanage. Walter, is stabbed by villagers angry over having their houses burned and Katrin rushes to his side. Katrin, is confronted by Jack. Who will Katrin, decide to live the rest of her life with?

"The Painted Veil." Is a very moving love story. The score and cinematography and the Asian sets were beautiful.

Herbert Marshall (23 May 1890 – 22 January 1966). The actor spent many years playing romantic leads opposite such stars as Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich and Bette Davis, and starring in classics: Trouble in Paradise (1932), The Little Foxes (1941), and The Razor's Edge (1946). He was featured in both the 1929 and the more famous 1940 version of The Letter, first as the murdered lover, then the wronged husband. He starred in a popular radio series, The Man Called X, in which he played a globe-trotting "American" spy with an English accent.

He was married five times. Among his wives were two actresses, Edna Best, with whom he appeared in The Calendar, Michael and Mary and The Faithful Heart, and Boots Mallory, to whom he was married from 1947 until her death in 1958.

Passion Flower (1930).

Passion Flower (1930). Cast: Kay Francis, Kay Johnson, Charles Bickford, Winter Hall.

The story is about two cousins, Dulce who marries Morado, a wealthy Spanish aristocrat, and Cassy who falls in love with the family chauffeur, Dan Wallace. Cassy's father is having none of it and orders the couple to leave his home. They are soon married at Don Morado's estate. Dan refuses Morado's offer of a farm as a wedding gift, but.. after 5 years they are still struggling to make a living. So he finally, he accepts Morado's offer. Dan, knows that it is wrong, but, falls in love with Dulce and when Morado dies, the two of them go to Paris. Will Dan be able go through with the divorce, or will his memories of his family prevent him from going through with it?

Kay Francis, was wonderful in this film about human nature and the reason I decided to watch... Passion Flower. I would give this film 3 stars.

ZaSu Pitts(January 3, 1894– June 7, 1963). Was discovered by screenwriter Frances Marion. Pitts made her debut in the silent film, The Little Princess (1917), starring Mary Pickford. Pitts became a leading lady in the film, Greed (1924). Von Stroheim also featured her in his films, Sins of the Fathers (1928), The Wedding March (1928), War Nurse (1930) and Walking Down Broadway, which was re-edited by Alfred L. Werker and released as Hello, Sister! (1933).

Pitts became popular following a series of Universal one-reeler comedies and earned her first feature-length lead in, Better Times (1919). The following year she met and married actor Tom Gallery. The couple performed in several films, Bright Eyes (1921), Heart of Twenty (1920), Patsy (1921) and A Daughter of Luxury (1922).

In 1924, she was was given the greatest tragic role of her career in the epic classic, Greed (1924). Pitts, often starring in B movies and comedy shorts, teamed with Thelma Todd. She was best known in her performances as a fretful, flustered, worrisome spinster. She starred in a number of Hal Roach shorts and features, and co-starred in a series of feature-length comedies with Slim Summerville.

Some of her other performances include: The Dummy (1929), Finn and Hattie (1931), The Guardsman (1931), Blondie of the Follies (1932), Sing and Like It (1934) and Ruggles of Red Gap (1935).

She performed on the Fibber McGee and Molly show, playing a dizzy dame constantly looking for a husband.

Post-war films continued to give Pitts the chance to play comic snoops and flighty relatives in movies like, Life with Father (1947).

She played second banana to Gale Storm on, The Gale Storm Show (1956), as Elvira Nugent ("Nugie"), the shipboard beautician. Her last role was as a switchboard operator in the Stanley Kramer comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).

Ever Since Eve (1937).

Ever Since Eve (1937). Romantic comedy. Cast Marion Davies (in her final film) and Robert Montgomery.

Marge Winton, finds herself quiting yet another job to avoid the advances of her boss. She decides to give herself a unmake over, by wearing a dark wig, glasses, and a unflattering dress. Book publisher Abigail Belldon, thinks she is perfect and hires her as a secretary for writer, Freddy Matthews. Freddy, would rather go out and party with his girlfriend Camille, than work on his novel. Abigail, has already sold the film rights, and the deadline for the film studio is fast approaching.

Marge, begins to fall in love with Freddy and when she thinks about sabotaging his relationship with Camille, she thinks it is better to leave.

Freddy shows up at her apartment unexpectedly and sees her without her disguise, so she pretends to be her roommate Sadie. They spend the evening and part of the morning falling in love.

Marge pretends to be leaving town for a few weeks, but, her plan backfires, when Freddie chases after her. Camille finds out and is not far behind. At the hotel, Marge registers first as the secretary, then as Sadie, to keep Freddie from finding out and finishes the novel on her own. Will Freddie ever realizes that they are one and the same?

Marion, really looks like she's having fun in this movie.

Frank McHugh (May 23, 1898 – September 11, 1981). Warner Bros. hired him as a contract player in 1930. McHugh played everything from lead actor to sidekick. He performed in over 150 films and TV shows. He was a close friend of James Cagney and performed in more Cagney movies than any other actor. He performed with him in eleven movies between 1932 and 1953. Their friendship lasted until McHugh's death.

King of the Underworld (1939).

King of the Underworld (1939). Directed by Lewis Seiler. With Humphrey Bogart, Kay Francis, James Stephenson, John Eldredge.

Dr. Niles Nelson, is lured into becoming doctor to crime boss Joe Gurney and his gang. When Niles is killed by the police, while taking care of one of Gurney's men, his wife, Dr. Carol Nelson, falls under suspicion of also being part of the gang. Carol, wants to prove her innocence, and moves her practice to a small town, in which two of Gurney's gangsters, are being held the towns prison. Things become complicated, when Gurney, breaks into the jail and frees his men. Wounded in the jailbreak, Gurney forces Carol to treat his arm. Also, wounded in the jailbreak, is down on his luck writer Bill Stevens, who had accepted a ride from the gangster. Carol and Bill, become fast friends, who is later taken prisoner by Gurney, so that he can write the gangster's autobiography. Knowing, that the federal agents, are coming to arrest her, because of her involvement with Gurney. Will Carol come up with a plan to capture the gangsters and prove her innocence in time?

I really only recommend this film to fans of gangster films, or Bogart. Bogart, plays a gang leader who thinks of himself as the next Napoleon, which seems a little odd at times.

Stranger in Town (1932).

Stranger in Town (1932). Directed by Erle C. Kenton. With Charles 'Chic' Sale, Ann Dvorak, David Manners and Raymond Hatton.

Crickle, is postmaster and runs a small town grocery store. His business is threatened when a chain of large grocery stores opens in town, which will be managed by Jerry. As luck would have it, Crickle's granddaughter Marian, marries him against her grandfather's wishes. When the local canning company goes out of business and the bank closes, Crickle offers to trade his groceries for produce. The chain gets their wholesale suppliers to boycott Crickle. Marian, believes that Jerry is behind all this and leaves him. Jerry goes to the wholesalers, and buys a truck load of groceries. He loads the groceries into Crickle's truck, and together they leave before the wholesalers can stop them. Hilliker, the town constable stops the truck on the edge of town, and starts to remove the groceries. After Crickle, crashes his truck into Hilliker's car, the truck smashes into a tree in front of Crickle's store. When Marian learns the truth, will she reunite with Jerry?

Ann’s part in this one is very typical of the many bland leading lady roles she was subjected to at the hands of Warner Bros. between 1932-1936. This comedy was Ann’s second pairing with David Manners in 1932, the first being Crooner. This was also a reunion for Ann and Chic Sale.

20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932).

20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932). Drama film set in Sing Sing Penitentary,a maximum security prison in New York State. Directed by Michael Curtiz. Cast: Spencer Tracy as a convict, and Bette Davis is his girlfriend. This movie was based on the non-fiction book, Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing, which was written by Lewis E. Lawes, the warden of Sing Sing from 1920 to 1941. Writer Lewis E. Lawes was still warden of Sing Sing prison during filming and allowed the crew to film inside and outside the prison.

Tough guy Tommy Connors, is sent to Sing Sing, but is confident that his lawyer Joe Finn,will get him out on parole. But, it quickly becomes clear, that he will be treated just ant other in- mate. Connors and Long engage in a long battle of wills. Long, begins to see a change in Connors, when does not participate in a escape attempt.Soon after, Long trusts Connors outside the prison walls. Connors' girl friend, Fay Wilson, makes friends with Finn, but when he attacks her in the car, she jumps and is badly injured. Long allows Connors to visit Fay, but when he finds out that Finn is responsible for her injuries, they get into a fight. Fay shoots and kills Finn, but it is Connors, who is convicted for the murder and is sentenced to death. Fay tries to confess her crime to Long, but.. will she be able to save Connor in time?



At first.. I did not think that I had seen this film, but after a few minutes I realized that I had seen it many years before. This film is wonderfully acted prison melodrama. Teaming Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis once again. This film is very sentimental, funny, romantic and tragic. Tracy, is perfect as always in the role of a tuff guy con whose girl Davis gets hurt while he's in jail and he tries to escape. Tracy's conflict with the prison warden are some of the funnier moments in the film. If you are a fan of Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis, this is a must see film.

Star Of Midnight(1935).

Star of Midnight (1935). Directed by Stephen Roberts. Cast: William Powell, Ginger Rogers, Paul Kelly, Gene Lockhart.

Looking for his girl friend Alice, who has missing for over a year ago, Tim Winthrop goes to New York to ask his friend, criminal lawyer Clay Dalzell, for help. While there, Tim, Clay and Donna Mantin, Clay's fiancee, decide go to the theater, where actress Mary Smith, is performing. Just as the show begins, Clay receives a message to meet gangster Jimmy Kinland, to retrieve the love letters, that Donna, has asked him to pick up for her. He soon discovers the letters are not from Donna, but from a married friend. It is not long after he hears the news that Mary Smith, disappeared during her first act.

Soon after Clay, returns home and is visited by his friend Tim, who tells him that Mary Smith is Alice, and then by newspaper gossip columnist Tommy Tennant, who is shot and killed in Clay's bedroom. The killer throws his gun next to dazed Clay, making it look like he murdered Tommy. The producer of Mary's show and gangster Jimmy Kinland,  both seem to know more than their telling. Clay, is determined to find the killer with the help of Donna and his butler.

This movie is very enjoyable with plenty of humour, intrigue, everything we love about William Powell . Ginger Rogers,  also gives a wonderful performances and seems very natural playing opposite William Powell.

Seven Keys To Baldpate(1935).

Seven Keys To Baldpate(1935). Directed by William Hamilton, Edward Killy. Cast: Gene Raymond, Margaret Callahan, Eric Blore, Grant Mitchell.

The story begins during the middle of a winter storm, Magee, a novelist, checks into the resort called Baldpate Inn, where he given the "only key" to the hotel. He wants to win a bet that he made with a friend that he can write a novel in twenty-four hours, Magee, finds himself distracted by a gangster, that goes by the name, Bland, who confronts Magee at gunpoint. Magee tricks Bland into locking himself in his room and then runs into Mary Norton, who claims to be a down-on-her-luck actress.

The inn's next guests are, Professor Bolton, Adlebert Peters, Baldpate, and  Mrs. Hayden, who tells Magee that Bland's boss, Jim Cargan, a private detective, is trying to extort money from her husband for the return of her stolen jewels.

Magee, watches Mary and Bolton trying to open the safe, which Mary explains contains Hayden's money. After Mary shows Magee the inn's secret passage, Bland, has jumped out of Magee's window, Hayden and Cargan arrive to help open the safe. Max, Cargan double-crosses his men and runs off with the money, but is knocked out by Bolton, who is then knocked out by Magee.

After Magee hides the cash, Bland finds it and hides it in a woodstove, which is opened by Peters, who hides the money under a chair cushion. While Mary is looking for the cash, Magee is confronted by the gangsters and in the confusion, Mrs. Hayden, who is actually an impostor named Myra, reveals that Max stole Hayden's jewels at Cargan's request. Max shoots Myra and when the police arrive they all hear Magee's accusations. Mary then reveals that she is really Mary Johnson, a New York reporter, and Bolton confesses that he is really Harrison, an insurance detective. There's a 'surprise' ending is not very surprising. My favorite performance in this movie is by Henry Travers, even though he plays a old hermit who is writing a manuscript against womankind.

Gene Raymond (August 13, 1908 – May 2, 1998) . He attended the Professional Children's School while performing in productions: Rip Van Winkle and Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. His Broadway debut, at age 17, was in The Cradle Snatchers. The cast included Mary Boland, Edna May Oliver, and a young Humphrey Bogart.

His screen debut was in Personal Maid (1931). Another early performance was in,  If I Had a Million, Zoo in Budapest with Loretta Young, and many musicals, mostly with Ann Sothern. He wrote a number of songs, including:  "Will You?" which he sang to Sothern in, Smartest Girl In Town (1936). His wife, Jeanette MacDonald, sang several of his more classical pieces in her concerts and recorded one entitled "Let Me Always Sing".

His best known films, mostly as a second lead actor, include Red Dust (1932) with Jean Harlow, Zoo in Budapest (1933) with Loretta Young, Ex-Lady (1933) with Bette Davis, Flying Down to Rio (1933) with Dolores del Río, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, I Am Suzanne (1934) with Lilian Harvey, Sadie McKee (1934) with Joan Crawford, Alfred Hitchcock's Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941) with Carole Lombard and Robert Montgomery, and The Locket (1946) with Laraine Day, Brian Aherne, and Robert Mitchum. MacDonald and Raymond made one film together, Smilin' Through. Raymond both directed and performed in the drama, Million Dollar Weekend (1948).

Pre-Code: The Man with Two Faces (1934).

The Man with Two Faces (1934). Directed by Archie Mayo, the film stars Edward G. Robinson, Mary Astor, Ricardo Cortez, Louis Calhern and Mae Clarke. The story was adapted by Tom Reed and Niven Busch from the play The Dark Tower by George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott. The Man with Two Faces was actress Margaret Dale's last movie, and only talkie.

The story begins when Jessica Wells, a talented actress, is returning to the stage after a three-year absence. Her family and friends are shocked when Vance, her long-lost husband with a criminal past, shows up. He immediately takes over Jessica life.

Vance, soon learns that his wife holds half the rights to the play in which she will be performing, which now might turn out to be a disaster in her present state.

Damon Wells, wants to help his sister's comeback acting as her coach. He and Jessica's manager realize that they must get rid of Vance, so Damon pretends to be French theatrical producer Jules Chautard, and lures Vance, to a hotel room believing that he will be paid for Jessica's half-interest in the play, but is murdered. Damon covers his tracks, but accidentally leaves behind a few clues. Will Sergeant William Curtis, use the clues to crack the case?

When, EDWARD G. ROBINSON, goes under cover you will not recognize him. Not one of my favorite MARY ASTOR performance, but still entertaining. MAE CLARKE, has a more spirited role as girlfriend of Robinson. I enjoyed the Pre-Code ending.

Mae Clarke (August 16, 1910 – April 29, 1992) . She started her professional career as a dancer sharing a room with Barbara Stanwyck and starred in many films for Universal Studios, including the film, The Front Page (1931) and the first sound version of Frankenstein (1931) with Boris Karloff. Clarke played the role of Henry Frankenstein's fiancee Elizabeth in Frankenstein, who was attacked by the Monster on her wedding day. The Public Enemy, released that same year, contained featured one of cinema's most famous scenes, in which James Cagney pushed a half grapefruit into Clarke's face, then went out and picked up Jean Harlow.

She performed as Myra Deauville, in the 1931 Pre-Code version of Waterloo Bridge. In the film, she plays a young American woman who is forced into a life of prostitution in World War I London.

She also appeared in the modest pre-code film, Night World (1932), with Lew Ayres, Boris Karloff, and Hedda Hopper.

By the mid-1930s, Clarke was no longer a leading lady and was only featured in small or bit parts through to the 1960s.

Grand Slam(1933).

Grand Slam (1933). Directed by William Dieterle. With Paul Lukas, Loretta Young, Frank McHugh, Glenda Farrell.

The story begins when waiter/novelist Peter Stanislavsky marries Marcia, he learns to play bridge even though he thinks that it is a childish game. One evening, while he is working as a waiter at a bridge party given by Lola Starr, he is asked to play, with bridge expert Cedric Van Dorn.

After Peter wins the card game, It makes headlines and Speed McCann ghostwrites a best-selling book for him. A national tour is set up with Marcia as his partner and they sweep the country.

A very enjoyable little comedy, with some unexpected touches like the cast introduced as faces on a deck of cards. Paul Lukas and Loretta Young, make a wonderful team playing the" Bridge Sweethearts", who are fun to watch, even when the story line is not very believable. The film takes advantage of the fad for contract bridge which had swept across the country in the 1920's.

Glenda Farrell (June 30, 1904 – May 1, 1971). Warner Brothers signed her to re-create on film the role she played in, Life Begins on Broadway. Farrell worked on parts in twenty movies in her first year with the studio. She was best known as the wise-cracking, hard-boiled, and somewhat dizzy blonde of the early talkies, along with brassy blonde, Joan Blondell, with whom she would be frequently paired.

Her brassy persona was used to great effect in the film, Little Caesar (1931) opposite Edward G. Robinson, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) opposite Paul Muni, Havana Widows (1933) with Blondell, Bureau of Missing Persons (1933) opposite Pat O'Brien, Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) opposite Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray, and The Big Shakedown (1934) with Charles Farrell and Bette Davis.

She became one of Warner Brothers’ most prolific actresses of the 1930s, solidifying her success with her own film film series, as Torchy Blane, "Girl Reporter". In this role Farrell was promoted as being able to speak 400 words in 40 seconds. Farrell would portray the character Torchy Blane in eight films, from 1937 to 1939 when the role was taken over by Jane Wyman.

In 1937 she starred opposite Dick Powell and Joan Blondell in the Academy Award nominated Lloyd Bacon and Busby Berkeley directed musical comedy Gold Diggers of 1937.

Farrell went out of vogue in the 1940s but made a comeback later in life, winning an Emmy Award in 1963, for her work in the television series Ben Casey.

The Bride Walks Out(1936).

The Bride Walks Out(1936). Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Gene Raymond and Robert Young.

The story begins when fashion model Carolyn agrees to quit her well paying job and live on Michael's small earnings as an engineer.  After their wedding ceremony, Carolyn, gets into a argument with Michael. After which, Michael gets into a fight and is arrested. While the couple is in court, Carolyn meets well to do Hugh McKenzie, who falls in love with her at first sight and pays Michael's fine.

Unable to keep up their payments, Carolyn loses the furniture on New Year's Eve and gets drunk with Donovan, the repossesser, and Hugh and Mattie Dodson, Paul's wife.Later, at a New Year's Eve party. When Carolyn and Michael arrive home, they find that Hugh has replaced all of the repossessed furniture. Carolyn, wants to repay Hugh and secretly goes back to work. Will Michael ever find out the truth and walk out on her?

In this charming film, Helen Broderick plays the sarcastic, wiser friend that sticks by the bride when things get tough.  Robert Young, character really wants to help out,  but instead makes things worse. Ned Sparks character is funny, always muttering things under his breath. This movie makes light of some of those old fashioned sexist ideas, made for a different time.

Helen Broderick (August 11, 1891 – September 25, 1959) was  known for her comic roles, as a wisecracking sidekick.

 She is best known for her performance in the film, Fifty Million Frenchmen. In the early 1930s, she performed in the films: The Band Wagon, As Thousands Cheer, Fifty Million Frenchmen, the Astaire-Rogers movies Top Hat and Swing Time. The wife of actor Lester Crawford, she was the mother of Academy Award-winning actor Broderick Crawford.

The Divorce of Lady X (1938).

 

The Divorce of Lady X (1938). A British romantic comedy film directed by Tim Whelan. The music score was by Miklós Rózsa and Lionel Salter and the cinematography by Harry Stradling. Cast: Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and Binnie Barnes. The film was a remake of the 1933 film, Counsel's Opinion, also made by London Films and in which Binnie Barnes performed in the role played by Merle Oberon.

Because of the thick fog, London barrister Everard Logan, decides to spend the night in the Royal Park hotel. Before he knows it .. Leslie Steele, another one of the guests, tricks him into giving her both the bedroom and his pajamas. By the next morning, Logan, has fallen in love with Leslie even though he mistakenly thinks that she is a married woman.

At home, Leslie, tells her  grandfather judge Lord Steele that she wants to marry Logan, even though he thinks she is an  unfaithful wife.

Later, Logan is visited by Lord  Mere, who tells him that his wife spent the night at the Royal Park hotel with another man, and wants Logan to begin divorce proceedings. Logan believes that Leslie is Lady Mere, and tries to convince Lord Mere not to start divorce proceedings, while trying to hide the fact he thinks he is the "other man" and that's when the fun begins.



Lawrence Olivier and Merle Oberon did two movies together: WUTHERING HEIGHTS and THE DIVORCE OF LADY X.

I loved the witty banter between Olivier and Oberon, and even the playful back and forth between Morton Selten as Lord Steele and H.B. Hallam as his butler, Jeffries. Binnie Barnes, was perfect as Lady Mere.

Video: The Divorce of Lady X (1938). In full.

Binnie Barnes (25 May 1903 – 27 July 1998), She began her acting career in films in 1923, performing in a short film made by Lee De Forest in his Phonofilm sound-on-film process. Her film career continued in Britain, then in Hollywood, until 1973, with her final role in the comedy, 40 Carats. She is best known for her performance, The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933), starring Charles Laughton in the title role, with Barnes as Katherine Howard.