A review plus background information about Paramount pre-Code The Story of Temple Drake (1933), adapted from Sanctuary by William Faulkner. Book and adaptation are compared and contrasted. Casting and path to screen are covered, including George Raft’s refusal to appear in the film. Biographical information about stars Miriam Hopkins and Jack La Rue. Lengthy article, over 5,500 words, first appeared in Classic Movie Monthly #5.
Clippings: C. Aubrey Smith
Small collection of C. Aubrey Smith clippings includes an early profile from 1898 and memories of Smith after his passing in 1948 with others in between …
Cards & Clippings: William Gargan
Small collection of William Gargan clippings includes an early profile from 1926 and Gargan’s 1979 obituary, with a couple of other clips in between …
Black Fury (1935) – Paul Muni Stars in Another Ripped from the Headlines Story
Paul Muni stars as a mine worker who is duped into breaking the union in 1935’s Black Fury from Warner Bros. Post includes background about real-life John Barcoski murder from 1929 and other notes about the origins of the film.
Sweepings (1933) and Mamie’s Christmas Counter Freak-Out
Lester Cohen adapted his own novel Sweepings for RKO in 1933. It was remade as Three Sons in 1939. The story is about a retail king and his family, but the focus of this article turns to Helen Mack’s explosive Christmas Eve scene with additional details about her character filled in from Cohen’s novel.
Don’t Bet on Blondes (1935) Starring Warren William and Claire Dodd
Warner Brothers Don’t Bet on Blondes (1935) features solid work by Warren William as bookmaker turned freak insurance man, Claire Dodd cast against type as his love interest and Guy Kibbee giving the strongest performance of the bunch as Dodd’s father, who takes out a policy against his daughter’s marriage. It is also Errol Flynn’s second Hollywood movie and Flynn’s early career is detailed within the post.
Night Flight (1933) with John and Lionel Barrymore, Gable and More
An all-star cast may be advertised but Night Flight (1933) is mostly Barrymore, John with a dash of Lionel. Not much for Clark Gable and the rest with the exception of Robert Montgomery.