Julia Misbehaves (1948) - Star of the month... Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor & Peter Lawford on the set of the film

'Julia Misbehaves' is a 1948 romantic comedy directed by Jack Conway and starring Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Lawford, Cesar Romero, Lucille Watson, Mary Boland and Reginald Owen.

Julia Packett is an actress living in London in 1936 who receives an invitation to her daughter Susan's (played by Taylor) wedding. She has not seen her daughter since she was a baby, and is excited about going to the wedding. Meanwhile Julia's disapproving mother-in-law (played by Watson) is horrrified once she finds out Julia is coming for the wedding and sends Julia's husband William Packett (played by Pidgeon) to stop her. On the trip to Paris, Julia meets acrobat Fred Ghenoccio (played by Romero), who proposes to Julia.  Matters are complicated once Julia has to chose between her estranged husband and her new fiancee. 

Musical program

Greer Garson sings two sings in the film:

• "When You're Playing With Fire"
• "Oh, What a Difference the Navy Made to Me!"

Song: "When You're Playing with Fire" - Greer Garson

Did you know...

Elizabeth Taylor & Peter Lawford in the film

• This was the fifth of eight movies to star Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon
• Peter Lawford gave Elizabeth Taylor her first on-screen kiss in this film
• Greer Garson met future husband E.E. Fogelson, a friend of Peter Lawford, on the set of this film

Closing remarks

Not a well known MGM romantic comedy, but still a lot of fun despite it's cliched plot and predictable ending. Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon still make a great pair in their fifth movie together, although  Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Lawford deliver average performances in this film. Supporting stars Cesar Romero and Mary Boland steal the film with their over the top comedic delivery. Worth watching and without high expectations and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

A Dream Comes True - Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

"A Dream Comes True: The Making of an Unusual Motion Picture" is a 8 minute short film documenting the making of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Narrated by Addison Richards, the short begins with footage from the premiere of  A Midsummer Night's Dream', before going into the making of the film. 

A highlight of the film is the footage of Erich Wolfgang Korngold playing the piano, as it is the only known footage of Korngold playing the piano. 

There is also some interesting footage of a giant fan cooling the set after filming - the studio lights made the studio very hot and uncomfortable for cast and crew.

All the great stars from the film appear in the short: Olivia de Havilland, James Cagney, Dick Powell, Joe E. Brown, Anita Louise, Ian Hunter, Ross Alexander, Grant Mitchell, Frank McHugh, Victor Jory and Mickey Rooney. 

We are also treated to some other stars attending the premiere: Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Paul Muni, Cesar Romero, George Brent, Frank McHugh, Pat O'Brien, Marion Davies, Freddie Bartholomew, Warren William, Lyle Talbot and Delores del Rio, just to name a few.

Behind the scenes footage of movies in the 1930's was not a regular activity, as it is today, which is what makes this short film so important and interesting to watch,

Watch the film on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B-YLW1pOuA