A Woman of Affairs (1928) - Star of the month... Greta Garbo

'A Woman of Affairs' is a 1928 silent drama directed by Clarence Brown and starring Greta Garbo, John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Lewis Stone, Johnny Mack Brown and Hobart Bosworth.

Based on the 1924 play, 'The Green Hat' by Michael Arlen, the screenplay was written by Bess Meredyth was all character names changed to appease the censors, following controversy surrounding the original play

Childhood sweethearts Diana Merrick (played by Garbo) and Neville Holderness (played by Gilbert) plan to marry, however are prevented from doing so by Neville's disapproving father, Sir. Morton Holderness (played by Bosworth). As a result Diana marries David Furness (played by Brown), so is the best friend of her brother, Jeffry Merrick (played by Fairbanks).

Did you know...

• This was Greta Garbo's fourteenth film, her seventh in Hollywood, her second directed by Clarence Brown and her third with John Gilbert - this would be her first of seven films with Lewis Stone
• MGM remade the film in 1934 as 'Outcast Lady' starring Constance Bennett
• One of the top 20 box office hits of 1929, the film grossed US$1,370,000 over it's US$383,000 budget
• Anita Louise appears uncredited as Diana as a Child

Award nominations

• Academy Award nomination for Best Writing

Closing remarks

A rather entertaining silent soap opera, and in my opinion one of Greta Garbo's best silent films. It is also an early example of film depicting the concept of money not buying happiness. It is a shame this is one of few Garbo films not yet released on DVD

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 

Anthony Adverse (1936) - Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

Fredric March and Olivia de Havilland as
Anthony and Angela

Anthony Adverse is the 1935 epic costume drama starring Fredric March, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, Anita Louise,  Donald Woods, Edmund Gwenn, Gale Sondergaard, Akim Tamiroff, Louis Hayward, Pedro de Córdoba, Ralph Morgan, Henry O'Neill, Steffi Duna and Billy Mauch.


Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, the screenplay by Sheridan Gibney is based on the novel of the same name by Hervey Allen.


Two years in the making, Anthony Adverse is an unforgettable story featuring a cast of 5000, including 98 speaking characters (a very high number for the 1930s).






Watch the trailer:

An unforgettable story

'Anthony Adverse' is the story of Anthony Adverse (played by March), the illegitimate child of Maria Bonnyfeather (played by Louise) and Denis Moore. After Maria dies during childbirth, her cruel nobleman husband Marquis Don Luis (played by Rains) leaves the baby at a convent. 


When Anthony turns 10, by coincidence he becomes an apprentice for John Bonnyfeather (played by Gwynn), his real grandfather. After finding of his late daughters possessions with Anthony, and noticing Anthony's resemblance to Maria, John discovers Anthony is his real grandson, but decides to keep this secret from him.  

Louis Hayward as Denis Moore

As Anthony grows up he falls in love with the cook's daughter Angela Giuseppe (played by de Havilland), who he later marries. After the wedding, Anthony leaves for Havana to collect a debt for his grandfather.  Assuming Anthony has deserted her, Angela pursues a career as an opera singer.


Matters are complicated when his grandfather's wife, Faith Paleologus (played by Sondergaard) tries to steal Anthony's inheritance from him after his grandfather's death.

Did you know...

• This was Gale Sondergaard's first film
• The book 'Anthony Adverse' was actor Tony Curtis' favourite book - he even named himself Tony from the title character
• Gale Sondergaard was the first ever recipient of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for this film
• Billy Mauch was cast in the film as young Anthony Adverse, due to his resemblance to Fredric March

Awards and nominations

• Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress (Gale Sondergaaard)
• Academy Award winner for Best Cinematography
• Academy Award winner for Best Film Editing
• Academy Award winner for Best Musical Scoring
• Academy Award nomination for Best Assistance Director
• Academy Award nomination for Best Art Direction
• Academy Award nomination for Best Picture

Closing remarks

The trailer said "The event of the century" - not sure about the event of the century, but definitely the best I've seen from 1936. It is very long, but still a great story.  I am baffled this film is still yet to be released on DVD, considering it was such an achievement, and the supplementary material which already exists, such as the theatrical trailer and short film 'Anthony Adverse: The Making of a Great Motion Picture.'

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is Warner Bros. 1935 version of Shakespeare's play, directed by Max Reinhardt and William Dieterle, the film features a cast of thousands with 15 Warner Bros. stars.

Dick Powell and Olivia de Havilland
as Lysander and Hermia

The film is based on Reinhardt's very successful 1927 Broadway revival of the play, and was made into a film after Dieterle saw a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in 1934 and convinced Warner Bros. to finance a big budget filming. With the recent introduction of the film production code, Warner Bros. were keen to lose their image of immoral gangster films, and produce something fun for the whole family.

This film is notable for being Olivia de Havilland's film debut, who had played Hermia, in Reinhardt's production at the Hollywood Bowl.

The music Felix Mendelssohn wrote in 1843 for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' was re-orchestrated by Eric Wolfgang Korngold.




Watch the trailer here:

An all-star cast

The film's impressive all-star cast includes:

James Cagney as Bottom

• Olivia de Havilland as Hermia
• James Cagney as Bottom
• Dick Powell as Lysander
• Joe E. Brown as Flute
• Anita Louise as Titania
• Ian Hunter as Theseus
• Ross Alexander as Demetrius
• Grant Mitchell as Egeus
• Frank McHugh as Quince
• Victor Jory as Oberon 
• and an 11 year Mickey Rooney as Puck

Did you know...

• This was Olivia de Havilland's film debut
• Joe E. Brown remains one of the only vaudeville stars to play a Shakespearean role
• Although most of the actors were contract Warner Bros stars, both Olivia de Havilland and Mickey Rooney were selected to reprise their stage roles
• This was the first film director Max Reinhardt made in the US
• The film was originally banned in Nazi Germany due to director Reinhardt and composer Mendelssohn being Jewish

Closing remarks

I was initially a little apprehensive about watching this, as it looked a little boring, but being such a big fan of James Cagney and Olivia de Havilland I felt I had to see it. After watching it, I found it wasn't too bad. I really like the way it shows James Cagney's versatility as an actor in his only Shakespearean role. 

An 11 year old Mickey Rooney as Puck

Although Dick Powell comes across a little awkward as Lysander, and he even felt he was not right for the part.

Another highlight are the elegant ballet sequences choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska.

The film although successful when first released, received mixed reviews due it's Americanisation of Shakespeare. That said, the film is still often shown on TV and considered to be a great classic.