1.
Viva Villa!
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Viva Villa. is a 1934 American Pre-Code film starring Wallace Beery as Pancho Villa and was written by Ben Hecht, adapted from the book Viva Villa. The film was shot on location in Mexico and directed by Jack Conway, there was uncredited assistance with the script by Howard Hawks, James Kevin McGuinness, and Howard Emmett Rogers. Wellman were also uncredited directors on the film, the film is a fictionalized biography of Pancho Villa starring Beery, Leo Carrillo and Fay Wray. The supporting cast features Donald Cook, Stuart Erwin, Henry B, walthall, Joseph Schildkraut and Katherine DeMille. Wallace Beery as Pancho Villa Leo Carrillo as Sierra Fay Wray as Teresa Donald Cook as Don Felipe de Castillo Stuart Erwin as Jonny Sykes Henry B, walthall as Francisco Madero Joseph Schildkraut as Gen. Pascal Katherine DeMille as Rosita Morales George E. As a grown man, Villa and a band of bandits, including his trusted ally Sierra, kill wealthy landowners. The coarse and illiterate Villa is humbled in the presence of Madero and he also is attracted to Don Felipes beautiful sister Teresa, although there are many women in Villas life, including one he is married to, Rosita. Villas exploits are made even more colorful by an American newspaper reporter, Johnny Sykes, while drunk, Sykes is misinformed and reports that Villa has already overtaken the village of Santa Rosalia in a great victory for his men. Disobeying the orders of Madero and the arrogant General Pascal, simply to help his friend, Villa stages a raid on Santa Rosalia. Madero ultimately assumes office in Mexico City, then commands Villa to disband his personal army, Villa agrees, but when Sierra kills a bank teller just so Villa can withdraw his money, Villa himself ends up sentenced to death. A gloating General Pascal mocks the way Villa pleads for his life, then reads a telegram from Madero, ordering that Villa instead be exiled from the country. Alone and drunk in El Paso, Texas, feeling forsaken by his homeland, Villa is visited by Sykes, Villa returns to Mexico and rebuilds his own army, recruiting tens of thousands to ride by his side. Together they storm the capital, where Pascal is subjected to a gruesome death. Villa takes what he wants, but when Teresa resists and he assaults her. Villa appoints himself president but is ineffectual, unable to restore Maderos dream of land reform for Mexicos poor and he ultimately agrees to step aside and go back to where he belongs, including to his wife. Before he can, with Sykes by his side, Villa is gunned down by Don Felipe out of revenge for his sister, Sykes vows to keep Villas memory alive, telling his dying friend that he is no longer news, but history. The film was popular at the box office. The film grossed a total of $1,875,000, $941,000 from the US and Canada and it made a profit of $87,000
2.
Imitation of Life (1934 film)
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Imitation of Life is a 1934 American drama film directed by John M. Stahl. The screenplay by William Hurlbut, based on Fannie Hursts 1933 novel of the name, was augmented by eight additional uncredited writers, including Preston Sturges. The film stars Claudette Colbert, Warren William and Rochelle Hudson and features Louise Beavers, the film was originally released by Universal Pictures on November 26,1934, and later re-issued in 1936. A1959 remake with the same title stars Lana Turner, in 2005, Imitation of Life was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry being deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. It was also named by Time in 2007 as one of The 25 Most Important Films on Race, white widow Bea Pullman and her toddler daughter Jessie, take in black housekeeper Delilah Johnson and her daughter Peola, whose fair complexion conceals her mixed-race ancestry. Bea exchanges room and board for work, although struggling to make ends meet, Delilah and Peola quickly become like family to Jessie and Bea. They particularly enjoy Delilahs pancakes, made from a family recipe. Bea finds it difficult to make a living selling maple syrup, using her wiles to get a storefront on the busy Atlantic City boardwalk refurbished for practically nothing, she opens a pancake restaurant, where Delilah cooks in the front window. Five years later, Bea makes her last payment to the man and is debt-free. Jessie and Peola have proven to be challenging children to raise, Jessie is demanding, not particularly studious and she is the first person to call Peola black in a hurtful way, hinting that their childhood idyll is doomed. Peola does not tell her classmates at school that she is colored and is humiliated when her mother shows up one day, revealing her secret. Later, at the suggestion of a passerby, Elmer Smith, Bea sets up a more successful pancake flour corporation. She offers Delilah a 20% interest in her family recipe, but childlike, Delilah refuses and continues to act as Beas housekeeper and factotum, Bea becomes wealthy from her business. Ten years later, the two women are confronted with problems. Eighteen-year-old Jessie, home on vacation, falls in love with her mothers boyfriend, Stephen Archer. Meanwhile, Peola, seeking opportunities in the segregated society, passes as white, identifying with her European ancestry. Leaving her Negro college, Peola takes a job as a cashier in a whites only restaurant, when her mother and Bea track her down, she is humiliated to be identified as black. She finally tells her mother that she is going away, never to return and her mother is heartbroken and takes to her bed, murmuring Peolas name and forgiving her before eventually succumbing to heartbreak
3.
Cleopatra (1934 film)
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Cleopatra is a 1934 epic film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and distributed by Paramount Pictures, which retells the story of Cleopatra VII of Egypt and it was written by Waldemar Young, Vincent Lawrence and Bartlett Cormack, and produced and directed by Cecil B. Claudette Colbert stars as Cleopatra, Warren William as Julius Caesar, in 48 BC, Cleopatra vies with her brother Ptolemy for control of Egypt. Pothinos kidnaps her and Apollodorus and strands them in the desert, when Pothinos informs Julius Caesar that the queen has fled the country, Caesar is ready to sign an agreement with Ptolemy when Apollodorus appears, bearing a gift carpet for the Roman. When Apollodorus unrolls it, Cleopatra emerges, much to Pothinos surprise and he tries to deny who she is. However Caesar sees through the deception and Cleopatra soon beguiles Caesar with the prospect of the riches of not only Egypt, but also India. Later, when they are alone, she spots a sandal peeking out from underneath a curtain and thrusts a spear into the hidden Pothinos. Caesar makes Cleopatra the sole ruler of Egypt, and begins an affair with her, Caesar eventually returns to Rome with Cleopatra to the cheers of the masses, but Roman unease is directed at Cleopatra. Cassius, Casca, Brutus and other powerful Romans become disgruntled, rightly suspecting that he intends to abolish the Roman Republic and make himself emperor, with Cleopatra as his empress. Ignoring the forebodings of Calpurnia, Cleopatra, and a soothsayer who warns him about the Ides of March, before he can do so, he is assassinated. Cleopatra is heartbroken at the news, at first, she wants to go to him, but Apollodorus tells her that Caesar did not love her, only her power and wealth, and that Egypt needs her. Bitter rivals Marc Antony and Octavian are named co-rulers of Rome, Antony, disdainful of women, invites Cleopatra to meet with him in Tarsus, intending to bring her back to Rome as a captive. Enobarbus, his friend, warns Antony against meeting Cleopatra. She entices him to her barge and throws a party with many animals and beautiful dancers. King Herod, who has allied himself with Octavian, visits the lovers. He informs Cleopatra privately that Rome and Octavian can be appeased if Antony were to be poisoned, Herod also tells Antony the same thing, with the roles reversed. Antony laughs off his suggestion, but a reluctant Cleopatra, reminded of her duty to Egypt by Apollodorus, before Antony can drink the fatal wine, however, they receive news that Octavian has declared war. Antony orders his generals and legions to gather, but Enobarbus informs him that they have all deserted out of loyalty to Rome, Enobarbus tells his comrade that he can wrest control of Rome away from Octavian by having Cleopatra killed, but Antony refuses to consider it
4.
The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (film)
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The Lives of a Bengal Lancer is a 1935 American epic-adventure-drama film loosely adapted from the 1930 autobiography of the same name by British author Francis Yeats-Brown. The film is a Paramount picture directed by Henry Hathaway and written by Grover Jones, William Slavens McNutt, Waldemar Young, John L. Balderston, production and planning of the film began in 1931 and Paramount expected the film to be released that same year. However, due to a film stock crisis in which most of the location footage deteriorated due to the high temperatures, the motion picture was released in American cinemas in January 1935. The films release was met with reviews and good box office results. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning Assistant Director, with nominations including Best Original Screenplay. It grossed $49 million at the box office, historian John Reid has described the film as one of the greatest adventure films of all time. After the formal introduction, Lieutenant Stone realizes his father never actually sent for him during a heated argument, in attempt to show impartiality, the colonel treats his son very coldly, which is misinterpreted and causes frustration and resentment in the young officer. When the colonel refuses to attempt his rescue, McGregor and Forsythe, appalled by the lack of concern the colonel has for his own son, leave the camp at night without orders. Disguised as common natives trying to sell blankets, they are recognized by the beautiful slave, while McGregor and Forsythe, despite the agonizing pain, refuse to speak, Stone cracks and reveals what he knows. As a result, the ammunition is captured, after receiving news about the stolen ammunition, Colonel Stone prepares his regiment for battle. From their cell, the see the outmatched Bengal Lancers deployed to assault Khans fortress. They manage to escape and ultimately destroy the tower. With their ammunition gone and headquarters in ruins as a result of the battle, however, McGregor, who was mainly responsible for the destruction of the ammunition tower, is killed in the assault. Gary Cooper as Lieutenant Alan McGregor, an experienced officer in his mid-thirties. McGregor is portrayed as a charming, open character who befriends most officers, but is repeatedly refused promotion, franchot Tone as Lieutenant John Forsythe, an educated cavalryman in his mid-twenties from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Forsythe is presented as the guy of the main characters. Richard Cromwell as Lieutenant Donald Stone, a recent graduate and very young officer, as the son of a colonel with a famous name, he is treated respectfully, but becomes frustrated and morose because of personal issues with his father. Guy Standing as Colonel Tom Stone, a colonel who left his home in Britain for the Indian front
5.
David Copperfield (1935 film)
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The story was adapted by Hugh Walpole from the Dickens novel, and the film was directed by George Cukor from a screenplay by Howard Estabrook and Lenore J. Coffee, who was not credited. David O. Selznick dearly wanted to film David Copperfield, as his Russian father Lewis J. Selznick had learned English through it, after failing to dissuade Selznick from the project, Louis B. Mayer, his father-in-law and employer, agreed that MGM would underwrite the production provided his star child contract actor, Jackie Cooper, was cast in the role of the young David. Selznick fought to remain true to the origins and prevailed. Cedric Gibbons designed a recreation of 19th century London on the MGM backlot, the scenes set outside Aunt Betseys house atop the white cliffs of Dover were filmed at Malibu. MGM even filmed the exterior of Canterbury Cathedral, which appears in the film for less than a minute. Special effects, including many shots, were by Slavko Vorkapić. Charles Laughton was originally cast in the role of Mr. Micawber, after two days of work, he disliked his performance in the dailies and asked to be replaced. It was said at the time that he looked as though he were about to molest the child, Selznick released Laughton who, in turn, recommended comedian and Dickens scholar W. C. His defense, My father was an Englishman and I inherited this accent from him, are you trying to go against nature. This is the film where Fields does not ad lib. The result was one of the finest performances of that year, cast notes, Arthur Treacher has a cameo as the man with the donkey who steals young Davids money, forcing him to walk from London to Dover. The film was well-received upon its release in January 1935, andre Sennwald of The New York Times called it the most profoundly satisfying screen manipulation of a great novel the camera has ever given us. Variety wrote that it had one of the most evenly good casts ever to have assembled, with staging. John Mosher of The New Yorker found the first half of the one of the superb things of the movies. Mosher also praised the casting and opined that Freddie Bartholemew put on one of the prettiest performances ever given on the screen by a youngster, David Copperfield topped the Film Daily year-end poll of 451 critics around the country as the best film of 1935. According to MGM records the film earned $2,969,000 at the box office worldwide and made a profit of $686,000, there were several notable differences in the film from the book. It is still shown in countries on television at Christmas
6.
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935 film)
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The play, which is categorized as a comedy, is one of Shakespeares most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world. Felix Mendelssohns music was used, as re-orchestrated by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The ballet sequences featuring the fairies were choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska, part one A beautiful young woman named Hermia is in love with Lysander and wishes to marry him. Her father Egeus, however, has instructed her to marry Demetrius, Theseus offers her another choice—to live a life of chastity as a nun and worship the goddess Diana. Meanwhile, Peter Quince and his fellow players gather to produce a play about the cruel death of Pyramus and Thisbe in honor of the Duke. Quince reads the names of characters and bestows them to the players, nick Bottom, who is playing the main role of Pyramus, is overly-enthusiastic and suggests himself for the characters of Thisbe, the Lion, and Pyramus at the same time. He would also prefer being a tyrant and recites some lines of Ercles, Quince ends the meeting instructing his players to meet at the Dukes oak tree. In the forest outside Athens, Oberon, the king of the fairies, Titania tells Oberon that she plans to stay there to attend the wedding of Duke Theseus and Hippolyta. Oberon and Titania are estranged because she refuses to give her Indian changeling to Oberon for use as his knight, wanting to punish Titanias disobedience, Oberon instructs his mischievous court jester Puck to retrieve a flower called love-in-idleness. Originally a white flower, it turns purple when struck by Cupids bow, when someone applies the magical love potion to a sleeping persons eyelids, it makes the victim fall in love with the first living creature seen upon awakening. Oberon comes across a sleeping Titania and applies the potion to her eyes. He intends to make Titania fall in love with the first creature she sees when waking up, oberons intent is to shame Titania into giving up the little Indian changeling. Meanwhile, Hermia and Lysander have escaped to the same forest in hopes of eloping, Demetrius, who is also in love with Hermia, pursues them into the forest. He is followed by Helena, who is desperate to reclaim Demetrius love, Helena continues to make advances towards Demetrius, promising to love him more than Hermia, but he rebuffs her with cruel insults. When Oberon sees this, he orders Puck to spread some of the potion on the eyelids of Demetrius. When Puck later discovers the sleeping Lysander, he mistakes him for Demetrius—not having seen either before—and administers the love potion to the sleeping Lysander, during the night, Helena comes across the sleeping Lysander and wakes him up while attempting to determine whether he is dead or asleep. When he lays eyes on her, Lysander immediately falls in love with Helena, meanwhile, the mischievous Puck turns Bottom into a donkey. When Titania wakes up and lays eyes on Bottom as a donkey, Oberon finds the abandoned changeling and takes him away
7.
The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936 film)
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The Charge of the Light Brigade is a 1936 American historical adventure film made by Warner Bros. It was directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Samuel Bischoff, wallis as executive producer, from a screenplay by Michael Jacoby and Rowland Leigh, from a story by Michael Jacoby based on the poem The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The music score was by Max Steiner and the cinematography by Sol Polito, scenes were shot at the following California locations, Lone Pine, Sherwood Lake, Lasky Mesa, Chatsworth and Sonora. The Sierra Nevada mountains were used for the Khyber Pass scenes, the film starred Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. The story is loosely based on the famous Charge of the Light Brigade that took place during the Crimean War. Additionally, the line seems to include the Siege of Cawnpore during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. This was the second of eight films in which Errol Flynn, the film was remade The Charge of the Light Brigade in 1968 starring Trevor Howard and Vanessa Redgrave. Perry has secretly betrayed Geoffrey by stealing the love of his fiancee Elsa, during an official visit to local tributary rajah, Surat Khan, Geoffrey saves the rajahs life. Later, Surat Khan massacres the inhabitants of Chukoti, and allies himself with the Russians and he spares Elsa and Geoffrey as they flee the slaughter to repay his debt to Geoffrey. The love triangle and the quest for vengeance are both resolved at the Battle of Balaclava, Vickers then orders the famous suicidal attack so the lancers can avenge the Chukoti massacre. He writes a note to Macefield explaining his actions and forces his brother Perry to deliver it, the attack succeeds in reaching the Russian artillery positions. There, Vickers finds and kills Surat Khan, at the cost of his own life, after receiving Vickers note, Macefield takes responsibility for the charge and burns the note to protect Vickers good name. Opening credits End credits The charge had been portrayed in a British movie, The Jaws of Death, Warner Bros were inspired to make the film after Lives of a Bengal Lancer had been released to great popularity, ushering in a series of British Empire adventure tales. Michel Jacoby had developed a story based on the charge but, although Warners bought Jacobys script. An original working title was The Charge of the 600, Errol Flynn had made such a strong impression in Captain Blood he was removed from supporting Fredric March in Anthony Adverse to play the lead in Charge of the Light Brigade. Ian Hunter was connected to the early on. Anita Louise was announced as the female lead, patric Knowles had just joined Warner Bros at the recommendation of Irving Asher in London, the same man who recommended Errol Flynn. He was given the crucial part of Flynns brother
8.
The Last of the Mohicans (1936 film)
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The Last of the Mohicans is a 1936 American adventure film based on the novel The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. It was directed by George B. Seitz and stars Randolph Scott, Binnie Barnes, during the French and Indian War, Alice and Cora Munro, the two daughters of Colonel Munro, commander of a British fort, set out from Albany to join their father. They are escorted by Major Duncan Heyward, who has loved Alice for a long time, Magua is secretly an enemy of the British. Magua betrays them, but they are rescued by a scout named Hawkeye and his friends. On their way to the fort, Uncas falls in love with Cora, while Hawkeye, the fort is besieged by the French, under General Montcalm, and their Indian allies. Hawkeye sneaks out at night and overhears Maguas treacherous plans to raid the unprotected colonial settlements, Colonel Munro refuses to accept Hawkeyes unsupported word, and forbids the colonials to leave to protect their loved ones. Hawkeye arranges for the men to depart, but remains behind, Munro has no choice but to pronounce a death sentence on him for his actions. Magua incites his men to attack the fort to forestall an agreement between Montcalm and Munro that would allow the British to surrender the fort peacefully in exchange for their lives. Before Montcalm can stop the fighting, Munro is fatally wounded and his daughters are carried off by Magua, Magua tells the women that Cora will become his squaw, and Alice will be burned alive. Hawkeye and his friends out of the stockade and set out in pursuit. When they reach a stream, they are forced to split up, Hawkeye and Chingachgook search downstream, Heyward and Uncas upstream. Uncas picks up the trail and, unwilling to wait for the others and he manages to free Cora, but they are trapped on top of a cliff. Uncas kills one man, but Magua sends him plummeting to the bottom of the cliff, rather than becoming Maguas woman, Cora chooses to jump to her death. The dying Uncas drags himself over to her lifeless body and takes her hand in his before succumbing, Chingachgook arrives and challenges Magua to fight one-on-one. Chinachgook drowns Magua in the river, meanwhile, Alice is taken to a large enemy settlement to be burned at the stake. Hawkeye sends Chingachgook to stand guard, then tells Heyward that Hawkeye must offer himself in exchange for Alice, Heyward offers to sacrifice himself, but Hawkeye tells him that the Indians would not trade Alice for a British officer they do not know. It must be a warrior they respect highly, and Hawkeye meets that description. Heyward knocks out Hawkeye and takes his clothes, because the enemy does not know what Hawkeye looks like, Heyward enters the armed camp and bargains for Alices release
9.
Anthony Adverse
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Anthony Adverse is a 1936 American epic costume drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Fredric March and Olivia de Havilland. The film received four Academy Awards, among the four Academy Awards that Anthony Adverse won, Gale Sondergaard was awarded the inaugural Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role as Faith Paleologus. In 1773, young English beauty Maria Bonnyfeather is the new bride of the cruel, however, she is pregnant by Denis Moore, the man she loved before being forced to marry Don Luis. After the marquis learns of his wifes affair, Don Luis takes her across Europe but Denis tracks them down at an inn, months later Maria dies giving birth to her son at a chalet in the Alps in northern Italy. Don Luis lies to Marias father, wealthy Leghorn-based merchant John Bonnyfeather, Ten years later, completely by coincidence, Anthony is apprenticed to Bonnyfeather, his real grandfather, who discovers his relationship to the boy but keeps it a secret from him. He gives the boy the surname Adverse in acknowledgement of the life he has led. As an adult, Anthony falls in love with Angela Giuseppe, the daughter. Soon after the ceremony, Anthony is asked by Bonnyfeather to depart for Havana to save Bonnyfeathers fortune from a laggard debtor, the merchant trading firm Gallego & Sons. On the day his ship is supposed to set sail he and Angela are supposed to meet at the convent before departing together, unable to wait any longer, she leaves a note outside the convent to inform him that she is leaving for Rome with her opera company. But the note Angela leaves Anthony is blown away and he is unaware that she has gone to Rome, confused and upset, he departs on the ship without her. Meanwhile, assuming he has abandoned her, she departs and continues her career as an opera singer, learning that Gallego has quit Havana, Anthony leaves to take control of Gallego & Sons only remaining asset—a slave trading post on the Pongo River in Africa. Three years in the slave trade corrupts him, and he takes slave girl Neleta into his bed as he believes Angela has abandoned him, Anthony is eventually redeemed by his friendship with Brother François. After the monk is crucified and killed by the natives, Anthony returns to Italy to find Bonnyfeather has died and his housekeeper, Faith Paleologus, has inherited Bonnyfeathers fortune. Anthony reaches Paris to rectify the situation and claim his inheritance, through the intercession of impresario Debrulle, Anthony finds Angela and discovers she bore him a son. His wife fails to reveal she is now Mademoiselle Georges, an opera star. When Anthony learns her secret, she sends him their son, Anthony departs for America with his son, Anthony Jr. in search of a better life. Errol Flynn was meant to support Fredric March but proved so popular when Captain Blood was released he was given the lead in The Charge of the Light Brigade. Bill Mauch plays Marchs on screen son, Warner Bros discovered Mauch had a twin, Bobby and put them both under contract
10.
San Francisco (1936 film)
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San Francisco is a 1936 musical-drama directed by Woody Van Dyke, based on the April 18,1906 San Francisco earthquake. The film, which was the movie of that year, stars Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald. The then very popular singing of MacDonald helped make this film a hit, coming on the heels of her other 1936 blockbuster, famous silent film directors D. W. Griffith and Erich von Stroheim worked on the film without credit. Griffith directed some of the mob scenes while von Stroheim contributed to the screenplay, the film opens with two men in boxing gloves and trunks sparring vigorously. They conclude their session and get dressed, one dons a natty suit, the other a priests collar. The first man is Blackie Norton, a saloonkeeper and gambler and he owns the Paradise Club on Pacific Street in the notorious Barbary Coast. The other is Blackies childhood friend, Father Tim Mullen, a Roman Catholic priest, Blackie hires Mary Blake, a promising, but impoverished, classically trained singer from Benson, Colorado. She becomes an attraction at the Paradise, especially for singing San Francisco. The club piano player, The Professor, can tell Mary has a trained voice. Mat, Blackies good friend at the Paradise, wisely predicts that Mary is not going to stay on the Coast. Father Tim makes several attempts to reform Blackie, while the other nightclub owners urge him to run for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in order to protect their crooked interests. Encouraged by Father Tim, who believes Blackie can use the position to implement reform. However, despite Father Tims best efforts, Blackie remains a jaunty Barbary Coast atheist, Blackies feelings for Mary intensify, but complications arise when she is offered an opportunity to sing in the opera. Although she initially refuses to break her contract with Blackie, she leaves the Paradise Club due to the overtly sexual manifestation of Blackies feelings for her. Mary is hired by the Tivoli Opera House on Market Street, there she becomes involved with Nob Hill scion Jack Burley. After her performance, Blackie visits Mary in her dressing room, realizing she still loves him, Mary asks him to marry her. Blackie agrees, but their reunion is interrupted by Burley. Blackie, seeing Burley as competition for Marys affections, is happy to tell him of their intent to marry
11.
The Garden of Allah (1936 film)
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The Garden of Allah is an American dramatic film made by Selznick International Pictures, directed by Richard Boleslawski and produced by David O. Selznick. The screenplay was written by William P. Lipscomb and Lynn Riggs, hichenss novel had been filmed twice before, as silent films made in 1916 and 1927. This sound version stars Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer with Basil Rathbone, aubrey Smith, Joseph Schildkraut, John Carradine, Alan Marshal, and Lucile Watson. The music score is by Max Steiner and it was the fifth film to be photographed in Three-strip Technicolor, and cinematographers W. Howard Greene and Harold Rosson received a special Academy Award for advances in color cinematography. The filming locations were in Buttercup, California and Yuma, Arizona, trappist monk Boris Androvski feels enormous pressure at having to keep his vows as a monk, so he flees his monastery. Yet he is the one who knows the secret recipe of the monasterys famous liqueur. Meanwhile, heiress Domini Enfilden is newly freed from her own prison of caring for her just-deceased father, Domini is unaware of Androvskis past as a monk. When a lost patrol of French legionnaires finds its way into camp, but it is not until he is rejected by his wife for breaking his final vows to God to live as a monk does Boris decide to return to the monastery, parting from his wife. Marlene Dietrich as Domini Enfilden Charles Boyer as Boris Androvski Basil Rathbone as Count Ferdinand Anteoni C, aubrey Smith as Father J.6 million but this went over by an estimated $370,000, which ended up being roughly the size of the loss the film recorded. Following the success of the movie in Brazilian cinemas, in Rio de Janeiro the park between the neighborhoods of Leblon and Ipanema, i. e. Jardim de Alah, was named after the movie. The film is watched by Cyndi Lauper in the beginning of her video for Time after Time
12.
In Old Chicago
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In Old Chicago is a 1938 American drama film directed by Henry King. The screenplay by Sonya Levien and Lamar Trotti was based on the Niven Busch story, We the OLearys. The film is an account about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and stars Alice Brady as Mrs. OLeary, the owner of the cow which started the fire. It also stars Alice Faye and Andy Devine, at the time of its release, it was one of the most expensive movies ever made. The OLeary family are traveling to Chicago to start a new life when Patrick OLeary tries to race a steam train in his wagon and he is killed when his horses bolt. His wife Molly and their three boys are left to survive on their own, in town she agrees to prove her skills as a laundress when a womans dress is accidentally spattered with mud. She quickly proves herself and builds up a business in an area known as the Patch. One, Jack, becomes a lawyer, but another. While washing a sheet, Mrs OLeary discovers a drawing, apparently created by Gil Warren and her sons realize that it reveals that he has a plan to run a tramline along a street that he and his cronies intend to buy up cheaply. Dion becomes enamored with a feisty saloon-bar singer, Belle, who works for Warren, after a stormy courtship they become lovers. Meanwhile, Bob, the youngest OLeary son, who helps his mother, is in love with Gretchen and they meet in the barn watched by the OLearys cow Daisy and plan to marry. Mrs OLeary approves of the match, but expresses disdain for the loose-living Belle, Dion and Belle bribe the local politicians to set up a saloon on the street where the tramline will pass. Dion makes a deal to support Warrens political career and carve up business in the town, however, Dions dishonest practices lead to conflict with his brother Jack when one of Dions cronies is arrested for multiple voting. Dion later decides to support his brother rather than Warren in the election, convinced he can cut out Warren altogether and he is increasingly attracted by the daughter of the corrupt local senator, leading to conflicts with Belle. Bob and Gretchen marry and have a baby, at a Warren election rally a fight breaks out, arranged by Dion. All Warrens election workers are arrested and he soon announces a campaign against corruption, targeting his brothers fiefdom in the Patch, which he intends to demolish. Belle and Dion separate when Jack asks her to support him, when he realizes Belle might testify against him, Dion asks her to marry him, making her testimony inadmissible. As mayor, Jack marries the couple, but knocks Dion out in a fist fight as soon he realizes he has been deceived, Mrs OLeary is told about the fight while helping Daisys calf to suckle
13.
Lost Horizon (1937 film)
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Lost Horizon is a 1937 American drama-fantasy film directed by Frank Capra. The screenplay by Robert Riskin is based on the 1933 novel of the name by James Hilton. The film exceeded its budget by more than $776,000. In 2016, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. Before returning to England to become the new Foreign Secretary, writer, soldier and he flies out with the last few evacuees, just ahead of armed revolutionaries. Unbeknownst to the passengers, the pilot has been replaced and their aircraft hijacked and it eventually runs out of fuel and crashes deep in the Himalayan Mountains, killing their abductor. The group is rescued by Chang and his men and taken to Shangri-La, the contented inhabitants are led by the mysterious High Lama. Conway is particularly enchanted, especially when he meets Sondra, who has grown up in Shangri-La, however, Conways younger brother George, and Maria, another beautiful young woman they find there, are determined to leave. Conway eventually has an audience with the High Lama and learns that his arrival was no accident, having read Conways writings, Sondra believed he was the one, the Lama had agreed with her and arranged for Conways abduction. The old man names Conway as his successor and then passes away. George refuses to believe the Lamas fantastic story and is supported by Maria, uncertain and torn between love and loyalty, Conway reluctantly gives in to his brother and they leave, taking Maria with them, despite being warned that she is much older than she appears. After several days of grueling travel, she becomes exhausted and falls face down in the snow, when they turn Maria over, they discover that she had become extremely old and died, as her departure from Shangri-La had restored her to her true age. Horrified, George loses his sanity and jumps to his death, the Sherpa porters accompanying them were earlier swept away by an avalanche, triggered by one of them who carelessly fires a handgun. Conway continues on and eventually meets up with a party sent to find him. On the voyage back to England, he remembers everything, he tells his story, the searchers track him back to the Himalayas, but are unable to follow him any further. Conway manages to return to Shangri-La, Frank Capra had read the James Hilton novel while filming It Happened One Night, and he intended to make Lost Horizon his next project. When Ronald Colman, his first and only choice for the role of Robert Conway, proved to be unavailable, Capra decided to wait and made Mr. Deeds Goes to Town instead. Harry Cohn authorized a budget of $1.25 million for the film, according to a 1986 Variety interview with Frank Capra, Jr
14.
The Life of Emile Zola
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The Life of Emile Zola is a 1937 American biographical film about French author Émile Zola, played by Paul Muni and directed by William Dieterle. It has the distinction of being the biographical film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. It premiered at the Los Angeles Carthay Circle Theatre to great success both critically and financially, contemporary reviews cited it the best biographical film made up to that time. In 2000, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically, struggling writer Émile Zola shares a drafty Paris attic with his friend, painter Paul Cézanne. A chance encounter with a street prostitute hiding from a police raid inspires his first bestseller, Nana, Zola becomes rich and famous, he marries Alexandrine and settles down to a comfortable life in his mansion. Meanwhile, a French secret agent steals a letter addressed to an officer in the German embassy. The letter confirms there is a spy within the top French army staff, with little thought, the army commanders decide that Jewish Captain Alfred Dreyfus is the traitor, is courtmartialed and imprisoned on Devils Island in then French Guyana. Finally, Dreyfuss loyal wife Lucie pleads with Zola to take up her husbands cause, Zola is reluctant to give up a comfortable life, but she brings forth new evidence to pique his curiosity. A letter is published in the newspaper accusing the army of covering up the monstrous injustice, Zola barely escapes from an angry mob incited by military agents provocateurs. As expected, he is brought up for libel and his attorney, Maitre Labori does his best against the presiding judges refusal to bring up the Dreyfus affair and the perjury committed by all the military witnesses, except for Picquart. A new administration finally admits that Dreyfus is innocent, those responsible for the coverup are dismissed or commit suicide, Zola dies of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning due to a faulty stove the night before the public ceremony in which Dreyfus is exonerated. Contemporary reviews were unanimous in their praise, frank S. Paul Munis portrayal of Zola is, without doubt, the best thing he has done. Variety called it a vibrant, tense and emotional story and it is finely made and merits high rating as cinema art and significant recognition as major showmanship. Harrisons Reports called it A dignified, powerful, and at times stirring historical drama, brilliantly directed, and superbly acted by Paul Muni, as Zola, john Mosher of The New Yorker praised it as a picture of considerable distinction with no nonsense. The Life of Emile Zola topped Film Dailys year-end poll of 531 critics as the best film of 1937, certain scenes have been interpreted in the context of the time as a reaction to the increasing repression of Nazi Germany. For instance, the film never mentioned antisemitism or Jew, in 2013 American scholar Ben Urwand reported that studio head Jack L. The film is among the subject studied in two books published in 2013, Ben Urwands The Collaboration, Hollywoods Pact with Hitler, and Thomas Doherty, Hollywood and Hitler. Denby notes that Doherty provides more context for the studios behavior, Urwand learned that Georg Gyssling, the Nazi consul in Los Angeles, occasionally was allowed to review and make recommendations on films
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A Star Is Born (1937 film)
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A Star Is Born is a 1937 American Technicolor romantic drama film produced by David O. Selznick, directed by William A. The supporting cast features Adolphe Menjou, May Robson, Andy Devine, Lionel Stander, north Dakota farmgirl Esther Victoria Blodgett yearns to become a Hollywood actress. Although her aunt and father discourage such thoughts, Esthers grandmother gives her her savings to follow her dream, Esther goes to Hollywood and tries to land a job as an extra, but so many others have had the same idea that the casting agency has stopped accepting applications. Esther is told that her chances of becoming a star are one in 100,000 and she befriends a new resident at her boarding house, assistant director Danny McGuire, himself out of work. When Danny and Esther go to a concert to celebrate Dannys employment, Esther has her first encounter with Norman Maine, Norman has been a major star for years, but his alcoholism has sent his career into a downward spiral. Danny gets Esther a one-time waitressing job at a fancy Hollywood party, while serving hors d’œuvre, she catches Normans eye. He gets his longtime producer and good friend, Oliver Niles, impressed, Oliver gives her a new name and a contract. She practices her few lines for her first tiny role, when the studio has trouble finding a female lead for Normans current film, entitled The Enchanted Hour, Norman persuades Oliver to cast Esther. The film makes her a success, even as viewers continue to lose interest in Norman. Norman proposes to Vicki, she accepts when he promises to give up drinking and they elope without publicity, much to press agent Matt Libbys disgust, and enjoy a trailer-camping honeymoon in the mountains. When they return, Vickis popularity continues to skyrocket, while Norman realizes his own career is over, Norman stays sober for a while, but his frustration over his situation finally pushes him over the edge. When Vicki wins the top award, he interrupts her acceptance speech by drunkenly demanding three awards for the worst acting of the year. Norman goes on a drinking binge and winds up arrested for drunk driving. In court, the judge sentences him to 90 days of incarceration, the judge, who is impressed with Vickis acting success, suspends Normans sentence and puts Normans custody into Vickis hands. Vicki decides to give up her career in order to devote herself to his rehabilitation, after Norman overhears her discussing her plan with Oliver, he drowns himself in the Pacific Ocean. Shattered, Vicki decides to quit and go home, soon afterward, her grandmother shows up once she hears Vicki is quitting. Her grandmother tells her of a letter Norman sent her when they got married, the letter stated how proud he was of Vicki, and how much he loved her. Because of her grandmothers words, and the reminder of Normans deep love, Vicki is convinced to stay in show business
16.
Souls at Sea
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Souls at Sea is a 1937 American adventure film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Gary Cooper, George Raft, and Frances Dee. Based on a story by Ted Lesser, the film is about a first mate on a ship who frees the slaves on the ship after a mutiny overthrows the ships captain. The title of film was spoofed in the Laurel and Hardy comedy film Saps at Sea. The story is based on two distinct early 19th-century themes, including the attempts by abolitionists to end the slave trade, constitution ended the importation of slaves in 1808, slaves were still being brought into the country under foreign flags. The abolition of slavery by Great Britain helped reduce legal trade in slaves by putting the British navy into action against slave traders, the collision between Cooper and Wilcoxon is complicated by Wilcoxons sister falling in love with Cooper. The conflict reaches its peak on board the ship William Brown, an actual ship involved in a sea tragedy of this period, the William Brown hit an iceberg on April 19,1841, and sank with loss of life. Here it catches fire, due to a girl. Cooper taking over has to limit the number of people in the only lifeboat, in real life a seaman, one Alexander Holmes, was tried and convicted of manslaughter, but given only a $20 fine and six months imprisonment. A later film with Tyrone Power called Seven Waves Away dealt with the issue of the limits of lifeboat space and decisions of the first mate. On November 17, the 50-year-old actor rented a sixteen-foot sloop and sailed to the island, hoping to land a part in the picture, bowers never returned to shore, and his body was found on the beach at Santa Monica, California. Bowers life and death is identified as inspiration for the character Norman Maine in A Star Is Born, George Raft initially turned down his part and was suspended. Lloyd Nolan and Anthony Quinn stood by to replace him, Raft agreed to play the role when it was rewritten to be more sympathetic. Frank S. Nugent of The New York Times did not think the film was worthy of serious analysis, variety called it a good picture with bold, brave and sweeping direction. Harrisons Reports praised the production but found the scenes of beatings and killings to be sadistic rather than entertaining. John Mosher of The New Yorker called the film a disappointment, hans Dreier and Roland Anderson were nominated for Art Direction, Hal Walker for Assistant Director, and Boris Morros, as head of the Paramount Studios Music Department, for Music. Souls at Sea at the American Film Institute Catalog Souls at Sea at the Internet Movie Database
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Academy Awards
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The various category winners are awarded a copy of a golden statuette, officially called the Academy Award of Merit, which has become commonly known by its nickname Oscar. The awards, first presented in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, are overseen by AMPAS, the awards ceremony was first broadcast on radio in 1930 and televised for the first time in 1953. It is now live in more than 200 countries and can be streamed live online. The Academy Awards ceremony is the oldest worldwide entertainment awards ceremony and its equivalents – the Emmy Awards for television, the Tony Awards for theater, and the Grammy Awards for music and recording – are modeled after the Academy Awards. The 89th Academy Awards ceremony, honoring the best films of 2016, were held on February 26,2017, at the Dolby Theatre, in Los Angeles, the ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and was broadcast on ABC. A total of 3,048 Oscars have been awarded from the inception of the award through the 88th, the first Academy Awards presentation was held on May 16,1929, at a private dinner function at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with an audience of about 270 people. The post-awards party was held at the Mayfair Hotel, the cost of guest tickets for that nights ceremony was $5. Fifteen statuettes were awarded, honoring artists, directors and other participants in the industry of the time. The ceremony ran for 15 minutes, winners were announced to media three months earlier, however, that was changed for the second ceremony in 1930. Since then, for the rest of the first decade, the results were given to newspapers for publication at 11,00 pm on the night of the awards. The first Best Actor awarded was Emil Jannings, for his performances in The Last Command and he had to return to Europe before the ceremony, so the Academy agreed to give him the prize earlier, this made him the first Academy Award winner in history. With the fourth ceremony, however, the system changed, for the first six ceremonies, the eligibility period spanned two calendar years. At the 29th ceremony, held on March 27,1957, until then, foreign-language films had been honored with the Special Achievement Award. The 74th Academy Awards, held in 2002, presented the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, since 1973, all Academy Awards ceremonies always end with the Academy Award for Best Picture. The Academy also awards Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, see also § Awards of Merit categories The best known award is the Academy Award of Merit, more popularly known as the Oscar statuette. The five spokes represent the branches of the Academy, Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers. The model for the statuette is said to be Mexican actor Emilio El Indio Fernández, sculptor George Stanley sculpted Cedric Gibbons design. The statuettes presented at the ceremonies were gold-plated solid bronze
