Lillian Russell (1940)

 

Lillian Russell - 1940

Coming up next we have 1940's "Lillian Russell", a highly fictionalized biopic about the legendary singer and actress who electrified audiences just before and at the turn of the 20th century.

The film's cast includes Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Henry Fonda, Edward Arnold, Warren William, Leo Carrillo, Helen Westley, Dorothy Peterson, Ernest Truex, Lynn Bari, Claud Allister, Eddie Foy Jr., Una O'Connor, Joseph Cawthorn, Ferike Boros, and Irving Bacon.

Helen Leonard wants to be a famous singer/actress one day.  She delights her family by singing such songs as "Brighten The Corner Where You Are" and "Come Down Ma Evenin' Star".

But it's her rendition of "And The Band Played On" that rockets her to stardom and causes her first theater boss to change her name from Helen Leonard to the ultra chic Lillian Russell.

Lillian has all kinds of success in her new career.  Men want to date her, and women want to copy her.  At the opening of her first show, she sings "Ma Blushin' Rosie".  Later, after she is established on the stage, she performs a full rendition of "After The Ball" for President Grover Cleveland over the telephone with a full orchestra and vocal accompaniment during an intermission.

She is a sensation in both America and Europe.  As her career matures, Lillian sings such emotional songs as "Blue Lovebird", but she never loses touch with songs with which she is most often associated, such as "Waltz Is King/After The Ball".

The film also explores Lillian's various relationships, including her longest one with Diamond Jim Brady, who showers her with gifts and is smitten from the moment he first meets her.

Jim is always sending Lillian presents.  At one show, she playfully scolds him.  "Now, Jim Brady, just look at all these lovely presents you sent me.  A basket of orchids with a diamond necklace and bracelet, American Beauty roses with rubies, gardenias with emeralds, violets with pearls, and a jewel studded bicycle.  Jim, have you lost your mind?" she asks.  He smiles and says, "No, just my heart."

We also watch Lillian's happiness with her husband, Edward Solomon, who wrote the song "Blue Lovebirds" for her.

And a man who always seems to be there for the important moments in Lillian's life finds a special place in her heart as well.

Cast rundown:

   Alice Faye................................Lillian Russell

   Don Ameche............................Edward Solomon

   Henry Fonda............................Alexander Moore

   Edward Arnold.........................Diamond Jim Brady

   Warren William.........................Jesse Lewisohn

   Leo Carrillo..............................Tony Pastor

   Helen Westley..........................Grandma Leonard

   Dorothy Peterson.....................Cynthia Leonard

   Ernest Truex............................Charles K. Leonard

   Lynn Bari................................Edna McCauley

   Claud Allister...........................Arthur Sullivan

   Eddie Foy Jr.............................Eddie Foy Sr.

   Una O'Connor..........................Marie

   Joseph Cawthorn......................Leopold Damrosch

   Ferike Boros............................Mrs. Rose

   Irving Bacon............................Soldier

And that's all for Lillian Russell.  Alice Faye absolutely shines in the title role.  Originally, MGM was slated to do a film about the famous songstress with Jeanette MacDonald in the lead role.  That project fell through and 20th Century Fox picked it up.  Henry Fonda was forced to do this film in order for him to play the lead role in "The Grapes of Wrath".  He intensely disliked the experience.

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The Mad Miss Manton (1938)

 

The Mad Miss Manton - 1938

Coming up next we have 1938's "The Mad Miss Manton", a murder/mystery that sees wrongly accused socialite Melsa Manton as the subject of a murder investigation.  While trying to solve the murder, Melsa and her friends try to stay one step ahead of the police as they try to uncover the real killer.

The film's cast includes Barbara Stanwyck, Henry Fonda, Sam Levene, Frances Mercer, Stanley Ridges, Whitney Bourne, Catherine O'Quinn, Hattie McDaniel, Penny Singleton, Grady Sutton, Irving Bacon, and George Chandler.

While poking around the neighborhood one night while walking her dog, socialite Melsa Manton finds a diamond clip and a dead body.

Melsa runs to telephone the police, and by the time they arrive the body is gone!  Add in to the mix the way she is dressed (her cloak was lost), the police don't believe one word she says.

On top of this, a newspaper editor named Peter Ames has printed a derogatory item in his newspaper about Melsa and her group of socialite girlfriends.  She vows to sue the paper and have his job.

So with suspicion cast her way, Melsa decides to recruit her friends to help solve the murder themselves and find out what happened to the missing body.

Before they can even get out the door, they are threatened.  Melsa's missing cloak is attached to the door with a knife, along with a warning.

Their investigation leads them to another body, this time someone they know.  He's stuffed in the freezer, and when Melsa telephones the police, they don't believe her.  So, she dumps the body in Peter Ames's newspaper office.

Lt. Brent, in charge of the investigation, hauls all the girls into custody, and Melsa, in particular, is furious.  "And as for you, Inspector Brent, false arrest is a very serious charge, and we’ll have your badge before we’re through with you.  We’re going to make you all feel pretty small and silly.  Who’s got a lipstick?" she says.

Peter Ames proves that he's not all bad by coming to Melsa and the girls' rescue.  Melsa tells him that she's still going ahead with her lawsuit.

Before they can leave the police station, the original dead body is located, and the whole investigation is up in the air once again.

Peter Ames eventually tells Melsa that he's in love with her and that he's running after her.  To which she replies, "You’re on a treadmill, Mr. Ames.  You may keep on running, but you’ll remain in the same spot."

They work together to find some evidence.  But their good relations don't stop Melsa from tying Peter up so he can't interfere with the investigation she and the rest of the girls are conducting.

Soon, though, Melsa realizes she's developing feelings for Peter when he comes to her apartment in the role of her protector after a threatening phone call from a stranger.

Once the police know that Melsa didn't commit any murder, they want to use her as bait to catch the real murderer.  Peter doesn't want her to, which makes Melsa all the more willing to help out.

The go to a nightclub together, where they realize they are surrounded by cops who are trying to blend in with the nightclub atmosphere.

But, of course, the most dangerous gun is the one that Melsa doesn't see.

Have no fear.  Everything works out in the end, with the murderer caught and Peter and Melsa wrapped up in each other's arms.

Cast rundown:

   Barbara Stanwyck...........................Melsa Manton

   Henry Fonda...................................Peter Ames

   Sam Levene....................................Lieutenant Brent

   Frances Mercer................................Helen Frayne

   Stanley Ridges................................Edward Norris

   Whitney Bourne...............................Pat James

   Catherine O'Quinn...........................Dora Fenton

   Hattie McDaniel...............................Hilda

   Penny Singleton..............................Frances Glesk

   Grady Sutton..................................D.A.'s Secretary

   Irving Bacon...................................Mr. Spengler

   George Chandler.............................Newspaper Man

And that's all for The Mad Miss Manton.  This was the first of three pairings between Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda.  It's easy to see why their films were successful.  They have such a good chemistry between them.  Katharine Hepburn turned down the role of Melsa Manton after "Bringing Up Baby" performed badly at the box office.  Irene Dunne was also considered for the leading role.

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