Love In The Afternoon (1957)

 

Love In The Afternoon - 1957

Coming up next is 1957's "Love In The Afternoon", the story of the daughter of a private investigator who goes to warn a notorious playboy that one of her father's clients is coming for him with a gun.

The film's cast includes Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn, Maurice Chevalier, John McIver, Van Doude, Lisa Bourdin, and Olga Valery.

In Paris, private investigator Claude Chevasse is working to find evidence of a wife's infidelity with a notorious playboy, a Mr. Frank Flannagan.

When Claude shows proof of the wife's infidelity to her husband, Monsieur X, the man informs Claude that he intends to kill Flannagan.

Claude's daughter Ariane overhears the conversation and has to think quickly in order to stop a murder from happening.

Monsieur X arrives at the Ritz Hotel, where Flannagan is staying, intent on a showdown.  However, a little dog keeps him in a hiding place.

With Monsieur X outside the door, Ariane is able to slip in the room through the balcony and warn Flannagan that he's about to be shot by the lady's husband.

They arrange a switch.  Ariane borrows Madame X's hat and the husband is fooled and very apologetic.  Flannagan is relieved that he wasn't shot and very grateful to Ariane.

Well, with a celebratory drink, Ariane becomes very intrigued by Flannagan.  With no previous experience with romance, she starts to fall a little in love with the man.

The afternoon of the next day finds Ariane paying a visit to Flannagan again.  He's about to leave France, and the two share a few tender moments before he goes.  The whole time they've known each other, she's never told him her name.  He only knows her as "Thin Girl".

One year later, while attending the opera with her friend Michel, Ariane is shocked when she sees a familiar figure walk into the opera house.  It's Flannagan, accompanied by an elegant lady.

During the intermission, Ariane talks with him, and he definitely remembers her.  He invites her to visit with him in the afternoon (knowing she can't make evenings because she has cello practice).

Seeing him with his date, Ariane doesn't know how she's going to land him, but an idea starts to form inside her brain.

She decides to match him conquest for conquest.  At their meeting the next day, Ariane appears very self-confident and boasts that Flannagan is actually her twentieth boyfriend.  He goes from being amused to jealous very quickly.  He begins to fall for her.

Ariane realizes that jealousy just may be the key to helping her unlock his feelings.  She confides to her friend Michel, "They're very odd people, you know.  When they're young, they have their teeth straightened, their tonsils taken out, and gallons of vitamins pumped into them.  Something happens to their insides! 

They become immunized, mechanized, air-conditioned, and hydromatic.  I'm not even sure whether he has a heart."  When Michel wants to know if he's an alien from outer space, Ariane says, "No, he's an American."

Flannagan starts to pursue Ariane, all while she plays it calm and cool.  She goes on an on about how he's just another in a long line of boyfriends.  (I love how he's followed by his own small orchestra wherever he goes.)

He becomes completely enamored with her.  Ariane drives Flannagan to distraction.

And so, he decides to find out who she is.  Having been been given Claude Chavasse's name as a recommendation, Flannagan goes to him and gives him the particulars on Ariane, except for her name, which he still does not know and which she has withheld.

It doesn't take Claude long to piece together that the mystery woman is his daughter Ariane.  He tells Flannagan to let her go.  She's serious about the relationship and he is only in it for the casual fling.

When Ariane comes to see him, Flannagan has been packing and is ready to leave to go and meet up with "two crazy Swedish twins".

Saddened, Ariane decides to accompany him to the train station.  As the train departs, she cracks.  With tears in her eyes, she assures Frank that she will be alright.

By now, however, Flannagan is firmly in love with her.  He pulls her onto the train and kisses her, uttering her name for the first time.  We later find out that the two are married and living in New York.

Cast rundown:

   Gary Cooper.....................................Frank Flannagan

   Audrey Hepburn...............................Ariane Chavasse

   Maurice Chevalier.............................Claude Chavasse

   John McIver.....................................Monsieur X

   Van Doude.......................................Michel

   Lisa Bourdin.....................................Madame X

   Olga Valery......................................Hotel Guest With Dog

And that's it for Love In The Afternoon.  To sort of tone down the age difference between Cooper and Hepburn, the legendary actor was filmed in shadow for a lot of the movie.  The camera was also positioned behind his back in several scenes.  This was the first film in which Maurice Chevalier appeared in which he did not sing.

This film also is famous for its iconic music "Fascination".  Gary Cooper is followed by the band "The Gypsies" throughout the film.  He even has them serenading him while he's in a Turkish bath!

You can watch the film in its entirety here.  It's been called "a grandly sophisticated romance".  Perfect for Valentine's Day!

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Make Me A Star (1932)

 

Make Me A Star - 1932

Coming up next we have 1932's "Make Me A Star", the story of a young man who goes to Hollywood to break into show business.  He finds it's harder than he realized.

The film's cast includes Joan Blondell, Stuart Erwin, Zasu Pitts, Ben Turpin, Charles Sellon, Helen Jerome Eddy, George Templeton, Ruth Donnelly, Sam Hardy, Tallulah Bankhead, Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert, Gary Cooper, Fredric March, Jack Oakie, Charles Ruggles, and Sylvia Sidney.

Small town grocery clerk Merton Gill is an aspiring actor who takes acting classes by correspondence course.  His dream is to make it big in Hollywood as an actor in Western/cowboy movies.  Merton's personal hero is Buck Benson, a big-time Hollywood cowboy.

When his employer gets wind of his acting aspirations, Merton is informed he's got to leave the very next day.

Before going to sleep on his final night in a small town, Merton kneels by his bed and says a prayer, "Oh Lord, please make me a good movie actor.  Make me one of the best."

After he makes it to Hollywood, Merton heads over to the movie studio where his idol Buck Benson works.  Right away he's impressed when he sees a big star like Maurice Chevalier drive up and walk through the studio gates.

Merton makes his way to the casting office, where he shows off some stills of him doing some acting work.  The office isn't thrilled.  In fact, they think it's a big joke.  However, Merton isn't dissuaded.

He's especially excited when he gets to see his hero, Buck Benson, in the flesh.

For days on end, Merton sits in the casting office hoping for a chance.  At first he refuses any part but leads.  However, circumstances necessitate that he broaden his jobs by accepting work as an extra.  Still, nothing is available.

Seasoned actress Flips Montague, who has spent time talking with Merton, begins to feel badly for him.  She goes behind the scenes and orchestrates a bit part for him in an upcoming Buck Benson film.

Merton is over the moon when his name is called and he's offered the small part.  He can't wait to show off what he can do.

He knows he's in the big time when he walks out of wardrobe and almost bumps into Gary Cooper and Tallulah Bankhead as they pass by!

Flips escorts Merton to his sound stage.  Along the way, she gives him a pep talk and wishes him luck as he begins his movie career.

Sadly, Merton's scenes don't go well.  He can't seem to do what he's supposed to do on cue.  The director gets fed up and fires him.

Knowing that if he steps off the studio lot he will never be able to get back on, Merton decides to stay there.  He sleeps on sets and scrounges for food wherever he can, even boxed lunch leftovers that have been tossed aside.  All in the hope of keeping his acting dream alive.

Flips sees him one day looking for food, and Merton tells her the whole sad story.

She takes him for a real meal and tells him a little about the movie making industry.  She doesn't think he's got what it takes.  Still, Merton tells her he won't give up on his dream.  He isn't interested in comedies.  He thinks they are low and debase the noble profession of acting.  He wants serious roles only.

Knowing that Merton doesn't stand a chance in serious roles, Flips goes to a comedy director and pitches an idea for a Buck Benson Western film comedy spoof.  The catch is that they've got to film it in such a way that Merton thinks they are doing a serious film.  Flips actually thinks the whole thing could be hysterical and a big money maker for the studio.

So, Flips' plan is put into action.  Merton is given the starring role with Flips as his co-star.  He acts his heart out.

During a preview of the new film, Merton (now billed professionally as Whoop Ryder) is excited to see such big stars as Charles Ruggles, Jack Oakie, Claudette Colbert, Fredric March, and Sylvia Sidney attending the opening.

However, once the film begins, the audience begins laughing hysterically at the comedy.  Merton is sickened to the core when he realizes what kind of a film he's made.

He ducks out of the theater and hopes that no one will notice him.  He's completely ashamed.

However, after a talk with Flips, Merton finds out that it takes serious skill to bring comedy out of a dramatic performance.  And, he's found someone to share in the joys and sorrows of filmmaking.  Merton and Flips embrace as the screen goes dark.

Cast rundown:

   Joan Blondell......................................Flips Montague

   Stuart Erwin.......................................Merton Gill

   Zasu Pitts...........................................Mrs. Scudder

   Ben Turpin..........................................Himself

   Charles Sellon....................................Mr. Gashwiler

   Helen Jerome Eddy..............................Tessie Kearns

   George Templeton...............................Buck Benson

   Ruth Donnelly.....................................The Countess

   Sam Hardy..........................................Jeff Baird

   Tallulah Bankhead...............................Herself

   Maurice Chevalier................................Himself

   Claudette Colbert................................Herself

   Gary Cooper.......................................Himself

   Fredric March.....................................Himself

   Jack Oakie.........................................Himself

   Charles Ruggles..................................Himself

   Sylvia Sidney.....................................Herself

And that's it for Make Me A Star.  This was a remake of a 1924 silent film.  It would be remade in 1947 as the film "Merton Of The Movies" starring Red Skelton.  This film is actually quite good.  There's lots of good dialogue and no shortage of stars for cameos.  Ruth Donnelly as "The Countess" is a favorite.  Her lines are always funny.

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