5th Ave. Girl (1939)

 

5th Ave. Girl - 1939

Coming up next is 1939's "5th Ave. Girl", the story of a working class girl that makes a big impact on an upper crust New York family.

The film's cast includes Ginger Rogers, Walter Connolly, Verree Teasdale, James Ellison, Tim Holt, Kathryn Adams, Franklin Pangborn, Ferike Boros, Louis Calhern, Theodore von Eltz, Jack Carson, Charles Lane, and Bess Flowers.

Millionaire Timothy Borden arrives home on his birthday and finds his house completely empty.  It seems his whole family has forgotten about his special day.

He takes a walk over to Central Park and visits the seal pond.  There he makes the acquaintance of a struggling out-of-work young woman named Mary Grey.  Noticing that she doesn't have much to eat, Timothy asks the young woman to help him celebrate his birthday by accompanying him to a nearby nightclub.  She agrees.

Timothy delights Mary by spending more money than she's ever seen.  "If you're fool enough to spend it, I'm smart enough to help you," she says happily.  They have an enjoyable time together.

Timothy's wife, Martha, also happens to be there.  However, she is in the company of someone who is not her husband.

Timothy acknowledges his wife with a smile as he sweeps Mary around the dance floor.  Martha can't quite believe it.

Timothy moves Mary into the mansion.  He keeps her on as his assistant, but he lets his family think that he and she are an item.

She has some run-ins with Timothy's children, particularly son Tim.  "I'm amazed to discover that horses have better breeding than the people who ride them," Mary tells a perplexed Tim after he insults her.

Mary and Timothy spend a lot of time together.  She even indulges his hobby for pigeons and helps him take care of his flock on the roof of the mansion.

Martha is concerned enough to call in a psychiatrist to analyze her husband.  Dr. Kessler arrives and spends some time with Timothy.

After his consultation, Dr. Kessler says that Timothy is behaving perfectly normally and that maybe it's Martha who needs to see someone professionally.

Martha and her children decide to close ranks around Mary and drive her somehow from the house and their father/husband's life.

First up is Tim.  He insults Mary every chance he can get.  But the more he spends time with her, the more he realizes that he likes her, and even loves her.

Katherine Borden uses her time with Mary to confide in her about her love for the family chauffeur, Michael.  Mary is able to give the young girl some advice.

And she causes a ruckus downstairs when she uses some unconventional methods to get Michael to notice Katherine.

Martha also makes the most of her time with Mary.  Mary helps the older woman see her husband in a new light and appreciate him more.

Martha decides to rekindle the romance between Timothy and herself.  She cooks him a meal for the first time in ages, and then takes a trip down memory lane by looking at an old photo album with him.  They are well on the road to recapturing the happiness that they once knew as a young married couple.

It seems that everybody gets a happy ending.  Michael and Katherine get married and receive her parent's blessing.  And Tim falls in love with Mary.

Cast rundown:

   Ginger Rogers............................................Mary Grey

   Walter Connolly..........................................Timothy Borden

   Verree Teasdale..........................................Martha Borden

   James Ellison.............................................Michael Fairnsbother

   Tim Holt.....................................................Tim Borden

   Kathryn Adams...........................................Katherine Borden

   Franklin Pangborn.......................................Higgins

   Ferike Boros...............................................Olga

   Louis Calhern.............................................Dr. Hugo Kessler

   Theodore von Eltz.......................................Terwilliger

   Jack Carson................................................Minnesota

   Charles Lane..............................................Union Representative

   Bess Flowers..............................................Woman With Mr. Pape

And that's it for 5th Ave. Girl.  After filming wrapped, Ginger Rogers went on vacation to Honolulu, Hawaii.  The film was shown to test audiences.  Originally, the film had an unhappy ending, which featured Ms. Rogers walking out of the house and down 5th Ave.  Due to the audience unhappiness, a happier ending was filmed when the actress returned from her vacation.

As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.

History Is Made At Night (1937)

 

History Is Made At Night - 1937

Coming up next is 1937's "History Is Made At Night", a story about a woman trapped in a loveless marriage and the man she meets who encapsulates all she's ever hoped for in a relationship.

The film's cast includes Charles Boyer, Jean Arthur, Leo Carrillo, Colin Clive, Dora Clement, and Tim Holt.

Shipping magnate Bruce Vail is not happy.  His marriage to his wife Irene has crumbled, and she has decided to file for divorce.  They are completely incompatible.  Being a proud and jealous man, Bruce can't let the divorce go through.  They arrive in Paris, where the scene is set.

Bruce hires his chauffeur to compromise Irene so that any divorce she is seeking will not be successful.  There is a struggle, and Irene screams.

She is overheard by a mysterious man in a coat and hat.  The chauffeur is knocked out.  Bruce comes into the room and finds himself being pushed into a closet and the door locked.  Then, Irene and the man make their exit.

Irene is naturally very nervous about this man's intentions.  However, he turns out to be a good guy and just wanted to save her from a potentially nasty situation.  His name is Paul.

Paul takes Irene to a café, and, with a little help from his friend Cesare and the orchestra, he provides her with an unforgettable evening.

They spend the entire night dancing and talking, telling each other things that they've never told anybody else before.  Before they realize it, they are in love.  They make plans to marry once Irene can obtain her divorce from Bruce.

Bruce, however, is very unhappy with the events that have transpired.  He decides to kill his chauffeur and pin it on the man who "abducted" Irene.

Bruce lets Irene believe that Paul killed the chauffeur once she returns.  However, he has no clue as to who Paul even is, having only seen him in the shadows.  Bruce tells Irene that he will not pursue charges against the murderer if she will return to New York with him.  Reluctantly, she agrees, thinking he knows who Paul is.

It turns out that Paul is the most famous head waiter in all of Paris, and Cesare is the most famous chef.  They work together as a team.  Paul is devastated when Irene is not at their rendezvous point and finds out that she is sailing to New York.  He calls the ship and asks to speak with Irene.

With tears in her eyes, Irene tells Paul that she can't be with him and that he must never speak with her again.  Then, she hangs up the telephone.

Paul figures that Irene is in trouble.  He quits his job, and, along with Cesare, travels to New York to find her.  "Look at them skywipers!" exclaims Cesare as he surveys the New York skyline for the first time.

Paul and Cesare get jobs at a second rate French restaurant.  They eventually turn it into THE place to eat.  Paul knows that it's only a matter of time until Irene hears of the restaurants fame and decides to try it out.  Then, the two will be reunited.

Meanwhile, Bruce is playing cruelly with Irene's feelings.  He informs her that the man who kidnapped her and murdered the chauffeur in Paris has been found and is facing the guillotine.  She must return with him for the trial.  He also wants to be in Paris on the day his brand new ocean liner, the Princess Irene, docks.  The plan is to leave for Europe that very night about the Hindenburg.

Before they go, they have dinner at Paul's restaurant, and Irene realizes that Paul is in no danger of the guillotine.  She breaks all her plans with an irate Bruce and she and Paul pick up where they left off.

To keep an innocent man from facing the guillotine, Paul and Irene head to Europe on the maiden voyage of the Princess Irene.  They spend as much all their time together.  However, a thick fog has eerily shrouded the ship.

Like another famous ship, the Princess Irene collides with an iceberg and begins to take on water fast.

Because of the inability to communicate with the ship, various new outlets report that the ship has probably gone to the bottom of the ocean and that the loss of life is probably even greater than the Titanic.  Listening to the reports from his Paris office, Bruce Vail writes a note in which he acknowledges murdering his chauffeur, and shoots himself in front of a portrait of Irene.

Happily, the ship's watertight doors hold, and there is no danger of sinking.  Paul and Irene rejoice with the other passengers in their second chance at life.

Cast rundown:

   Charles Boyer................................Paul Dumond

   Jean Arthur...................................Irene Vail

   Leo Carrillo...................................Cesare

   Colin Clive....................................Bruce Vail

   Dora Clement................................Dowager

   Tim Holt........................................S.O.S. Radio Operator

And that's it for History Is Made At Night.  This movie has also made it on the list of my favorite films.  Actress Dana Delany seems to agree.  She announced on Twitter that she watches this movie every Valentine's Day.  In 1940, Charles Boyer reprised his role for a 40-minute radio adaptation of the movie.

As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.