Post by rmichaelpyle on Nov 16, 2011 9:40:42 GMT -6
I watched "The Headline Woman" (1935) with Heather Angel and Roger Pryor. Before I even begin a review, a good reason to see this film is to watch Franklin Pangborn in a straight role as a newspaper police beat reporter!! It's rather startling!
Though this film headlines Heather Angel as the star, she doesn't show up until about a half hour or more into the film. It really stars Roger Pryor who turns in a knockabout, fast-talking, snappy performance, the best I've ever seen him give. In fact, I must admit that before this film I've never been impressed with Roger Pryor. But then, this film is a real surprise's surprise! It's a cheapie's cheapie, being released by Mascot Pictures, but it plays a lot like a grade A or high B production from a major studio. The writing is wonderful, and the snappy dialogue and fast-talking acting (except by Ward Bond, who is purposefully made to be a lazybutt in this) is extremely well-done, directed by William Nigh. Just a side note here: the part played by Ward Bond is written to be played like Stepin' Fetchit or Fred 'Snowflake' Toones would have played it, only it's for a white newspaper reporter; so this is definitely NOT PC by today's standards, although few today may pick up on this. The part was purposely funny, and it was...plus, there were a couple of twists that followed because of his - 'way'...
Stars Angel and Pryor, with - of all people - Ford Sterling in a sort of straight role (!), and he's good; Conway Tearle, Robert Glecker, Russell Hopton, Jack LaRue (what do you think? bad guy or good?), Theodore von Eltz, Morgan Wallace, Franklin Pangborn, Ward Bond, Wheeler Oakman, George "Gabby" Hayes, Syd Saylor, and a host of others.
Illegal gambling group - gangsters - put a hit on one of their own. There are then a series of murders as a power struggle becomes a threat, along with several people who refuse to pay up some gambling debts. One of the murders seems to implicate Heather Angel, who turns out to be the daughter of the owner of one of the prominent newspapers - the one for which Roger Pryor works. All kinds of fireworks develop, and I don't mean with firecrackers!
Really good show; a genuine discovery; one most on this forum would enjoy - I think. The only drawback: this is an Alpha Video Release, and the print has really been put through the ringer. Sound is fine, and the print's not necessarily washed out, but, as I said, it's been through the ringer and back and put through again.
Though this film headlines Heather Angel as the star, she doesn't show up until about a half hour or more into the film. It really stars Roger Pryor who turns in a knockabout, fast-talking, snappy performance, the best I've ever seen him give. In fact, I must admit that before this film I've never been impressed with Roger Pryor. But then, this film is a real surprise's surprise! It's a cheapie's cheapie, being released by Mascot Pictures, but it plays a lot like a grade A or high B production from a major studio. The writing is wonderful, and the snappy dialogue and fast-talking acting (except by Ward Bond, who is purposefully made to be a lazybutt in this) is extremely well-done, directed by William Nigh. Just a side note here: the part played by Ward Bond is written to be played like Stepin' Fetchit or Fred 'Snowflake' Toones would have played it, only it's for a white newspaper reporter; so this is definitely NOT PC by today's standards, although few today may pick up on this. The part was purposely funny, and it was...plus, there were a couple of twists that followed because of his - 'way'...
Stars Angel and Pryor, with - of all people - Ford Sterling in a sort of straight role (!), and he's good; Conway Tearle, Robert Glecker, Russell Hopton, Jack LaRue (what do you think? bad guy or good?), Theodore von Eltz, Morgan Wallace, Franklin Pangborn, Ward Bond, Wheeler Oakman, George "Gabby" Hayes, Syd Saylor, and a host of others.
Illegal gambling group - gangsters - put a hit on one of their own. There are then a series of murders as a power struggle becomes a threat, along with several people who refuse to pay up some gambling debts. One of the murders seems to implicate Heather Angel, who turns out to be the daughter of the owner of one of the prominent newspapers - the one for which Roger Pryor works. All kinds of fireworks develop, and I don't mean with firecrackers!
Really good show; a genuine discovery; one most on this forum would enjoy - I think. The only drawback: this is an Alpha Video Release, and the print has really been put through the ringer. Sound is fine, and the print's not necessarily washed out, but, as I said, it's been through the ringer and back and put through again.