FRISCO JENNY (1932) and "MIDNIGHT MARY" (1933)

[rmichaelpyle]

I watched two more from the newest edition of "Forbidden Hollywood" - I watched disc 2 which included "Frisco Jenny" (1932) and "Midnight Mary" (1933). "Frisco Jenny" stars Ruth Chatterton, Louis Calhern, Helen Jerome Eddy, Donald Cook, James Murray, and a host of many memorable character actors of the early thirties. Ruth Chatterton really had a chance to chew the scenery in this one, and there's an early scene where the 1906 San Francisco earthquake occurs and several genuine clips from the real earthquake are interspersed with Hollywood add-ins. The film is good, though not great, and I've seen it many, many times before, but this was certainly more pleasureable because the print is pristine! This is pre-code, and it has its moments, but compared to many, this is rather tame. Still, anything with Louis Calhern and Ruth Chatterton is worth watching.

Later, I watched "Midnight Mary" for the umpteenth time, this with Loretta Young, Ricardo Cortez, and Franchot Tone. How could one go wrong here? You can't! It's a super film, and it still plays very well. Around and around and around we go with the good guy versus the bad, with the girl in the middle going back and forth and trying to go straight and having to take many lumps in the interim. Young does a great job, Cortez is in his element, and Tone extremely good in an earlier role. All in all, a really fine William Wellman picture that can be recommended anytime!

[kelly]

I watch both movie on TCM when they have thingy on Pre code Hollywood last month I think Midnight Mary was good movie Frisco Jenny remind me too much of Madame X I don't know why

[diane]

I just lashed out and bought the Forbidden Hollywood 3 set. I really agree - the prints are so clear
it is just like you are at the movies (but with all the comforts of home). The first film I saw was "Other
Men's Women" and that was the first thing I noticed - even the credits were clear (in some films they
are really murky). Even though I haven't seen "Madame X" I have read enough about it to realise this
was a re-make (Ruth must have really liked doing this film - not!!! seeing that she had made "Madame
X" only a few years before.) I enjoyed it - I didn't get emotional, which I was suprised at. I think William
Wellman's direction was excellent - the film could have been so ordinary under other direction. I also
think Ruth Chatterton is very under-rated - I have seen a few of her films now. All of them so different
but she is never out of her depth. I also agree with you about Louis Calhern - he had the ability to
play a real snake and then at the end turn around and be nice and you believe him (not in this film
though). I would definately watch this one again. I haven't seen "Midnight Mary" yet.

[Midge]

Jun 16, 2009 15:45:31 GMT -6 diane said:

I haven't seen "Midnight Mary" yet.

Diane, you are in for a treat!

[diane]

I saw "Midnight Mary" last month - I liked it very much but couldn't whip up the kind of
enthusiasm that I found on the IMDb boards. I do think Loretta Young is beautiful but
has a lack of warmth - I can't really explain it but I am never really moved by her.
Ricardo Cortez I thought was great - he seemed to be able to play anything - hero or
villain.

[Midge]

Loretta Young was very beautiful, but not a great actress, in my opinion. Ricardo Cortez totally stole the film.