Post by rmichaelpyle on Nov 18, 2011 13:14:16 GMT -6
I watched "Murder in Greenwich Village" (1937) with Fay Wray and Richard Arlen. Definitely a Columbia Pictures programmer, this one has the problem of far too much back-projection and studio bound photography for modern day audiences. Indeed, one could nearly assume that this was shot on a large stage and simply made into a film. It's definitely done on the cheap. Fay Wray is not at her top, either, but that doesn't hinder the enjoyment of the film one iota, and Richard Arlen breezes through this as though it's a western, which it certainly isn't. There is a murder, and the show is much about that, but the focus all along - maybe too much - is on the budding, budding, budding, budding, romance of Arlen and Wray. Of course, in the end there's a denoument that's satisfying! The story line itself of the romance is just nonsense, and the probability of any of this happening is nil! Nevertheless, the show moves quickly and it's very enjoyable watching!
The person who wins best acting honors is Marc Lawrence, an actor who just recently died (2005) at the age of 95 and who acted in films until he was over 92! Starting in talkies, he still made nearly 180 films. Swarthy and pockmarked, he played wonderful gangsters and the like, and here he's the brother of a painter who he's set up in life in a fine studio in Greenwich. But, of course, Marc Lawrence himself IS a gangster! And in this one, he's the prototypical nasty one, but one who's out to rectify the murder of his brother because of brotherly love, it would seem...
Also in the picture are Marjorie Reynolds (in her first speaking part, although she'd been in films since a child back in the early 20's), Leon Ames, Wyn Cahoon, Scott Kolk, Gene Morgan, Mary Russell, and George McKay. I've not mentioned yet that both Thurston Hall AND Raymond Walburn are in the show. Together - two of the most formidably hammy, blustery, over-acting characters in the history of the movies! Both are outrageously blustery and over-the-top in this one, too. They're both watchable, however. If you accept them as a sort of thirties comedy relief in semi-serious drama, then it's okay. Otherwise, they can be the sort of bane we've talked about on this board that Hugh Herbert can be.
Very watchable, but it's a cheapie, yes. I enjoyed it, and I'm trying to watch a group of films starring Fay Wray because I just recently finished her autobiographical reminiscences called On the other Hand.
The person who wins best acting honors is Marc Lawrence, an actor who just recently died (2005) at the age of 95 and who acted in films until he was over 92! Starting in talkies, he still made nearly 180 films. Swarthy and pockmarked, he played wonderful gangsters and the like, and here he's the brother of a painter who he's set up in life in a fine studio in Greenwich. But, of course, Marc Lawrence himself IS a gangster! And in this one, he's the prototypical nasty one, but one who's out to rectify the murder of his brother because of brotherly love, it would seem...
Also in the picture are Marjorie Reynolds (in her first speaking part, although she'd been in films since a child back in the early 20's), Leon Ames, Wyn Cahoon, Scott Kolk, Gene Morgan, Mary Russell, and George McKay. I've not mentioned yet that both Thurston Hall AND Raymond Walburn are in the show. Together - two of the most formidably hammy, blustery, over-acting characters in the history of the movies! Both are outrageously blustery and over-the-top in this one, too. They're both watchable, however. If you accept them as a sort of thirties comedy relief in semi-serious drama, then it's okay. Otherwise, they can be the sort of bane we've talked about on this board that Hugh Herbert can be.
Very watchable, but it's a cheapie, yes. I enjoyed it, and I'm trying to watch a group of films starring Fay Wray because I just recently finished her autobiographical reminiscences called On the other Hand.