"The Menace" (1932)
Where can I see this film? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
shareHi DrJulia,
As you know, I love quests. The only place I could find that sells this DVD is here. http://www.lovingtheclassics.com/the-menace-1932.html. The Film Forum in NYC holds "Pre-Code" film festivals, but I don't remember seeing this one. There is a lovely Bette Davis film that I like, which has been shown several times on TCM: "The Man who Played God"- it is pre-code but there is NOTHING racy in it at all. It's just a nice story about people doing kind things for one another.
Thank you so much, Jennie! I was going to purchase it from Robert's Hard to Find Videos, but you've found it for a better price. :) I've seen "The Man Who Played God" and its remake "Sincerely Yours" on TCM. I was really surprised that I enjoyed the remake (although not as much as the 1932 version). I haven't seen the 1922 version. Hopefully one day....
Thanks again for being your usual marvelous self.
DrJ.
Thanks very much. I agree, I was surprised that I liked "Sincerely Yours" also. I watched it on youTube, where it was posted in 6 parts (https://youtu.be/rm1dnv-d_ek).
I liked George Arliss in the 1932 film version, but he was a little too old for the part. (Also, doesn't he remind you of John Tenniel's Illustration of the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland?")
Jennie
Oh, you're more than welcome, Jennie. I, too, thought George was a bit too old for the role. I've also seen him in "Disraeli" (1929 version), "The Working Man" (1933 featuring Bette Davis), "The House of Rothschild" and "Dr. Syn". You've hit the nail right on its head with your comparison of George to John Tenniel's "Mad Hatter". It'a a pity Paramount didn't secure George for the role when they filmed "Alice in Wonderland" in 1933.
shareThe 1933 version of Alice is actually quite creepy-- really the stuff of nightmares. I find the Duchess especially scary: http://dai.ly/xrqecd?start=2341. Same with Humpty Dumpty (although I love the WC Fields voice (http://dai.ly/xrqevh). I think they relied a bit too much on the make-up and costumes. They cast all these well known people and they were completely unrecognizable.
I agree, Jennie. I've always enjoyed the 1933 version. Charlotte Henry was very cute (as she was a year later in "March of the Wooden Soldiers"). However, it's difficult to really love a film where Cary Grant and Gary Cooper are completely unrecognizable. One terrific thing about "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) is the actors' individualities came through under their make-up. Their facial features were well-respected. Kudos to MGM.
There is a 1931 version of "Alice in Wonderland" which is a hoot! It was filmed at a studio in NJ which was reputedly a converted barn. For a long time, this early sound version was considered lost. But, thankfully, it's been found and is shown on many YouTube channels. The Mad Hatter's tea party was skillfully done. Quite memorable! The film runs just over 50 minutes. If you haven't seen it, YouTube is the place to check it out.
Well, I've received my copy of "The Menace". It's a short, but not an uninteresting mystery. Bette Davis is pretty as the platinum blonde love interest of handsome Walter Byron. There's a creepy museum room in the film's mansion. This film is based upon the Edgar Wallace novel "The Feathered Serpent". From the synopsis of the novel I've read, the film hasn't much to do with the novel's narrative.
Poor Edgar Wallace! His novel "The Dark Eyes of London" was filmed in Britain with Bela Lugosi in 1939 and the film has a so-so connection to the novel (as did the German krimi remake of the 1960s). Another Edgar Wallace novel "The Door with Seven Locks" was filmed in Britain in 1940. Yet, it certainly hasn't much at all to do with the novel (neither did the very odd German krimi remake of the 1960s).
Have to say, your post sent me a googling to look up krimi as I'd never heard that term before. (very proud I learned how to hyperlink!)
shareI appreciate your hyperlinks, Jennie. Yesterday, I saw your Robert Osborne one. It's so easy to click onto the hyperlinks to access info.
shareDrJulia.
Hi there. I was in YouTube and the following popped up in my "you might also like" list: NBC Movie of the Week, which is a remake of Dark Victory.
Unbelievable. Not the version with Bette Davis, but what a find! Anthony Hopkins in the George Brent role was so young and beautiful. Elizabeth Montgomery was also great.
Take care,
Jennie
Anthony Hopkins and Elizabeth Montgomery? I'm THERE! I don't care if it's not the Bette version (as great as it was). With these two staring in it, it'd have to be good at a minimum. Thanks!
shareI watched it tonight. I must say that it ran a little long at 2:16. When it originally aired on TV, it was probably shoehorned into a 3 hour slot with plenty of commercials. But thanks to the miracle of technology I was able to fast forward through those long scenes I didn't care about -- (yes, I get it. She's dying. I don't want to hear all the medical diagnoses.) I just wanted to watch her and Anthony Hopkins together. Damn great couple too. His voice actually sounds very much like Richard Burton. That shouldn't be surprising since they are both Welsh. Also I liked the pre-disco 1970's styles. Anthony Hopkin's hair is just long enough to be tousled without looking like a hippie. Damn, he was cute.
shareOh, Jennie. I remember that remake from its original TV broadcast. I honestly don't remember if it was originally shown in two parts. It's been awhile. There's also the 1963 version "Stolen Hours" with Susan Hayward.
shareI have a vague recollection of when it was on originally, but I don't remember seeing the end. My sister-- who had a later bedtime-- told me how it ended. This was in the days before VCRs. (Oh, wait-- there were VCRs, but they were very expensive-- we only had them in the AV dept of our school).
shareI liked Elizabeth Montgomery in "The Legend of Lizzie Borden". I watched it when it first aired. I came across it on YouTube recently. I didn't have the time to rewatch it though. If it's still there, I'll give it a rewatch.
shareYes, I remember seeing "The Legend of Lizzie Borden" when it was on in 1975. Loved the theory they presented, which was probably true.
shareI too thought the theory they presented was probably true. I liked the way they showed incidents and then reshowed them from another point of view later on. It was a novel idea. One of the main things that saved Lizzie was that the male jury couldn't conceive a woman being strong enough to kill two people with an ax. I must confess, I am not a strong woman. I can't even help my husband chop logs with an ax in the backyard because I just don't have the strength. It's the way my weight is distributed. If anything makes me think Lizzie might have been innocent, it's that she wasn't strong enough. However, I've read some accounts that say she was on the broad side. I've seen photos of her and she certainly wasn't a size zero.
shareDr Julia,
Have you been watching the TV series "Feud" about Bette and Joan?
Cheers!
Jennie
I keep forgetting about "Feud", Jennie. I saw a photo of Susan (with sunglasses) as Bette and she looked pretty good. The photo of Jessica as Joan that I saw left much to be desired. It could have just been that particular photo though. Have you been watching? If so, is it truthful or fictionalized? If it's good, I'd like to see it one day. (BTW, I rewatched "The Legend of Lizzie Bordon" on YouTube. It's still good. I was surprised to see a young Fionnula Flanagan as the Bordon's maid. She popped up years later as Nicole Kidman's ghostly servant in "The Others".)
shareYes-- Fionnula Flanagan was great. I remember her in Rich Man Poor Man as well as TONS of other TV movies. She was a beautiful character actress.
Back to Feud. I actually like. I think that Susan Sarandon is a bit better than Jessica Lang. But despite her passing resemblance to Bette Davis, Susan Sarandon doesn't really make much of an effort to replicate her very unique speech pattern and accent. There are some picayune things that bother me. Like the Oscars they are using are so noticeably fake looking. And both Sarandon and Lange have real Oscars! Couldn't they have used them?
It's somewhat disappointing finding out Susan didn't endeavor to give Bette's distinctive voice much of a try. I can't picture anyone portraying Bette and NOT affecting her accent. I saw Bette in person in a stage show in the 1970s and she was delightful. A real pro! As usual, she gave a tour de force performance and was most gracious to her audience. I wrote to her and she was nice enough to write back to me. What a kind lady!
I can't really see Jessica as Joan. I don't know. Perhaps if I see "Feud" I'll feel better about it. I always think of Jessica as the girl who tried to steal Fay Wray's role. But she was very good in "Frances". I thought I was going to like Faye Dunaway as Joan back when "Mommie Dearest" was released, but I was disappointed in both her and the film. I know how you feel about the Oscar thing. It's trivial, but I can see how it's irksome.
I think that both actresses made the conscious decision not to do an impersonation, but an interpretation. Perhaps because both Bette/Joan had such noticeable styles that have been covered by drag queens, Susan/Jessica were concerned about being campy.
I do enjoy the show. One of the interesting things is that Bette's career was revived because she allowed herself to be viewed in a way that was not glamorous. Hell, she allowed herself to be grotesque. Joan refused to appear in any role in which she didn't look good.
Yeah, I guess they were wise to avoid campiness. We all know how Faye Dunaway's career declined thanks to her horrendous "Mommie Dearest". Jessica probably didn't want the critics and public bashing her as an over-the-top Joan. I've always liked Joan Crawford films and interviews.
About 15 years or so ago, I read the book "Bette and Joan: The Divine Feud" by Shaun Consadine. Although I caught an error the author made by calling Joan's first talkie "The Passing Show" (or something to that effect) instead of "The Hollywood Revue of 1929", I really enjoyed the book.