Billy Haines Musical

Billy and Cranberry celebrate.  But is it too soon?

There's a new musical off-Broadway combining the life of William Haines with the story of twentysomethings trying to find their way (and themselves) in New York.  I have no idea how much of Billy makes it into the actual play, but reviews so far are mixed.  I'd love to hear from anyone who has the chance to see it!

Looking for Billy Haines

Upperworld (1934)

I'd noticed this was on TCM and, not having seen many Warren William pictures, decided at the last minute to tape it.   Last night I sat down to watch it while I worked on Silent Stanzas, and wound up scribbling notes for my review:

"Ginger is effervescent!"
"Drooling over the art deco!"
"Shake your Powder Puff!"

It started off as a rather lighthearted movie, going in the direction of so many pre-Codes: man is married, wife is neglectful, man finds consolation elsewhere - but then it took a sharp dramatic turn.  Ginger Rogers is just right as Lily Linda, the "elsewhere" - bright and lovely but with that slightly hard edge.  I was rather underwhelmed by Mary Astor, who spent the majority of the picture all but ignoring her husband and begrudging her son Tommy (Dickie Moore) for basically being a child; by the big apology/come-around at the end, I was indifferent. 

Warren William, however...now I know why he has so many admirers.  Even in a paint-by-numbers drama such as this, he exhibits such subtle control over his emotions...they play across his face like shadows, barely there and then gone.  You feel each one as he does, and at the apex of the story, your heart aches for him - even though he's been less than virtuous. 

My final note:  "Andy Devine gives his girlfriend used lipsticks.  Ew."

I give this one: 

Duplicity

Mary who is not Mary,

I'm sorry they wouldn't let you
grow up.
Innocence forced is
innocence lost
and you suffered for it.

I hope wherever you are now
you have your butterfly wings
and hover close to your
"beautiful white flame",

Finally free to be
the
real
Juliet.

Mary Miles Minter

You like me, you really like me!

Just got the word that both this blog and Silent Stanzas have been welcomed into the Classic Movie Blog Association!  Thanks to Rick and all the other members that voted for me. 

I'm also a member of the Large Association of Movie Blogs, so vote for me there as well!

The Price She Paid

At first glance, she seems so dated,
a creaky relic, antiquated;
but underneath the verdigris
shines something for modernity.
A simple beauty, sparkling bright,
one whom in other eras might
have been passed over (what a shame!)
had, in the teens, the biggest name.
However, after such a start
she let others steer her art;
on and off-screen intertwined
and her career was left behind.
She claimed to have complete control
but to three men she lost her soul
and sadly, faded from the screen;
at only thirty, a has-been.
A lesson calls back through the ages:
Whether earning fame or wages,
make sure your contracts are your own
lest others reap what you have sown.

Clara Kimball Young

Photoplay Online!

Thanks to Leonard Maltin's recent blog post, I've been able to wade through Photoplay and Moving Picture World online at Internet Archive.  It's just a taste of David Pierce's brilliant project, the Media History Digital Library.  Go have a look!

Media History Digital Archive

The Screen's Most Perfect Lover

daredevil,
men like you don't end this way;
broken, tired,
victim of the fight.

the pain was intense
but the cure ate you alive.

it stole your strength, your beauty,
and left you with nowhere to land
except your wife's arms.

you should have never been human wreckage.

Wallace Reid