http://www.phillyburbs.com/movieguide/screwball.shtml
Wanting to grow my screwball comedy DVD library, searched for a must-have list and found this one. One columnist's choices, in no order.
1. 'It Happened One Night' (1934) 2. 'My Man Godfrey' (1936) 3. 'His Girl Friday' (1940) 4. 'Bringing Up Baby' (1938) 5. 'The Awful Truth' (1937) 6. 'The Philadelphia Story' (1940) 7. 'Nothing Sacred' (1937) 8. 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' (1941) 9. 'To Be or Not to Be' (1942) 10. 'The Thin Man' (1934)
― scampering alpaca, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 17:44 (sixteen years ago) link
I'd swap 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' out (Lombard = luminous, characters = not that likable) and 'Nothing Sacred' (nothing against it, haven't seen it yet), and "The Awful Truth" (would be in top 15) and add in three others for my top ten.
1. 'It Happened One Night' (1934) 2. 'My Man Godfrey' (1936) 3. 'His Girl Friday' (1940) 4. 'Bringing Up Baby' (1938) 5. 'To Be or Not to Be' (1942) 6. 'The Thin Man' (1934) 7. 'The Philadelphia Story' (1940) 8. 'The Lady Eve' (1941) 9. 'Ball of Fire' (1941) 10. 'The Palm Beach Story' (1942)
So many others, though: "Twentieth Century", "My Favorite Wife", "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek", etc. Other suggestions? Shelves wouldn't be complete without ______?
― scampering alpaca, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 17:46 (sixteen years ago) link
in order:
the lady eve bringing up baby holiday his girl friday sullivan's travels (if it counts) twentieth century the awful truth midnight it happened one night ninotchka (even tho lubitsch is too gentle to be screwball)
to be or not to be is terrific but doesn't really seem like screwball to me, any more than modern times or duck soup.
― J.D., Wednesday, 19 September 2007 19:39 (sixteen years ago) link
I think 'The Lady Eve' and 'The Palm Beach Story' are the only true Sturges screwballs.
and 'The Philadelphia Story'? Still less screwball.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 19:43 (sixteen years ago) link
if only Capra had done 'You Can't Take It With You' straight... but he trashed the play. Among stage adaps, 'The Man Who Came to Dinner.'
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 19:47 (sixteen years ago) link
as far as Powell/Loy goes. I think 'Libeled Lady' (also Tracy, Harlow) comes closer than 'The Thin Man.'
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 19:52 (sixteen years ago) link
"Libeled Lady" is part of that first screwball box set, isn't it? I should just buy that, and sell the few duplicate DVDs I already have.
And I'm stretching screwball more into the "snappy dialogue" side than the "chaotic plot" to include "The Thin Man" and "The Philadelphia Story" - have no problem not including them in a list.
― scampering alpaca, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 21:08 (sixteen years ago) link
Hadn't heard of "Midnight". Just put that on hold at the library.
― scampering alpaca, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 21:48 (sixteen years ago) link
It's Mitchell Leisen, no? The missing link between Lubitsch and Wilder.
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 20 September 2007 15:07 (sixteen years ago) link
Sturges said he started directing so Mitchell Leisen wouldn't film his scripts.
― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 20 September 2007 15:37 (sixteen years ago) link
Haha!
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 20 September 2007 15:42 (sixteen years ago) link
Leisen also directed Easy Living, which deserves a mention (despite Eddie Arnold).
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 20 September 2007 17:20 (sixteen years ago) link
which is one of the P.S. scripts.
― Dr Morbius, Friday, 21 September 2007 13:52 (sixteen years ago) link
Leisen essay (retro at Cinematheque Francaise):
http://www.movingimagesource.us/articles/design-for-living-20081023
― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 23 October 2008 20:07 (fifteen years ago) link
so I rewatched Easy Living -- which is far, far more screwball than Sturges-directed films -- and I have to say I found a good bit of it desperate, as much as I like Jean Arthur. Especially the last 20 mins when the dogs, birdcages, Wall St panic, etc are all goin on. Maybe it was Leisen, maybe PS was just riding the trend too hard at that time. My fave actor in it is probably the weary secretary to Edward Arnold.
― Dr Morbius, Friday, 30 January 2009 15:56 (fifteen years ago) link
It's my least favorite of the Leisen comedies. I've never been fond of Arthur or Arnold.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 30 January 2009 16:02 (fifteen years ago) link
Midnight, however...
2 Gregory La Cava comedies in NY this weekend, Dunne v Colbert -- do I need to see both?
http://m.thelmagazine.com/newyork/rep-pick-she-married-her-boss-and-unifinished-business/Content?oid=2205940
― Literal Facepalms (Dr Morbius), Friday, 27 January 2012 18:33 (twelve years ago) link
best Loy-Powell, maybe Harlow too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6olwq6z3Yc
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 28 August 2014 01:01 (nine years ago) link
watched 'My Man Godfrey' and 'His Girl Friday' last night on TCM. Two of my favorites.
Rosalind Russell is so spectacular, still weird to see Cary Grant outdone in his prime. Although he is very good as well.
Carole Lombard is genius.
― nicky lo-fi, Friday, 12 October 2018 14:10 (five years ago) link