All Else Confusion

Today TCM features one of my two favorite red-headed actresses (the other being Maureen O'Hara whose day is later in the month). Dubbed "The Perfect Wife" for her portrayal of Nora Charles in the 6 Thin Man movies and Milly Stephenson in The Best Years of Our Lives. (which she considered her best role), Myrna Loy was the epitome of style, wit and perfect comedic timing. After the original Thin Man movie catapulted her and co-star William Powell to stardom in 1934, she was voted "Queen of the Movies" by the fans in 1936 to Clark Gable's "King." Witty, intelligent, wise-cracking, and always feminine, she held her own against such stars as Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and especially William Powell with whom she would make 14 movies.

Fun Trivia: Myrna Loy was supposedly John Dillinger's favorite actress. It was her picture Manhattan Melodrama that he had just seen before he was gunned down in front of Chicago's Biograph Theater on July 22, 1934.

Check out: The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer 11:30 PM Winner: Best Original Screenplay (Sidney Sheldon) 1947

Susan Turner, a teenager from a family of judges, falls for artist Richard Nugent, an older man, which causes complications, especially when her older sister, Judge Margaret Turner, falls for the same man. When Susan sneeks into Richard's apartment Judge Turner, following her uncle's advice, sentences him to "date" her teenage sister with the hope that Susan will soon tire of Richard. The result leaves both Susan and Margaret's boyfriends jealous and Richard acting like a teenager with Susan and trying to court Margaret. Also starring Cary Grant, Shirley Temple (as a teenager), and Rudy Vallee.

This film is filled with great one-liners. Watch for this exchange - it gets lots of play at my house:

Richard Nugent: Hey, you remind me of a man.
Susan Turner: What man?
Richard Nugent: Man with the power.
Susan Turner: What power?
Richard Nugent: Power of hoodoo.
Susan Turner: Hoodoo?
Richard Nugent: You do.
Susan Turner: Do what?
Richard Nugent: Remind me of a man...

Labels: movies