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Stella Dallas ever-giving mom: Lisa’s Home Bijou

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Film Festival: Three Hankies

In the 1937 version of Stella Dallas, Barbara Stanwyck turns in an Academy award-nominated performance as a devoted mother. Get out those handkerchiefs!Barbara Stanwyck is the ultimate sacrificing mother in this Olive Higgins Prouty three-hankie drama. Alan Hale and Anne Shirley are great too! Lisa's Home Bijou: Stella Dallas (1937)

The tearjerker has long been a staple of storytelling in the 20th century, with novelists such as Olive Higgins Prouty, Lloyd C. Douglas and Fannie Hurst combining elements of tragedy, pathos and modern heroines in modern settings. Prouty’s Stella Dallas is an enduring example of the genre, having been filmed three different times.

In the opening scene of Stella Dallas, a lovely young woman dressed in her finest clothing whiles away the time in the front yard of her family’s modest home in 1919 Millhampton, Massachusetts. Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck) is hoping that she will attract the attention of Stephen Dallas, a mill office worker, at the mill’s quitting time. Stella’s brother arrives home and teases her about her ambitions to break out of the mill-hand life — the way she moons over Stephen Dallas (John Boles) and the courses she’s taking at the local business college.

“My own sister standing out here every night making a sap out of herself over a guy who don’t even know she’s on earth.” –Stella’s brother

Stephen is trying to create a new life for himself after his family suffered tragedy in another town. His prosperous father had fallen into disgrace and committed suicide after a mill he ran was forced into bankruptcy. Stephen left a promising career and his heiress fiancée to start over in Millhampton.stellas-dallas-scandal

Stella manages to meet Stephen by bringing her brother’s lunch to the company office, claiming that he had forgotten it. A sad and lonely Stephen is intrigued by the charming Stella. Besides, he recently discovered that the girl he left behind had married well.Barbara Stanwyck is the ultimate sacrificing mother in this Olive Higgins Prouty three-hankie drama. Alan Hale and Anne Shirley are great too! Lisa's Home Bijou: Stella Dallas (1937)

“No, I don’t want to be like me, not like the people in this place, but like the people in the movie. You know, doing everything well-bred and refined. –And dull. Stay as you are, don’t pretend Stella.” –Stella and Stephen

Stephen and Stella begin dating. On a fateful night, Stella stays out all night. Her father is furious with her, but when she returns home, she reveals that she and Stephen had married.

A year later, Stella gives birth to a baby girl, Laurel. After the child is born, Stella is immediately anxious to get out and about again. She begs Stephen to go with her to a dance at the River Club, the society spot in Millhampton.

At the dance, she meets Ed Munn (Alan Hale), an unsavory racetrack tout who has a gift for making Stella laugh. Stephen is always serious and business-like, and after a year of marriage Stella longs for fun. Stephen makes it clear he does not approve of Mr. Munn.stella-dallas-dancing

“But please don’t give me pointers on how to dress. Allow me at least to know more about one thing than you do! After all, I’ve always been known to have stacks of style.” –Stella

Sober Stephen does very well at the mill and is given a promotion to the New York office. Feeling unsure that Stella will fit in with his New York circle, he leaves Stella and Laurel behind in Millhampton. On visits home, he catches Stella partying too much in front of his little girl and threatens to take her away. Stella fiercely defends her rights to raise her daughter, putting all her resources into doing the best for Laurel. She even sews all of Laurel’s clothing herself.

Years later, Stephen is in a New York toy store buying a book for Laurel’s 13th birthday. Helen Morrison (Barbara O’Neil) recognizes him and warmly greets her old flame. Helen has her three young sons with her and reveals to Stephen that she has recently become a widow.stella-dallas-helen

Meanwhile, Stella rides the train into Boston with Ed to buy supplies for Laurel’s birthday party. Stella and Ed are high-spirited and enjoy cutting up on the train, playing practical jokes. Laurel’s straight-laced private school teacher sees Stella’s shenanigans. Highly disapproving, she secretly advises everyone to avoid Laurel’s party. One of the saddest scenes in the film is the sight of Stella and Laurel (Anne Shirley) all dressed up, waiting hours for the guests that never arrive.

For summer vacation, Stephen arranges for Laurel to stay at Helen’s estate. Laurel develops a “crush” on the sophisticated, elegant, kind friend of her beloved father’s. At Christmas time, Stephen comes to Stella’s apartment to take Laurel with him to Helen’s. He sees Ed, falling-down drunk, and decides to divorce Stella. Stella refuses, telling Stephen’s lawyer that she needs more money to mix Laurel with the right society.

“Remarry? Listen Mr. Morley, let’s get down to brass tacks. I haven’t the slightest idea of ever remarrying. Now it don’t happen by any chance to be Mr. Dallas who wishes to remarry, does it?” –Stella

stella-dallas-lawyerStella and Laurel vacation at the Hotel Mirador. Laurel is a hit with the young set, and is soon wearing the fraternity pin of Richard Grosvenor (Tim Holt). Stella cannot quite get the hang of society elegance. Her idea of a great ensemble includes a flounced floral dress, two armloads of bangles, a white fox stole, a big hairbow, peroxided hair, high heels, too much makeup and huge puffed sleeves. The young people make fun of her, not realizing that she is Laurel’s mother.

“That’s not a woman, that’s a Christmas tree. –And it walks. –Does it talk? –And how! –She’s an ad. –An ad for what? –You’ll see in a minute. Wait ’til her hat lights up!” –Richard’s friends

After the trip to Hotel Mirador, Stella realizes that she might be hurting Laurel’s chances for the future. Stella’s strong will and her powerful love for Laurel allow her to make choices that never fail to bring the audience to tears.

The wonderful performances of Barbara Stanwyck and Alan Hale, directed by King Vidor, make this Stella Dallas an enduring classic.

Resource links for Stella Dallas

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

The Fountainhead passion & drama: Lisa’s Home Bijou

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Film Festival: Three Hankies

Ayn Rand’s novel, The Fountainhead, is loosely based upon the career of Frank Lloyd Wright, though Rand, who also wrote the screenplay, continually denied it. This is a morality play about the strength of personal conviction. Gary Cooper brings Howard Roark alive in The Fountainhead (1949), which also stars Patricia Neal and Raymond Massey.Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal have sizzling chemistry in stone quarries and heroic buildings in this three-hankie drama. Lisa's Home Bijou: The Fountainhead (1949) Howard Roark (Gary Cooper) is an architect who insists on following his own mind at all times. He is kicked out of design school for being too avant-garde and for refusing to take the advice of his professors.fountainhead-design-school He works as an apprentice for a master architect who has modern ideas. (This master is based on Louis Sullivan, known as the father of modern architecture, one of the leaders of the Prairie School who built beautiful skyscrapers in Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s.) His character even says “Form follows function”, which was one of Sullivan’s most famous quotes.fountainhead-falling-water

” Oh, why did you have to come to me? I’m perfectly happy with the drooling dolts I’ve got. I don’t want any fool visionaries starving around here. You’re an egotist. You’re impertinent. You’re too sure of yourself. 20 years ago I’d have punched your face with the greatest of pleasure. You’re coming to work for me tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock.” –Henry Cameron

Roark refuses to decorate his buildings in classical styles, which he despises. Because of his difficulty in working with others, he has a lot of trouble getting assignments. As a last resort, he takes a job as a stonecutter in a quarry owned by the wealthy Francon family as a means to survive. He meets the heiress daughter, Dominique, but he never lets on to her that he is really an architect. Roark ultimately leaves the quarry when he gets a commission to build a high-rise apartment building.

“No building is unimportant. I’ll build for any man who wants me, anywhere, so long as I build my way.” –Howard Roark

Howard Roark is a dark character; his own personal happiness has a very small role in his life. It seems that the most important thing is to get his buildings constructed. A “yellow” newspaper, The Banner, constantly criticizes his work, but Roark manages to continue designing for clients who understand and believe in his vision.fountainhead-enright-building Dominique Francon, played by Patricia Neal, is the daughter of a rich and famous, very traditional architect. She has a job writing artistic criticism for The Banner. At the beginning of The Fountainhead she is engaged to Peter Keating, a classmate of Roark’s. He’s not very bright but he is a good smarmy politician around the office.

“I wish I had never seen….your building. It’s the things that we admire or want that enslave us, and I’m not easy to bring into submission.” –Dominique Francon

Dominique is difficult to figure. She seems afraid of letting out her passions. She’d rather not be near anything that is too beautiful since its hold on her would be too strong. When she sees Roark in the quarry, she seems to place him in this category.Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal have sizzling chemistry in stone quarries and heroic buildings in this three-hankie drama. Lisa's Home Bijou: The Fountainhead (1949) She has few scruples in the love and relationship department. She breaks off her engagement with Peter so that he can get a commission. She hits Roark in the face with a horsewhip, and after she falls in love with him, she won’t go near him. She marries Gail Wynand, the publisher of The Banner, even though she doesn’t love him or even seem to like him very much.

“You mean they’re being done all the time, but not talked about. I grant you that I’m behaving abominably. It’s extremely cruel to be honest.” –Gail Wynand

The Fountainhead was considered pretty scandalous when it was released, and this impression was probably fueled by the fact that Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal entered into a heated affair in real life that almost ended his marriage. When she hits him with the horsewhip, it’s her twisted way of inviting him to have his way with her, which he does, accompanied by very big music.

“There is no honest way to deal with people — we have no choice but to submit or rule them. I choose to rule them.” –Gail Wynand

Gail Wynand (Raymond Massey) became a rich and powerful man by his own wits. He rose from the poorest beginnings in the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City. He owns the most powerful newspaper in the city, The Banner. He uses it to form public opinion and to keep things stirred up so that papers will sell.fountainhead-banner-wynand He launches a smear campaign against the first of Roark’s great buildings, just because it looks totally new and different. It’s nothing personal, he doesn’t even know Roark. Later he meets him, and they form a very close relationship. However poor Gail has no idea that his wife, Dominique, is in love with Roark. The philosophical conflict in the story is between objectivism and altruism. Howard Roark stands for being true to one’s self and following individual will. Ellsworth Toohey (played slimily by Robert Douglas) and Peter Keating are the spokesmen for subsumation of will, that an individual should submit to the desires of the masses.

The Fountainhead is a big soap opera, with lots of dramatic music and melodramatic scenes between the characters. While watching, it was difficult not to wonder if Wright was as sexy, powerful, and alluring as the character played by Gary Cooper. And as the rich, artistic New Yorker Dominique, Patricia Neal gets to wear some great clothes (Dominique’s fear of the beautiful evidently did not extend to her wardrobe.) The most elegant ensemble is a strapless black evening dress with a sweetheart neckline — very décolleté — the edge of which is decorated with white fur, drawing the eye to the bust. She has a fabulous cape to wear over the dress, with white fur and a hood.fountainhead-white-fur Get out your hankerchiefs and check out this movie for a fine performance by Raymond Massey; to see screen sizzle between Patricia Neal and Gary Cooper; to hear heroic architect talk; to see movie versions of the Guggenheim Museum, Fallingwater, and other beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.

Resource links for The Fountainhead

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

That Certain Woman Bette Davis: Lisa’s Home Bijou

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Film Festival: Three Hankies

THE ST. VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE of members of Bugs Moran’s gang is one of the most notorious events in Chicago’s gangland history. As That Certain Woman, Bette Davis has to overcome her past as the widow of one of the massacre victims. Trying to become a respectable lady living down her former life as a gangster’s wife is great fodder for Bette Davis’ superior tearjerking skills.Bette Davis is a St. Valentine's Day Massacre widow trying to live far away from gang life. Henry Fonda is her society lover in this three-hankie drama. Lisa's Home Bijou: That Certain Woman (1937) Get out your handkerchiefs to enjoy 1937’s That Certain Woman, a dramatic story of a good woman’s struggle to get past her bad reputation. That Certain Woman (1937) begins on a rainy Valentine’s Day in Chicago, the fourth anniversary of the massacre of Bugs Moran’s gang in a garage. Two women board a double-decker bus to ride out the cemetery. As they approach Al Haines’ grave with their flowers, a photographer jumps out to snatch a picture. A friend who has been following the two women grabs the photographer and destroys the camera.certain-woman-cemetery Why the big interest in two women visiting a dead gangster’s grave? Virgil Whitaker (Hugh O’Connell) is a newspaper man who sees a career-making chance for himself in the story. “Where are the gangsters and their molls now?” is a popular series in the papers.certain-woman-virgil

“Mary, why didn’t you say hello to Fred? It wouldn’t have hurt you. He looked so sad, poor tough old Freddy. –I’ve been through with guys like Fred for years. Nothing to do with them, not even speak to them. –That was all right when you first broke away. But after what you’ve made of yourself, you’re a lady, and ladies are polite to everybody.” –Amy and Mary

The two women, Amy (Mary Phillips) and Mary Donnell Haines (Bette Davis), have dropped out of sight since the massacre. Mary is Al Haines’ widow, that certain woman. Now she works as an executive assistant for the Rogers, Tilden, and French law firm and never speaks to her former gang associates. She’s made a lady of herself.certain-woman-apartment Unbeknownst to her, her boss, Lloyd Rogers (Ian Hunter), has known all along that she was a gangster’s widow. He tells Mary that he’s proud of her for going to night school and working so hard to change herself. He volunteers to help her with the problem of Virgil.certain-woman-rogers Lloyd treats Virgil to a lunch at his club and manages to kill the story on Mary’s past by suggesting a less sensational alternative. At the club, Lloyd runs into Jack Merrick (Henry Fonda), just back from Paris. Jack inquires about Mary, then calls her for a date. While in Paris he wrote letters to her, letting her know how besotted he is with her. Jack is the carefree son of a very rich, very conservative man.certain-woman-jack

“Did Mr. Rogers tell you? He’s got me all fixed up to do a series of articles on businessmen, their habits and health for the McGulliver people. Say can he work fast, that boss of yours.” –Virgil

That evening, Mary goes to Harry Valko’s café. Harry (Ben Welden) is a friend from the old days who has also changed his ways. Mary brings him the news that Virgil has been stopped from chasing them. Jack meets her at the café, fresh from a tense dinner with his father. Mary explains to Jack that being anything but good friends is out of the question for them. She wants him to try to do real work instead of spending his time as a rich gadfly.certain-woman-valkos Jack goes to Lloyd about his feelings for Mary. Lloyd reveals the sordid details of Mary’s past. The next morning, Lloyd talks the situation over with Mary. Being very supportive of her, he encourages her to take a chance on finding happiness with Jack. He tells her he’s willing to let her go from the office, even though he completely depends on her. His faith gives her courage to elope with Jack.certain-woman-elope Jack’s father, John Merrick (Donald Crisp), with a doctor and a policeman in tow, arrives at the shabby hotel where Jack and Mary have taken rooms. Dad is very mean to Jack and wants to know the conditions to get him away from Mary. Mary comes down to meet Dad, who is horribly rude to her. He demands an annulment of the marriage. Dad has brought a police lieutenant with him to tell the story of Mary’s past arrest record. Mary begs Jack to leave the meeting with his Dad and go their own way. Jack wants to stay and convince his dad that the marriage is valid and important to him. Mary leaves alone and goes back to her old apartment.certain-woman-merrick

“I’m gonna wait. If it’s months, if it’s years. I’m going to wait.” –Mary

A year later, Mary and her friend Amy are living together with Mary’s baby boy. Virgil visits them with the news that Jack has married an heiress, Florence “Flip” Carson (Anita Louise), and has gone to France for an extended trip. Mary had waited all year for him to come looking for her and resume their marriage. Now her son will grow up without his father.certain-woman-baby Soon after, Mary is devastated to hear further news of Jack. Jack and Flip have been in a terrible car accident in France and their recovery is uncertain. Once again, Lloyd jumps in to support her. He’s married, but he loves Mary and wants to do all he can for her. He sends her to White Sulphur Springs (The Greenbrier) to get over her grief for Jack.

“Yeah, I know something else too. –What’s that? –You’re falling for him at last. I knew you would. The day we moved in here, I knew it. I don’t see how you could help yourself, he’s been so decent. –You’re right, he is decent. He has everything, but that one thing right here in my heart. –Jack! –Mmm. I believe I’m like those unfortunate gals you read about in the dime novels. ‘She only loved once.’ –Dopes that’s what they are, dopes!” –Amy and Mary

Time goes on and Mary’s son is celebrating his fourth birthday. Lloyd is quite ill, but Mary cannot visit him out of deference to his wife. Lloyd’s law partner comes to Mary when Lloyd runs away. Everyone thinks he is hiding with Mary, and the man is quite insulting to Mary. Eventually, Lloyd does make his way to Mary’s apartment, and he ends up dying there, with his wife present, a very moving scene. Photographers, hot on the scent of a story once Lloyd disappears, manage to get a photo of the two women together and make a scandal of it in the papers. Lloyd has named Mary as his main beneficiary in his will, and the papers print pictures of Mary’s son and raise questions about his paternity.certain-woman-wife Mary decides she must leave Chicago, but as she is preparing, Jack shows up and offers to help her. It turns out that his wife Flip has never fully recovered from the accident and is still in a wheelchair. She can’t have a baby and Jack offers to adopt Mary’s son. Mary loses her temper and reveals that little Jackie is his son, not Lloyd’s. She insists that they will continue to go their separate ways.

There’s lots more drama as Jack decides between Mary and Flip, mean John Merrick messes with Mary’s life again, and Mary has to decide whether to let everyone else tell her what to do or decide her own fate and her son’s. Bette, dressed in great outfits by Orry-Kelly, is always the master of every scene in That Certain Woman, her eyes and low voice commanding attention. Bette is so strong, it’s hard to believe that Henry Fonda is her man. It’s a good story, with surprises at every turn, and you just want the world to let Bette alone! The tears will flow as you watch Bette hold hers back.

Resource links for That Certain Woman

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.

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Love Affair shipboard romance: Lisa’s Home Bijou

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Film Festival: Three Hankies

THE STORY of Love Affair (1939) has been filmed three times in the last almost 80 years, a testament to its romantic appeal. Director Leo McCarey created a world that includes jaded lovers, an ocean liner, witty repartee, pink champagne cocktails, tragedy and the Empire State Building. Through the years, the lovers have been played by Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer; Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant (An Affair to Remember, 1957); and Warren Beatty and Annette Bening (1994) — all transforming the story to be set in their own time.Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer start a love affair on a cruise ship. You will need three hankies for all the tears in this famous drama. Lisa's Home Bijou: Love Affair (1939) Get out your handkerchiefs and the pink champagne cocktails to enjoy 1939’s Love Affair, the piquant pairing of Dunne and Boyer. This is a tearjerker drama that requires three hankies!

“Lois Clarke and her 20 million smackers will be at the dock palpitating for him. And it’s good news for us mere men. Because when he arrives, Michel Marnay goes out of circulation. This time, it’s marriage.” –radio reporter

love-affair-michelLove Affair begins as radio announcers all over the world broadcast a news flash: Michel Marnay (Charles Boyer) is sailing to America to marry a rich rock-and-gravel heiress. On board the ship, young women chase after Michel, begging for his autograph. While dodging all his pursuers, Michel meets one beauty who is not impressed with his celebrity. Terry McKay (Irene Dunne) has a sugar daddy of long standing and she is not looking for a shipboard flirtation.love-affair-terry

“He must be a very fascinating fellow. –Well, you can just imagine how attractive he is when I can resist so charming a person as you. –I think I’ll go now. After all, I still have deck tennis and keno, and there is always shuffleboard.” –Michel and Terry

Terry and Michel become friends, stemming from their mutual positions as gold diggers. They try to avoid public scrutiny on the ship by eating at separate tables, but everyone knows they are spending time together when they both order the same pink champagne cocktails at the bar.

The ship makes a stop at Porto Santo, Madeira. Terry goes with Michel to meet his 77-year-old grandmother, Janou (Maria Ouspenskaya), who has a gracious home in a lovely hilltop garden with a fountain, chapel, and canaries. Terry admires a painting and discovers that Michel is the artist. She is surprised by his talent. Janou plays “Plaisir d’amour” on the piano for them before they leave. Now it is Michel’s turn to be surprised by Terry’s talent as she sings along. All three realize this is a moment they will never forget. Terry admires Janou’s beautiful lace shawl and Janou promises to save it for her.

Back on board, Michel and Terry share a kiss and realize they have found true love.

“My father used to say ‘wishes are the dreams we dream while we’re awake.’ –Your father said that? –He drank a lot. –Terry and Michel

Now that it is the last night aboard, they worry about the lovers due to meet them ashore. They make a plan to meet in six months: July 1, 5:00 p.m., at the top of the Empire State Building, the “nearest thing to heaven we have in New York.”

Michel and Terry start making immediate changes in their lives. Michel calls off the engagement to rock-and-gravel heiress Lois Clarke (Astrid Allwyn), and plans to try making a living as an artist. Terry leaves her relationship with Ken Bradley (Leo Bowman) and the accompanying exclusive charge accounts and deluxe apartment. She tries her luck as a nightclub singer in Philadelphia. She becomes a big hit and begins supporting herself.love-affair-philadelphia By February, Michel is showing paintings to the art dealer Maurice Cobert (Maurice Moscovich.) To make money to eat, he paints billboards, keeping the Empire State Building in his sights.love-affair-painter On July 1, Terry returns to New York and visits her former favorite shop to buy a new dress. The manager calls Ken to check on her credit and the staff tries to keep her there until Ken can arrive to talk to her. This makes her late for her 5 o’clock appointment with Michel. When she rushes off to 34th Street and Fifth Avenue, looking up at the Empire State Building, she gets hit by a car.

Already at the observation deck, Michel eagerly waits for each elevator car to unload. He doesn’t realize that the sirens he hears below are for Terry. As night falls, a tremendous thunderstorm lights up the sky as he waits alone. Finally, at midnight, he gives up all hope.love-affair-lightning

“I thought maybe you were keeping it because you were nursing a broken heart. –Oh no, no. Broken heart is not for me. Life is what you make it, Cobert. From now on I’m taking my fun where I find it.” –Cobert and Michel

Will Terry be satisfied with life in a wheelchair, using her singing to lead an orphanage choir? Will Michel continue to paint, or resume his playboy bon vivant lifestyle? What happens to Janou’s shawl? You’ll be cheering for true love to conquer all obstacles in this version of Love Affair.

Resource Links for Love Affair (1939)

This is an update of a review that appeared originally in RETRO magazine, Nancy Eaton, editor.

Affiliate links: if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave

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