For Robert Montgomery's birthday last week, Turner Classic Movies featured a day of his films. Robert Montgomery has become one of my most favorite 30s/40s actors in the past year, and he's a real adorable heartthrob too (I must say) - - watch out when he's dressed in white tie and tails (wooo) - - I seek out seeing more and more of his films. On this day I watched three (ended up I had seen the first one before, but well worth watching again). Here's my plot summaries and reviews for these films:
First up, was Another Language (1933) - Pre-code sitting room melodrama - Arriving on the French Line is just eloped couple, mama's boy Victor (Robert Montgomery) and new bride Stella (Helen Hayes), who is introduced to her new hubby's family for the first time. This close-knit family are very gossipy and judgmental and pronounce Victor "henpecked" as they just don't seem to approve of anything Stella does. Jump to three years later where conflict is rampant - seems every Tuesday is family dinner night at Victor's mother's house (she was never very happy about the elopement OR her new daughter-in-law) and Stella regularly makes excuses not to go - - and mama manages to get sick every-time Victor and Stella want to go on a trip. Victor is no prize of a husband either as he sides with his family against his wife every single time. Stella finally makes an appearance at a family dinner where she meets young and handsome Jerry, Victor's nephew. Jerry finds he has lots in common with put-upon Stella and quickly falls in love with her. Stella is kind to him and enjoys talking to him, as he seems like the only true friend she really has. Troubles ensue. This is a really excellent film - it features a very intriguing story, is well acted and believable. 9/10
Next, watched Lovers Couragous (1932) - Well done melodrama starring Robert Montgomery as Willie Smith, a young Englishman with a wanderlust who travels about the world running through a string of different jobs - hotel boy to cowboy to finally ending up in South Africa where he's busy working as a tobacconist's assistant. Soon a beautiful young lady enters the shop, Mary Blayne (Madge Evans), the daughter of an admiral and engaged to marry an English Lord. Crazy about each other, they secretly meet - but when Mary's rich daddy finds out, Mary is shipped back home to England to get married. The Lord is a much older, rather pompous old guy mainly interested in hunting and hounds, you know the sort. But Willie is soon back in England himself - in pursuit of his real dream, that of becoming a Playwright. Possible SPOILER: The night before her marriage to the Lord, Mary finds out he's back and runs away to marry him. Now the story becomes a tale of a poor starving couple struggling to make ends meet while he is writing and attempting to sell one of his plays. Troubles ensue for these two. Quite entertaining - the star power is working in this one with a nice chemistry between the two leads; good script too. 8/10
The third film was not as good as the first two -- Live, Love and Learn (1937) - Romantic comedy about struggling artist Bob Graham (Montgomery) who marries Julie (Rosalind Russell) the society gal who is used to the good things in life, then brings her to live in his shabby one-room flat - and she don't mind a bit! Privacy is an issue for them as Bob has a drunken roommate (Robert Benchley) who sleeps on his couch, plus the walk-in-without-knocking landlady's boy (Mickey Rooney in only ONE brief scene - shucks). Julie sees everything as great and even is happy to encourage hubby to turn down a $2,000 check from her rich uncle. Sudden success for Bob the artist and he immediately starts spending his new found money including a huge, stylish new luxury penthouse for them to live in - and wifey is just *not* happy as she believes he has sold himself out to the idle rich as he paints rich people's portraits and ignores his roots. With lots of star power in this film - Montgomery, Russell, Benchley, and even old reliable Monty Woolley as a man who owns a gallery and wants to exhibit the paintings of his new discovery - you would think the film would be better than it is, the problem is simply a poor script. I found this film a bit dull and tedious, the plot somewhat implausible, and absolutely no romantic chemistry between the two leads - it was always hard to ever believe them as a happy couple (easier when they are not so happy). So so, best for Montgomery and Rosalind Russell fans only. 6/10
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