Broadway Bill (1934)

The story of Broadway Bill is one that could rival Seabiscuit who wouldn’t be well known until two years later. Dan Brooks (Warner Baxter) married into his job and though he was thankful at first and the envy of his other brothers-in-law as the crown prince of the J. L. Higgins enterprises, as of late he has been restless and horse-mad. He knows that Broadway Bill can be a champion and yearns to return to his former life on the race track. His father-in-law, J. L. Higgins (Walter Connolly) and wife Margaret (Helen Vinson) refuse to understand or empathize. His only allies are his stableman, Whitey (Clarence Muse) and his sister-in-law Alice aka The Princess (Myrna Loy).
Fed up with how J. L. runs his business, Dan strikes out on his own, leaving all security and money behind. In the course of trying to raise money to get Broadway Bill in the Imperial Derby, he and Whitey and eventually The Princess (who also happens to be in love with him) run into several road bumps along the way from Broadway Bill not wanting to race without his good luck charm, a rooster named Skeeter to Dan being thrown in jail to bad bets and sneaky jockeys.


In typical Capra fashion this is a story of success from the roots up and how people can inadvertently change the course of one another’s luck as well as inspire one another to be better people. With witty repartee and wonderful performances from all the characters- most especially Colonel Pettigrew (Raymond Walburn) and his sidekick Happy McGuire (Lynne Overman), Broadway Bill is a very touching story.

Tonight on TCM! This is a pretty good film featuring two of my favorites.
Sweet Bird Of Youth (1962)A young gigolo returns to his southern hometown in search of the lost love of his youth. Cast: Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight, Ed Begley Dir: Richard Brooks

The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1933)

They found a love they dare not touch! And so Barbara touched herself. Seriously, what is up with these movie posters? My guess is that they were trying to detract viewers from the main theme of the film- interracial love. General Yen is pretty well Anglicized in the second poster but that didn't stop breasts being akimbo. Ridiculous.


The Bitter Tea of General Yen is a complicated love story made more complicated by the social mores and opinions at the time of the film’s release. Avoided and scorned for it’s portrayal of interracial desire and equally poor opinions of both Chinese ethics and Christian missionaries, as well as Walter Connolly's characterization of a greedy American capitalist, Capra’s film was doomed from the start. Not to mention using a Swedish man to play the part. Though I live and am influenced by a more culturally sensitive era, I cannot write this film off as another piece of fluff- I have always admired Capra’s work for the messages he, at times, waywardly makes. I admire him for fighting to make this “arty” film despite some of the views it depicted.
Christian morality is disdained for its own hypocrisy and belief of being able to embrace and influence another races culture while pointedly letting the viewer know that in some cases it’s a complete failure. Unfortunately, complete failure leads to a message that the Chinese are barbaric and do not value human life- an outrageous and understandably upsetting portrayal. However, if you look beyond that, there are two deeper messages being portrayed here.
One: despite the unflattering depiction of the Chinese race, Megan, a white woman, transcends the social mores by having a secret desire for General Yen, her captor and her savior.
Two: in turn, General Yen, a man so jaded by what he has seen in life, feels a mutual attraction to Megan, and though it’s not clear if it’s love or a need to conquer, he nonetheless provides a Christian mercy by not forcing Megan to do anything she does not desire including drinking the bitter tea that he believes will reunite them in the hereafter where they would be free to love. Ironically, this leads Megan to doubt her own cultural values and faith.

I did enjoy this film, the scenery was enchanting and I finally got to see the lovely Anna May Wong in a film.

Tonight on TCM!
Duel In The Sun (1946)A fiery half-breed comes between a rancher's good and evil sons. Cast: Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotten, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore Dir: William Dieterle

Pre-Code Dip: A Man's Castle (1933)

Trina (Loretta Young) meets a dapper looking Bill (Spencer Tracy) in the park when he’s feeding popcorn to the pigeons. When Bill notices her staring longingly at the popcorn he asks her what she’s about. When Trina admits that she hasn’t eaten in two days Bill reluctantly takes her to dinner. After she consumes an enormous meal in a fancy restaurant, Bill announces to the manager that he has no money and, points out that the restaurant throws away food every day so, what’s the harm in feeding two people for free? After threatening to plead his case aloud before the other patrons, the manager lets them leave. That’s when Bill reveals to Trina that the tuxedo he is wearing is one of his many odd jobs. He walks around in it with a lighted sign on his chest to advertise the store. Bill then takes her to the riverside shantytown where he lives. He agrees to have Trina live with him on a temporary basis as he can’t stand to be tied down, and even insists on sleeping under a hole in the roof so that he can always see the sky. The periodic whistle of the nearby trains rolling through is a constant reminder to Trina that she has no hold over Bill. Despite this she takes care of Bill, does not interfere with his independence, and even ignores his fling with a singer named Fay (Glenda Farrell). Eventually however, Trina becomes pregnant. Although Bill tries to hop a train out of town, his conscience gets the better of him and he has a fellow neighbor, Ira (Walter Connolly) marry him and Trina. Bill then turns to another neighbor Bragg (Arthur Hohl) and agrees to help him rob his former employee for big cash. Bill, despite just getting married, still has plans on leaving Trina but doesn’t want to leave her without money. When the robbery fails, Bragg, who has designs on Trina, calls the police to arrest Bill, hoping to have her for himself when Bill is in jail. However, Flossie (Marjorie Rambeau), another neighbor and drunken former girl friend of Bragg has different plans. She warns Bill of Bragg’s plan but Bill, now realizing he loves Trina refuses to leave so, Flossie suggests that Bill and Trina run away together. To ensure that Bragg will do them no further harm, Flossie shoots him, then herself as Trina and Bill head toward the railroads and their future.

A Man’s Castle is a typical pre-code ignoring all morals by letting a man and woman shack up together without the sanctity of marriage and a constant reminder of what the Depression was doing to people as evidenced by the shantytown Trina and Bill lived in and the speech that Bill gave the restaurant manager. Although I enjoyed looking at the youthful Young, I thought she came off too clingy and sappy. Tracy was bullish and the whole story revolved around whether or not he would stick around. Personally, I would have hit him over the head with a pan and called it a day.

Tonight on TCM! Sweet! Joan wielding her axe!

Strait-Jacket (1964) Murder follows an axe murderer home when she's released from a mental hospital.Cast: Joan Crawford, Diane Baker, Leif Erickson, Howard St. John Dir: William Castle