William Powell's Beverly Hills home

William Powell's house, built adjacent to the Beverly Hills estate of automobile tycoon E. L. Cord, was designed by J. E. Dolena. It was a neoclassical pavilion built on a wooded lot that featured twin tennis courts with galleries for spectators. Jean Harlow helped decorate it, and, despite its rigorously traditional appearance, it was wired for all kinds of electric gadgetry. Alarm bells warned the arrival of visitors, all doors could be operated with foot switches, and all major rooms were equipped with bars, one of which could be transformed into a grill at the touch of a button, a spit rising from the floor and charcoal burners emerging from a closet. Living there seems to have had all the charm of living inside a pinball machine, as Powell explained to the readers of Picturegoer:

I built a house of dream that turned out to be a house of devilish gadgets. The secret panels and disappearing doors never worked right. I'd push one button to go into the parlor and I'd find myself in the kitchen or garden. There were thirty-two rooms in that house and in every one something unexpected was happening. I've been haunted by weird nightmare memories ever since. 

                                                                 

                                                          -Gone Hollywood by Christopher Finch and Linda Rosenkrantz

Tonight on TCM!

Last night to enjoy a William Powell line-up. It's sure to not disappoint!

Happy Holidays!

Tonight on TCM!
Going My Way (1944) A young priest revitalizes a failing parish and brings new life to the elder priest. Dir: Leo McCarey Cast: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Frank McHugh.

Crossroads (1942)

Receiving a mysterious letter on the eve of his anniversary to wife Lucienne (Hedy Lamarr), French diplomat, David Talbot (William Powell) is confused. The letter is addressed to someone named "Jean," and asks for one million francs to satisfy an old debt. Thinking the letter must be a mistake, Talbot decides to get the police involved. When the "money" is delivered, Carlos Le Duc (Vladimir Sokoloff) is arrested. Thus begins a strange court case where Le Duc accuses Talbot of really being Jean Pelletier, a criminal and possible murderer. Le Duc states he was simply trying to retrieve money owed him by Jean. The case explodes when it's revealed by Talbot's friend, Dr. Andre Tessier (Felix Bressart), that Talbot had been in a train wreck in 1922 and suffers from amnesia. To further confuse the case and Talbot, a mystery witness, singer Michele Allaine (Claire Trevor), corroborates Le Duc's story and identifies Talbot as Pelletier, her former lover. However, Talbot is saved when wine salesman Henri Sarrou (Basil Rathebone) testifies to the court that he witnessed Pelletier dies years before after the train wreck.
With a new lease on life and an impending appointment as ambassador to Brazil, Talbot is visited by Sarrou who privately demands one million francs. Sarrou reveals that Talbot is Pelletier and that they had been cohorts in a two million franc robbery, in which Pelletier killed a man, then disapppeared with the money. He tells Talbot that Pelletier suffered a powder burn on his hand when he committed the murder. When Talbot sees a scar on his left hand, begins to suspect that he is Pelletier. The next day, Michele visits Talbot at his office begging for forgiveness about almost giving him away at the trial and warning him about Sarrou. Talbot now suspects a plot between Sarrou and Michele but when she leaves, she shows David a locket with a picture of the two of them together. Michele later visits Talbot and his wife at home with the intent of showing Lucienne the locket. However, David intervenes and later visits Michele still stating he does not believe the accusations she and Sarrou are making. Michele suggests that he go to a certain address and see Pelletier's impoverished mother. David goes to the old woman, who says he is not her son, but her affectionate and unselfish demeanour makes Talbot begins to doubt himself again.

So is Talbot the former Jean Pelletier, former criminal and murderer? Or is Talbot the pawn in a dangerous game? Watch and see! It's a truly great film and quite different from Powell and Lamarr's next collaboration, The Heavenly Body (1944) which is also quite good.

Watch the film here!


Tonight on TCM! Oooh! This sounds interesting!
Good Sam (1948) A family man helps out people in need and ends up broke in the process.
Dir: Leo McCarey Cast: Gary Cooper, Ann Sheridan, Ray Collins.

The loves of William Powell...

 In 1915, he married Eileen Wilson, with whom he had his only child, William David Powell, before an amicable divorce in 1930.

Carole Lombard fell in love with Powell while they filmed Man of the World  in 1931. Sixteen years her senior, they married the same year and the union lasted a little over two years with them splitting amicably in 1933. Remaining on good terms allowed them to star together in the screwball comedy My Man Godfrey
in 1936. Powell was responsible for Lombard being signed for the film, insisting she was the only actress who could aptly handle the screwball heroine.

Powell had a close relationship with actress Jean Harlow beginning in 1935, even gifting her with a 150 carat sapphire. However, he had no interest in getting married again. Their relationship was cut short by Harlow's untimely death in 1937. Powell paid for her final resting place in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.

On January 6, 1940, Powell married actress Diana Lewis, whom he called "Mousie," three weeks after they met. They remained married, residing primarily in Palm Springs, California, until Powell's death.



Tonight on TCM!
ATale Of Two Cities (1958) Charles Dickens' classic tale of lookalikes in love with the same woman in the years after the French Revolution. Dir: Robert Mulligan Cast: Max Adrian, James Donald, Denholm Elliott.

William Powell for the Holidays!

It's a great pleasure for me to see the wonderful William Powell featured every Thursday on TCM! For those of you in the And..Scene know, Powell is one of my favorite actors, as evidenced here and here and here and here and here. Well you catch my drift.
My favorites of his films are the Thin Man series (can't seem to say that enough on this blog), Life with Father, and I Love You Again. Focusing on his career outside the Thin Man role, I appreciate the opportunity to see him in his few dramatic roles.

So, in accordance with TCM's schedule, I will be focusing on William Powell this month. What a pleasure!



Tonight on TCM!
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937) A chic jewel thief in England falls in love with one of her marks.
Dir: Richard Boleslawski Cast: Joan Crawford, William Powell, Robert Montgomery. Fantastic!


High Pressure (1932) A scheming promoter tries to get rich selling artificial rubber.
Dir: Mervyn LeRoy Cast: William Powell, Evelyn Brent, George Sidney. Can't wait to see!


My Man Godfrey (1936) My Man Godfrey (1936) A zany heiress tries to help a tramp by making him the family butler. Dir: Gregory La Cava Cast: William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady. Too funny!
 Double Harness (1933) After tricking a playboy into marriage, a woman sets out to win his love honestly.
Dir: John Cromwell Cast: Ann Harding, William Powell, Lucile Browne. Just plain good!

S&G: We did...but...then we didn't...

 Betsy Drake and Cary Grant 1949-1962

Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner 1951-1957

Burgess Meredith and Paulette Goddard 1944-1949

Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck 1939-1951
 

William Powell and Carole Lombard 1931-1933

Ginger Rogers and Lew Ayres 1934-1940

Regis Toomey with Joan Blondell and Dick Powell 1936-1944

Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. 1929-1933

 Lili Damita and Errol Flynn 1935-1942

Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh 1940-1960

Tonight on TCM!

More Merchant Ivory!

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Is Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas) a jerk? Sure! Has he done some pretty terrible things to his friends? Of course! Is he really just a bad person? Uh...hard to say.

Sure Jonathan sacrificed a talented and powerful friendship to get a step up in the production business and get his own studio. But what he did to Fred (Barry Sullivan) turned in Fred's favor- he became a successful director, sought out by all studios and given the freedom to choose what he would direct after years of sub par projects being thrown his way.

Sure Jonathan sacrificed the chance at true love with a devoted woman like Georgia (Lana Turner) who would have given up her entire career, one Jonathan helped build, just to be with him. Instead he turned her away and she became the famous actress she is now, making money for another studio having quit Jonathan's.

Sure Jonathan sacrificed a wonderful collaboration and friendship with author cum screenplay writer James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) by getting him to concentrate more on his screenplays than his wife, Rosemary (Gloria Grahame) who easily gives in to outside forces. James Lee finally got that second novel written with Jonathan's help.
So, when Jonathan Shield's studio is down and out, when he is in need of the three most important people whose lives have forever been changed by his actions, will his most faithful employee Harry Pebbel (Walter Pidgeon) be able to convince them to work with Jonathan again?

 Alternating between being a complete heel and vulnerable prankster, Douglas's Johnathan Shields is just as easy to hate as he is to love. Douglas reminds me much of James Cagney, having this ability to be wicked and fearsome, but also funny and endearing.
This movie packs a powerful punch and is definitely a must see. Lana Turner, Dick Powell and Gloria Grahame play wonderful supporting roles.

Tonight and well into Wednesday on TCM!
Kirk Douglas!!

Vintage Ads

 Bob goes all out for the holiday gifts.

 Ann Blyth is all for Lustre-Creme and looking like an alien.

 Burt goes Blatz!

 Allyson and Powell give themselves a break.

 Lucille Ball is a size queen.

Daniels for shoes no one wants to look at. Not the parrot, not Bebe, not the waiter, not even the dog.

Joan shills PBR. Respect.

Tonight on TCM!

I Know Where I'm Going (1945) A determined young Englishwoman sets out to accomplish her goals even at the risk of her heart. Dir: Michael Powell Cast: Wendy Hiller, Roger Livesey, George Carney.

Table Talk!

 Joan Blondell and husband Dick Powell

 Mickey Rooney give Busby Berkley an oral exam.

 Peter Lawford and Lana Turner.

 Laurel and Hardy break bread.

 Jean Harlow and William Powell.

 John Wayne, Keenan Wynn, and John Ford enjoy a long repast.

 Roy Rogers and Dale Evans will eat with anyone!

Warren William and wife Helen

Tonight on TCM! Charles Laughton's one and only directorial debut! Can't wait!

The Night of The Hunter (1955) Atmospheric allegory of innocence, evil, and hypocrisy, with psychotic religious fanatic Mitchum chasing homeless children for money stolen by their father.

The Thin Man Collection

Before this month is over I want to feature two stars and their best collaboration, The Thin Man series, who are basically the inspiration for this blog. Back in 2009 I wrote a blog about these two wonderful creatures who, despite being extremely talented both with and without one another in their films, never received an Oscar for any single performance they were in.

Nick you clever, sly one. You get 'em every time! Here one thinks they may be dealing with a a incompetent detective and frankly, a bit of a drunk, and then Wham! case solved and you're on your way back to the bar. I honestly thought you'd never quit solving crime and was sad to realize after Song of the Thin Man, you finally were.

Having watched these movies several times throughout my life, I have come to appreciate them even more. My love for Asta's tricks and Nick's and Nora's silly facial expressions evolved into a love for the quick, witty banter and the obvious on-screen chemistry of William Powell and Myrna Loy.

What's not to love?

The Thin Man (1934)

Reporter"Say listen, is he working on a case? "
Nora Charles
"Yes, he is. "
Reporter
"What case? "
Nora Charles
"A case of scotch. Pitch in and help him."

After the Thin Man (1936)

Nick Charles
"You see, when it comes to words like that, an illiterate person-- "
Polly Byrnes
"Whaddaya mean "illiterate"? My father and mother were married right here in the city hall!"

Another Thin Man (1939)

Nora Charles"I got rid of all those reporters. "
Nick Charles
"What did you tell them? "
Nora Charles
"We're out of scotch. "
Nick Charles
"What a gruesome idea."

The Thin Man Goes Home (1945)

Nick Charles

"A couple of weeks on this cider and I'll be a new man."

Nora Charles

"I sort of like the old one. "

Nick Charles

"Why, darling, that's the nicest thing you've said to me since the time I got my head caught in that cuspidor at the Waldorf."

Did you know?

The characters of Nick and Nora are often thought to reflect the personalities of Hammett and his long-time lover, Lillian Hellman.

Because the "Thin Man" title was used for the subsequent movies, it's often mistaken that the term refers to Nick Charles himself; in fact it refers to Clyde Wynant, the mysterious and eccentric patriarch around whom the plot of Dashiell Hammet's book revolves.

The first Thin Man was shot in 16 days.

Myrna Loy's Thin Man salary was reportedly half of the $3,000 a week earned by Powell and she felt that if the studio publicized the two as a team, they should pay them accordingly. Loy held out and L.B. Mayer finally relented -- a record event in the history of a man well known for his threats and tricks to get his own way.

Audiences had trouble separating fact from fiction when it came to Powell and Loy's relationship.

The public was determined to have them married in private life as well. When the two stars showed up in San Francisco (where most of After the Thin Man was shot) at the St. Francis, the hotel management proudly showed "Mr. and Mrs. Powell" to their deluxe suite. This was an especially uncomfortable moment as Jean Harlow, who was engaged to Powell, was with them, and the couple had not made a public statement about their relationship. Harlow saved the day by insisting on sharing the suite with Loy while Powell took another room elsewhere.


Why I love them!



William Powell and Myrna Loy, such a wonderful combination. He was never afraid to act a fool and she was never afraid to call him out on it. Such a wonderful couple with obvious on screen magic, they did thirteen films together and Myrna had a cameo in The Senator Was Indiscreet.

Manhattan Melodrama (1934)

The Thin Man (1934)

Evelyn Prentice (1934)

The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

Libeled Lady (1936)

After the Thin Man (1936)

Double Wedding (1937)

Another Thin Man (1939)

I Love You Again (1940)

Love Crazy (1941)

Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)

The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)

Song of the Thin Man (1947)

The Senator Was Indiscreet (1947)




Oscar trivia:

William Powell was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times, for The Thin Man, My Man Godfrey, and Life with Father.


Myrna Loy was never nominated for an Academy Award for any single performance, however, in 1991 she received an Honorary Award for “Career Achievement”.