A United Artists Retrospective Scrapbook: 1931

[CinemaInternational]

1931 began with John Boles in love in One Heavenly Night.

City Light followed, a cinematic masterpiece in every regard.

Mary returned in the comedy Kiki, but her career was nearing its end.

The Front Page was a big hit and a Best Picture nominee, and yet although it had its moments, I prefer the remake His Girl Friday.

Gloria Swanson proved to be Indiscreet

Street Scene was absolutely shattering, a tale of boiling tensions during a heatwave that ultimately lead to violence.

Eddie Cantor was back again in Palmy Days.

The Age for Love has since passed. it's lost.

Ronald Colman & Fay Wray appeared in the drama The Unholy Garden

Chester Morris faced off against the bootleggers....

DW Griffith then made his final film.

Douglas Fairbanks meanwhile turned to a documentary.

For Gloria Swanson and Melvyn Douglas, it was Tonight or Never.

Ronald Colman, Helen Hayes, and Myrna Loy closed 1931 with the stirring Arrowsmith.

[LawrenceA]

1. City Lights
2. The Front Page
3. Arrowsmith
4. Street Scene
5. The Unholy Garden
6. Tonight or Never
7. Indiscreet

A good year, with the top two solid classics.

[TopBilled]

THE FRONT PAGE was remade, with that title again, in 1974 by Billy Wilder. The original was based on the wildly successful Broadway play that had put Pat O'Brien on the map.

KIKI is Mary Pickford's penultimate film as an actress. But it was not near the end of her Hollywood career, since she would continue to produce and play an active role behind the scenes at United Artists for many more years.

ARROWSMITH is well-acted. So is STREET SCENE, which is probably my favorite from this group.

Griffith did not successfully transition when talkies came in...his style suddenly seemed old-fashioned.