Just saw "A Free Soul" for the first time

[path40a]

and I really liked it. I especially liked the first 45 minutes or so (don't blink, it sizzles, and the dialogue is GREAT), and then Lionel Barrymore's Oscar winning speech to the jury near the end.

 

Highlights (some minor spoilers) for me were:

 

1. Gable's affect on Shearer in the beginning, the first time she sees him

2. "If it doesn't fit, you can't convict" scene with the hat (60 some years before O.J.) made me laugh

3. The dialogue - I'll probably make a couple of additions to the greatest line thread

4. Shearer's "looseness" and words to Gable to the effect "don't talk, be a man of action" in her impatience to be "taken" by him

 

Besides the fact that I don't personally find Ms. Shearer very attractive, I also didn't think that Leslie Howard's line at the end "The secret of my success is 'never say die'" was earned or warranted. I mean, the guy just got saved from the gallows because of his own noble silence whence he had clearly given up.

 

Other than that, however, I very much enjoyed my first viewing of this pre-code film! It just goes to show you that a 2 1/2 star rating is misleading. Another good example of a 2 1/2 star film being very good is the 1934 version of Imitation of Life, which is sure to be in my Great Movie Alert post later this weekend.

[Guest]

Path, I'm so glad that you caught up with A Free Soul. Loved your quotes, and I particularly like the part where Barrymore, with a pronounced buzz on, shows up with Gable at his family gathering. I usually ignore those star ratings from my cable company's service and IMDb--I've found that they're usually chosen by people at the cable company who haven't seen the movie or others who tend to look at films from a contemporary viewpoint.

 

Did you or anyone else see Idiot's Delight(1939) or Strange Interlude (1932)last night? These two movies also underline my view that Norma Shearer, while a good dramatic actress in precodes, really didn't have much of a sense of humor. I enjoyed Gable's fast-talking song and dance man in the first movie, but found Shearer to be pretty stiff in "Idiot's...".

 

On the other hand, Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude, while I suppose it is an interesting failure as an experiment in stream-of-consciousness, seemed inadvertently laughable to me. Norma and Ralph Morgan seemed to me to be the only actors who really got into the dramatic scenery chewing. I figure poor ole Gable, at the start of his career just did what he was told and cashed the checks, wondering when this gravy train was going to derail for him. Am I missing something in Strange Interlude?

 

 

[nickdimeo]

One of my all-time favorite lines..."Come on put 'em around me."

[path40a]

I didn't see Strange Interlude, but just watched Idiot's Delight last night. I agree with you about Shearer. In fact, I almost quit watching half a dozen times last night out of boredom given her tireless grandstanding. Not since I last saw a silent film have I seen so much overacting, and her accented voice was especially grating.

 

I thought the two endings of the film that they showed were fascinating too.

[moviejoe79]

I wish I'd seen the airing of "Idiot's Delight" since I've never seen the alternate ending. I have an old VHS release of it which just has the movie and that's it.

 

And I understand what you guys are saying about Shearer, and I completely respect the opinions that you have of her, but, I do think she was pretty good as an actress - she made a damn good effort, and I also think she could be funny at times. She really hammed it up in "Idiot's Delight" - that's true, but she admitted that she was just doing a mock up on Garbo, but I think went a little too far. It's still an enjoyable movie though - I love the European mountain setting, and it has a great cast - of course Gable in a role that he fits pretty well, and great support from Edward Arnold, Laura Hope Crews, Charles Coburn, Virginia Grey, and a very good Burgess Meredith. And you guys should try watching Shearer in "Private Lives" with Robert Montgomery - she's very adept in that. In fact she and Montgomery practically do slapstick together - it's a little over the top, but at least she shows her humorous side.

 

And "Strange Interlude" is a little difficult to sit through, but I find it fascinating to just watch how they filmed it with us hearing their thoughts while the action is still going on. It is a little ridiculous though. And Gable is miscast, but at least he makes a good effort.

 

And I don't know what it is with me, but I've always liked Norma Shearer - granted she wasn't conventionally beautiful or a great actress, but she just had something about her - her smile, or the way she carried herself - I've just always found her attractive and have enjoyed watching her. She had "star quality" - whatever that is. (I think that's a line from a movie). And she did do a good job in "The Women" - perhaps her best role.

[brackenhe]

I became a Norma Shearer fan the first time I saw The Women. But her acting could be a little stiff. She never did seem quite comfortable in her own skin. But I guess if I was on the same lot as Crawford, Garbo, and Harlow I'd be a little insecure too. She was a decent actor and always had great leading men.

[encanto8591]

I like Norma. Great? Maybe not. But pretty good. Idiot's DelightI had seen a lifetime ago and I remember not "getting it". But I do now. And I love Gable in this. His dancing/singing to "Ritz" was fun to watch. I'm sure he probably hated having to learn how to dance. And really, Burgess Meredith needs to get more praise. He was downright wonderful in it. At least he goes down in history as Rocky's trainer. He was great in that role.

[feaito]

I agree with you MovieJoe, I don't know what happens to me with Norma Shearer, but since I was a kid, when I hadn't yet seen any film of her (only had read a lot 'bout her), I felt immensely intrigued, attracted to her "persona". Yeah she was no special beauty and no great actress, but she had that extra "something"....she was classy, she was smart, she worked hard at achieving the best she could.

 

The first film I saw her in was "Romeo and Juliet", and I thought it was a decent version, in spite of the fact that she and Leslie Howard were way too old (especially Howard) for the leading roles. The production values and the supporting cast are great.

 

It is true that sometimes she overacts but her charisma is undeniable.

 

I agree that her role in "The Women" must be one of her best. I also liked her in "Marie Antoinette", especially when she was "older". Another very worthwhile movie is the delightfully pre-code "Riptide", opposite Herbert Marshall and Robert Montgomery, although somewhat episodic is grand fun.

 

"A Free Soul" and "The Divorcee" are also good, and I'd love to watch her in the 1932 "Smilin' Through" which along with "Imitation of Life", "Magnificent Obsession" and "The Bitter Tea of General Yen", where THE movies my grandma always kept mentioning over & over as her faves.

 

I have taped from TCM "The Barretts of Wimpole Street", "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney", "Strangers May Kiss", "Private Lives" and "Strange Interlude", which I will try to watch as soon as possible.

 

I would like to watch Norma"Idiot's Delight" and "Escape" too.

 

If I had to define Norma Shearer, I'd have to say she was the epitome of the sophisticated and classy Movie Star.

[moviejoe79]

Feaito - I couldn't have said it better - Norma was definitely the "Epitome of the sophisticated and classy movie star"

 

I feel the same way you do - there's just something about her - it's magical - I don't know - just SOMETHING!

 

And plus I've read Gavin Lambert's EXCELLENT biography of her, titled "Norma Shearer" - and it really provides some valuable insight into her life. He gives a very detailed account of her early life, and also writes of her life in seclusion after she left the Hollywood spotlight. He even writes of his own meetings with her, and gives his own personal impression of her. So I have to say, after reading this great book about her life, it definitely gave me a better understanding and a perspective on her. It made me an even BIGGER fan.

 

Feaito have you ever read it? There's also another biography of her written by Quirk? - Can't remember his name offhand, but it's not nearly as good as Lambert's.

[feaito]

Wow Moviejoe,

 

Every time I read a post of yours, it's like you were taking words out of my mouth!...Norma has certain magic, indeed! At least, for us.

 

And, yes, since I was a teenager I had been looking deperately for any book on Norma, and of course Lambert's biography "Norma Shearer: A Life" was on the top of my list. Some 5 years ago, or so, I found it second hand and bought it...and I liked it very much.

 

In fact I've been trying to buy too Lawrence J. Quirk's "Norma: The Story of Norma Shearer" too (although 2nd hand copies are way too expensive), which has excellent reviews, some people say it's better than Lambert's; so you have read both and think Lambert's book is better? Well, that makes me happy, 'cos then, I won't feel so desperate about having it.

 

I also had the luck of finding the largely out-of-print Citadel Press "The Films of Norma Shearer".

 

One of the reasons I bought Mick LaSalle's "Complicated Women", was because her portrait was on the cover, and she was widely discussed there.

 

have you seen Riptide? Try to catch it on TCM, you won't regret it.

[moviejoe79]

Yes Feaito, I've seen "Riptide" and loved it. I was smart enough to tape it the last time TCM aired it, and good thing - because even second hand VHS releases of this film cost A LOT - it's excellent though - the whole story and the whole look of the film is complete 30's art deco - and Norma never looked more beautiful in her Adrian designed clothes. Considering she didn't have the greatest figure, Adrian always made her look extremely sexy, especially in that nightgown she wears in the film, a photo of her in it is even used on the cover of Lambert's book.

 

As for Quirk's bio I just didn't like it as much. I've only read it once a few years ago, but I just didn't find it as informative - it's also shorter than Lambert's book, which right away tells you that Lambert did more research. But I should read it again - luckily it's in my local library.

 

I would love to see some of Norma's silents - I've only seen "He Who Gets Slapped" which is great, but I would love to see more. She made a TON of silents, and I think TCM has played one or two in the six years or so that I've had them, meanwhile they have the rights to all of them. I hope they do a "day" of her films at some point.

[feaito]

Yes, Norma looks fabulous in "Riptide", as well as in the stills of that picture. They say she always knew what her best angles were, the best light to be filmed/photographed, etc. I think that maybe there and in "Strangers May Kiss" & "The Divorcee", she looked greater than in any other picture...well in "A Free Soul" too.

 

BTW I bought "Riptide" some 4 years ago, and boy! it is one of the most expensive VHS I have ever bought...it cost me 26.99 plus shipping and handling...I don't know why it's so expensive.

 

Did you see "Marie Antoinette", she looked gorgeous in those ravishing XVIIIth Century gowns Adrian designed for the film.

 

I haven't seen any of Norma's Silents, I taped "He Who Get Slapped", so I'll watch it someday. I'd like to see her in "The Devil's Circus", "Tower of Lies", "The Student Prince" and in "After Midnight".

 

 

[moviejoe79]

I've seen "Marie Antoinette" a few times. I enjoyed it, and she did look amazing in those incredible costumes, but this is one film where I felt she went a little over the top. She over-acted a bit, and it shows. But it's still a great film. I think she would've done better with it if she still had her husband Irving Thalberg's guidance throughout the making of it. But, unfortunately he passed away before she started filming it.

 

During the times I've watched it, I've wondered what it would've been like in Technicolor. Could you imagine? Those incredible sets and costumes in color! I don't know why MGM spent TONS of money on the making of it, and then didn't film it in color. They even bought real antiques to use on the sets - and yet no Technicolor. It would've been great to see Norma in Technicolor. She would've been radiant in it - especially with that smile of hers.

[feaito]

I think that MGM had spent too much money already in "Marie Antoinette": the sets, costumes, all the antiques and furniture they bought, etc., to film it in colour, but I read somewhere that originally it was intended to be a Technicolor Movie, Not 100% sure.

 

Also, the original choice for director was Sidney Franklin, but instead MGM put W.S. "One Take" Van Dyke to get the picture on time and on budget.

 

I think that in this film Norma was better in its second half.

[bhryun]

I just saw "Marie Antoinette" for the first time last week (rented it). It's a great film! I had seen Norma Shearer in The Women (and liked her performance), and I realized I had never seen any other of her films. So I am slowly starting to watch them. She was a good actress and I agree that she represented class and sophistication.

 

Jon

[bhryun]

Shearer is more fun in her pre-Codes than in the "great lady" of the screen phase. However I agree that she is good in MARIE ANTOINETTE, far more so in the latter portions. I find the first few scenes when she's supposed to be a teenager to be painfully overacted and precious. Much better when she's trying to save her kids from the chopping block.

[moviejoe79]

I tend to agree, decotoddla, Shearer went way over top in the beginning of "Marie Antoinette" - it's the only time I can say she's almost unwatchable, since she's just so girlish and reeling, it's ridiculous. She did do a great job in that movie though, once she really got into the character of Marie, and started living it up as the Queen. And when I first saw it I was surprised at how bad she looked by the end of the film. It proves that she cared about being a great actress, since she consented to look so bad in a film for the sake of the character.

 

And imperial1977 - I'm so glad you're discovering the great Norma Shearer! She's one of my all time favorites, and you'll love watching her films. A few to look for are "Idiot's Delight" where she hams it up as a Garbo wannabe, also "The Divorcee" - her Oscar winning film as a woman of the world. She's also great in "Smilin' Through" with Fredric March, and "Let Us Be Gay" with Marie Dressler. Unfortunately I haven't seen many of her silent films, of which she made many, but most of her sound films are great, with the exception of her last film "Her Cardboard Lover" with Robert Taylor, which is really bad. It's one of the reasons why she retired.

[feaito]

...and I have to say sincerely, that IMHO, it's one of her best all-round performances, she's just perfect as Elizabeth Barrett-Browning...and to think William Randolph Hearst wanted Marion Davies as the poetess!

 

Shearer conveys the ethereal qualities of the famedpoetess at close-perfection; her scenes are most believable and she shines like a queen in this photoplay. Charles Laughton as her tortured father is the other pillar of the film...he's sadistic, mean, jealous, egotistical, great...his persona was so perfectly suited for these type of roles, I liked him very much too as Javert in "Les Miserables" and as Captain Bligh in "Mutiny on the Bounty", roles that have reminiscences of Mr. Barrett. Fredric March is good too as Robert Browning and Maureen O'Sullivan great as Henrietta, Elizabeth Barrett's younger sister. Kudos too for the marvelous Una O'Connor as Shearer's maid "Wilson", she's on of the most funny & charming character actresses of all time.

[moviejoe79]

feaito I have to completely agree with you regarding "Barretts." It's definitely one of Shearer's best performances, and I even forgot to mention it in my previous post in this thread!

 

I haven't seen it in years, but like you, I was enthralled by both Shearer and Charles Laughton in this movie. I would say it's one of the best movies ever made about a Historical figure, and one that's sadly overlooked. I couldn't imagine Marion Davies doing the part - she would've been like a little girl play acting. What a shame that Hearst didn't see Davies' talents as a comedienne, and always insisted upon her being cast in these costume dramas. Shearer however is so perfectly suited to the role, and is both heartwarming and sad in her portrayal. She plays it perfectly. This is a great movie to show someone who says that Shearer wasn't a great actress, and only a star because of husband Irving Thalberg. I know that most of us here respect her talent, but I've read about and heard more than one person state that she wasn't a great actress. She definitely was, and this movie proves it.

[feaito]

Yes MovieJoe, as always we do agree! And yes Davies was a wonderful and gifted comedienne, too bad Hearst envisioned her only playing historical figures like "Marie Antoinette" (he also wanted her for that role, over Shearer!!) or "Elizabeth Barrett". I have to say, that as a child I also liked Jennifer Jones in the 1957 version, and John Gielgud's Mr.Barrett had a more restrained quality than Laughton's more "openly evil" Moulton Barrett, incredible that he was almost Norma's same age and played her father convincingly.

 

Realizing about the two movies' connections (both versions of "Barretts...") both of them were directed by Sidney Franklin, one of Shearer's favorite directors, in fact I've read that the 1957 film was almost a scene by scene remake of the Shearer vehicle. Both stars Shearer and Jones were married to the films' producers, Thalberg and Selznick, respectively, and both were criticized in her careers for not being good actresses, in the opinion of some critics.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read somewhere that Thalberg had one of Katharine Cornell's performances (on Broadway?) of the stage play upon which was based the movie, filmed, in order that Shearer could sort of "base" her performance on hers...if true, Shearer for sure did her homework!