slaytonf Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I'm happy to see Constance Bennett get her time in the arclight. She was best known for playing high society sophisticates with a breezy pose of jaded detachment, but with a real appetite for fun and spontaneity. There were others who traded in a similar line, like Madge Evans and Claire Dodd, but she was unchallenged for the reigning position. She's one of my favorite actresses, yet I will be the first to wonder aloud if she really merits the distinction. I know she was popular, and some of her movies are among my most favorite--to watch, but comparing her work with, say, Olivia de Havilland, or Jean Arthur, leaves her coming up a little short. However, though her acting range was limited, what she was good at, she was very good at, and I won't make too big a deal about her filmography. I'll just sit back on her days and enjoy the evening. Among my favorites of her films are What Price Hollywood?, the precursor to A Star is Born, and though inconsistent, is in parts, the equal of the latter film. Look also for an appearance by Lowell Sherman as the self-destructive director, who acts as her Svengali. Another one I like is After Office Hours, a film that starts off as a society scandal romp and strangely morphs into a murder mystery. Just pay attention to Ms. Bennett in that one. She runs rings around Clark Gable, who tries to make a big show, but comes off looking like a floppy puppy dog. Hey, it was early in his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brackenhe Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 The best thing about Bennett's stint as SOTM are all the precodes. While her star faded after the thirties, she still has a few good films made after that. It should be a fun month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VP19 Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 > Another one I like is After Office Hours, a film that starts off as a society scandal romp and strangely morphs into a murder mystery. Just pay attention to Ms. Bennett in that one. She runs rings around Clark Gable, who tries to make a big show, but comes off looking like a floppy puppy dog. Hey, it was early in his career. Not that early; Gable had delivered his Oscar-winning performance in "It Happened One Night" the year before. I sense Clark viewed it as sort of a programmer (other films he made in 1935 were heftier fare, such as "Call Of The Wild," "China Seas," "Mutiny On The Bounty" and "Wife Vs. Secretary"). Clark had worked with Bennett before in "The Easiest Way," though their scenes together were few (most of his were with Anita Page, IIRC). While I like her work, some actors considered Connie a bit flighty and difficult to work with. One was WIlliam Powell, who dissuaded Universal to cast her in the role of Irene Bullock in "My Man Godfrey" and hire his ex-wife, Carole Lombard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AddisonDeWitless Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 So she's the SOTM this month? (November 2012)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbeckuaf Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I am SO looking forward to the gorgeously sexy Constance Bennett as SOTM!!! I love her style! and I'm sure we'll get lots of early 30's flix as that was her heyday! Woohoo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 From what I've read she was quite "difficult" to work with, which contributed to her slide downward later... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Was there ever a problem between the Bennett sisters as Joan's star ascended and Connie's descended? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I dont remember reading any. I dont think they were very close... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 >So she's the SOTM this month? (November 2012)? Yes. I am going to post the schedule of her films airing on TCM this month...check back for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 *_November 6th_* *LADY WITH A PAST* (1932)..RKO....Constance Bennett, Ben Lyon & David Manners A good girl raises her popularity when she pretends to be bad. *SIN TAKES A HOLIDAY* (1930)..Path Exchange..Constance Bennett, Kenneth MacKenna & Basil Rathbone A stenographer tries to save her boss from his divorcee girlfriend. *THE EASIEST WAY* (1931)..MGM..Constance Bennett, Adolphe Menjou & Robert Montgomery A slum girl discovers the joys of life as a kept woman until she falls in love. *THE COMMON LAW* (1931)..RKO..Constance Bennett, Joel McCrea & Lew Cody A kept woman gives up luxury to move in with a struggling artist. *SON OF THE GODS* (1930)..First National..Richard Barthelmess, Constance Bennett & Dorothy Mathews A young man questions his Chinese ancestry when he falls in love. *BORN TO LOVE* (1931)..RKO..Constance Bennett, Joel McCrea & Paul Cavanagh A World War I pilot thought dead turns up after the mother of his child has married. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gagman66 Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 None of her Silents are being shown. It would have been nice to see *MY SON, SALLY, IRENE, AND MARY,* or *THE GOOSE WOMAN*. Constance impression of Garbo at the opening of *WHAT PRICE HOLLYWOOD* is simply hilarious! *Constance in MY SON (1925)* *CODE OF THE WEST (1924)* *With Joan Crawford, and Sally O' Neil-SALLY, IRENE, AND MARY (1925)* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I dont think they are showing her last film, Madame X (the Lana Turner version) either. She died before it was released. Not a great movie, but she has a good part in it (and looks younger than Turner while playing her mother-in-law!) It pops up on TCM from time to time..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezebelle Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Just read the TCM biography on Constance Bennett and I'm excited to see her films. I've never heard of her before but I'm always eager to learn about the stars of the Golden age, and her movies sound very entertaining; especially her pre-code ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbeckuaf Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I'm totally grooving to that lineup, Top Billed!!! And thank you for the hotcha photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 >I'm totally grooving to that lineup, Top Billed!!! And thank you for the hotcha photos! She's cute, isn't she? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I agree that TCM should've included at least one of her silents. Mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 They've shown Sally, Irene and Mary before. Must be a money issue....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 The title that Fox film fans probably wish had been selected is CENTENNIAL SUMMER. That is a 'lost classic.' Bootleg copies of it exist on the internet, so I am guessing it did air on the old AMC.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Fox has no copies of it???????????? I've never seen that one...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaytonf Posted November 2, 2012 Author Share Posted November 2, 2012 Wow! Constance Bennett had a silent career! I never even suspected it. Now I have a hankering to see 'em. Perhaps this omission can be addressed on her birthday. TCM has almost a year to arrange it--October 22. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 I keep checking the Fox Cinema Archives titles to see if CENTENNIAL SUMMER has been offered, because that is where I would expect to find it but nothing yet. The fact that the studio just released SWANEE RIVER, another rare Technicolor musical, is encouraging and causes me to hope that CENTENNIAL SUMMER will eventually make it on to the home video market. I am standing next to a wishing well and tossing a coin in as I write this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1968B2 Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Let's call 5pm Tuesdays in November Cocktail Hour, how's 'bout it? If I had bias satin, I'd wear it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaytonf Posted November 2, 2012 Author Share Posted November 2, 2012 Of course, the best movie to watch while cocktailing is The Easiest Way, with both Miss Bennett and Robert Montgomery, the two quintessential society alchie types. Except that in this movie, he plays a sobered-up type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gagman66 Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 > {quote:title=slaytonf wrote:}{quote}Wow! Constance Bennett had a silent career! I never even suspected it. Now I have a hankering to see 'em. Perhaps this omission can be addressed on her birthday. TCM has almost a year to arrange it--October 22. UCLA Restored *THE GOOSE WOMAN (1925)* in 2008, Reinstating all the original authentic period tints. This is one of Kevin Brownlow's favorite Silent films. Constance gets 3rd billing behind Louise Dresser, and Jack Pickford. However, since Louise plays Jack's Mother, Constance is his leading lady here. Maybe TCM can eventually get a broadcast transfer of this film from Universal it is one of their biggest suviving Silents which they still hold the rights to. directed by Clarence Brown. Constnce got allot of attention from critics and the press in *THE GOOSE HANGS HIGH* also 1925, and no relation to *THE GOOSE WOMAN.* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaytonf Posted November 2, 2012 Author Share Posted November 2, 2012 Constance Bennett and Clarence Brown! Can it get any better? Thanks, gagman66, for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts