Post by topbilled on Feb 14, 2023 15:45:42 GMT
2/14 — Production Code & RKO
SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE (1935)
THE BRIDE WALKS OUT (1936)
LOVE ON A BET (1936)
CROSS-COUNTRY ROMANCE (1940)
***
SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE (1935)
By 1935, Gene Raymond had signed an exclusive contract at RKO. His first assignment under this deal was a remake of this classic mystery-comedy, which the studio first made as an early talkie in 1929 with Richard Dix. Some of the same sets were reused, and incidentally, these sets would be recycled a third time when RKO remade SEVEN KEYS yet again in 1947 with a more postwar noir vibe. Raymond is having a grand time with his performance and many critics cite this second RKO offering as the best of the bunch. He's helped by some good character actors, namely Walter Brennan, Emma Dunn, Grant Mitchell and Henry Travers who nearly steals the show. Dialogue is delightful, atmosphere is wonderful, and the end result is a vastly entertaining motion picture.
THE BRIDE WALKS OUT (1936)
I watched this one over Christmas, and I can see why it's not better known. This time around, RKO paired Gene Raymond with Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Young, borrowed from MGM. It's a romantic comedy-drama that goes a little too heavy on the drama in spots and works best during its lighter moments about a potentially mismatched couple navigating the first year of their marriage. The wedding license sequence is a lot of fun. Young's character is a wacky rich guy who has nothing better to do but get involved in their problems, while falling for Stanwyck himself. I thought the end was rather rushed, and I think with a script rewrite this could have been a true classic. But our stars all do a splendid job, and it's worth watching for their excellent performances.
LOVE ON A BET (1936)
I have not seen this one yet...and it's on my to-watch list this coming weekend. Gene Raymond is paired with Wendy Barrie who would later make her mark in several of The Saint and Falcon films with George Sanders.
CROSS-COUNTRY ROMANCE (1940)
Okay I have to admit that this one is a favorite. Gene Raymond is paired up again with Wendy Barrie. It's a classic road movie that features Miss Barrie as an heiress who leaves her bridegroom at the altar, and stows away in Mr. Raymond's camper/RV. He pulls her across country, at first not aware she's tagged along. They have their little meet-cute moment, he plans to drop her off in the next town, but complications arise and they end up staying on the road together and falling in love (of course!). Hedda Hopper plays the frazzled society mother who fears her daughter has been kidnapped, then horror of all horrors, realizes her daughter actually has fallen in love with a man beneath their station. Alan Ladd has a small part in the final sequence, when the couple has married and is going to give 'forever' a go.
SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE (1935)
THE BRIDE WALKS OUT (1936)
LOVE ON A BET (1936)
CROSS-COUNTRY ROMANCE (1940)
***
SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE (1935)
By 1935, Gene Raymond had signed an exclusive contract at RKO. His first assignment under this deal was a remake of this classic mystery-comedy, which the studio first made as an early talkie in 1929 with Richard Dix. Some of the same sets were reused, and incidentally, these sets would be recycled a third time when RKO remade SEVEN KEYS yet again in 1947 with a more postwar noir vibe. Raymond is having a grand time with his performance and many critics cite this second RKO offering as the best of the bunch. He's helped by some good character actors, namely Walter Brennan, Emma Dunn, Grant Mitchell and Henry Travers who nearly steals the show. Dialogue is delightful, atmosphere is wonderful, and the end result is a vastly entertaining motion picture.
THE BRIDE WALKS OUT (1936)
I watched this one over Christmas, and I can see why it's not better known. This time around, RKO paired Gene Raymond with Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Young, borrowed from MGM. It's a romantic comedy-drama that goes a little too heavy on the drama in spots and works best during its lighter moments about a potentially mismatched couple navigating the first year of their marriage. The wedding license sequence is a lot of fun. Young's character is a wacky rich guy who has nothing better to do but get involved in their problems, while falling for Stanwyck himself. I thought the end was rather rushed, and I think with a script rewrite this could have been a true classic. But our stars all do a splendid job, and it's worth watching for their excellent performances.
LOVE ON A BET (1936)
I have not seen this one yet...and it's on my to-watch list this coming weekend. Gene Raymond is paired with Wendy Barrie who would later make her mark in several of The Saint and Falcon films with George Sanders.
CROSS-COUNTRY ROMANCE (1940)
Okay I have to admit that this one is a favorite. Gene Raymond is paired up again with Wendy Barrie. It's a classic road movie that features Miss Barrie as an heiress who leaves her bridegroom at the altar, and stows away in Mr. Raymond's camper/RV. He pulls her across country, at first not aware she's tagged along. They have their little meet-cute moment, he plans to drop her off in the next town, but complications arise and they end up staying on the road together and falling in love (of course!). Hedda Hopper plays the frazzled society mother who fears her daughter has been kidnapped, then horror of all horrors, realizes her daughter actually has fallen in love with a man beneath their station. Alan Ladd has a small part in the final sequence, when the couple has married and is going to give 'forever' a go.
