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Post by topbilled on May 3, 2023 14:20:12 GMT
Two lives from movingpicturegal on the IMDbKay Francis acts up a storm, she's great in this, and looks dazzling in loads of gorgeous gowns and jewels. This film really features two separate halves, two separate lives for our main character. The first half where she is the mom and family woman living the good life - the second half where she goes to prison then becomes a gambler's sidekick. Soon she is rooking suckers, by an odd coincidence, in the same house on 56th Street where she once lived, now turned into a "speakeasy."
History has a way of repeating itself from wireshock on the IMDb
Kay Francis is extraordinary in this fatalistic tale--the surprises this plot has in store for her character are heart-wrenching: stoically, heroically, she survives them all.
For audiences suffering through the depression, such hardened-heart determination must have proved inspiring. Things start out well for Francis' character, but everything she loves is taken from her, even her dignity, and there are great scenes here of her adjusting to the "modern" world she reenters after serving 20 years in prison for a murder she did not commit.
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Post by Fading Fast on May 3, 2023 15:55:59 GMT
Haven't seen it, but it looks like a fun one.
I love the cast.
Kay Francis - talented, atypical leading lady of the '30s
Gene Raymond - an interesting actor who deserves more attention today than he gets
John Halliday - ditto comments on Raymond
Margaret Lindsay - narrow range, but fine in her acting sandbox, plus she's a beautify girl with porcelain skin, a lovely lilting voice and wild hair
Frank McHugh - one of Warners all-time-great character actors
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Post by Andrea Doria on May 3, 2023 18:27:33 GMT
This sounds really good. I'm looking forward to seeing Margaret Lindsay again, I liked her so much when we watched, "Dangerous," and she vied with Bette Davis for Franchot Tone.
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Post by Fading Fast on May 3, 2023 18:58:31 GMT
This sounds really good. I'm looking forward to seeing Margaret Lindsay again, I liked her so much when we watched, "Dangerous," and she vied with Bette Davis for Franchot Tone. I agree, she's really good in that one. She's also going to pop up in one of your movies next month, "B.F.'s Daughter."
I just love her voice and the way she so perfectly pronounces her words and always with a charming lilt to it.
If you ever can, check out "The Law in Her Own Hands." It's one of Lindsay's better roles (comments here: "Law in Her Own Hands"). Also, she does a good job in a supporting role in the Davis tour de force "Jezebel."
P.S., Did you get a chance to watch "Odds Against Tomorrow?" I'm excited to hear your thoughts when you do.
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Post by jamesjazzguitar on May 3, 2023 19:29:36 GMT
This sounds really good. I'm looking forward to seeing Margaret Lindsay again, I liked her so much when we watched, "Dangerous," and she vied with Bette Davis for Franchot Tone. I agree, she's really good in that one. She's also going to pop up in one of your movies next month, "B.F.'s Daughter."
I just love her voice and the way she so perfectly pronounces her words and always with a charming lilt to it.
If you ever can, check out "The Law in Her Own Hands." It's one of Lindsay's better roles (comments here: "Law in Her Own Hands"). Also, she does a good job in a supporting role in the Davis tour de force "Jezebel."
Yes, Lindsay had a great film voice and diction. She was under contact with Warners for 7 years and was featured in films with all of their major male and female stars but as a secondary leading actress. I wish TCM would feature the Ellery Queen serial that featured Ralph Bellamy and Lindsay. They did 7 films together, but these are Columbia films and like the other fine 40s Columbia crime serials, Lone Wolf, Crime Doctor, Boston Black-i-e), TCM doesn't feature these. GET-TV did feature all 3 but never the Ellery Queen one.
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Post by topbilled on May 5, 2023 16:29:45 GMT
It's interesting to learn how many people have never seen THE HOUSE ON 56TH STREET before. It is my sincere hope that everyone who watches it with us on Sunday afternoon finds it a worthwhile experience.
Here's the link:
ok.ru/video/896655034882
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Post by topbilled on May 6, 2023 8:14:35 GMT
Even when she's holding a gun in her hand, Kay Francis still manages to look her best in a new hat.
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Post by Fading Fast on May 6, 2023 12:29:09 GMT
The woman knows how to pull-off a hat look. While the fashion Kay's wearing looks and is very old to us - it's a hundred-plus-years ago - at the time the movie was released, it was about thirty-years old.
So it is like a movie today being set in the 1990s. Many in the audience, back then, had a nostalgic feel for what Kay was wearing. It's funny to think of it that way. Plus, while different in style, women's hats were still a big thing in the 1930s.
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Post by topbilled on May 7, 2023 14:32:28 GMT
Please be sure to join us later today for our live discussion of the Warner Brothers precode THE HOUSE ON 56TH STREET.
ok.ru/video/721303177884
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Post by Fading Fast on May 7, 2023 18:57:28 GMT
Everybody ready to see more of Kay Francis?
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Post by topbilled on May 7, 2023 18:58:48 GMT
Originally the lead role in this film was intended for Ruth Chatterton. Kay Francis was a replacement.
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Post by Fading Fast on May 7, 2023 18:59:49 GMT
Originally the lead role in this film was intended for Ruth Chatterton. Kay Francis was a replacement. That's interesting. Especially since Ruth has kind of been one of "our" stars for these Sundays.
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Post by topbilled on May 7, 2023 19:00:22 GMT
Ricardo Cortez is second billed, but he doesn't appear until the second half...
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Post by Andrea Doria on May 7, 2023 19:00:53 GMT
Getting situated in my aisle seat!
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Post by Fading Fast on May 7, 2023 19:03:04 GMT
It's amazing Frank McHugh didn't drop dead of exhaustion as I think Warners Bros. put him in fifty movies a year.
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