DVD/150: SADIE McKEE (Clarence Brown, 1934)

MGM knew what Joan Crawford's fans wanted and SADIE McKEE is the quintessential 1930s Crawford vehicle.

Her persona changed from the silent era's Bright Young Thing to Depression Heroine, a working-class girl who achieves the man of her dreams and glamorous Adrian-designed gowns.

Sadie McKee is the daughter of a cook for a wealthy family, growing up with the family's son Michael  She overhears him denouncing her boyfriend Tommy who has been fired suspected of theft and, after denouncing him and his guests, Sadie impulsively elopes with Tommy to Manhattan.

Through cabaret performer Opal they find a room but the next day Sadie is left alone when Tommy takes a last-minute singing job touring with their sexy neighbour Dolly.

Sadie becomes a dancer where Opal works, and there meets the affectionate but alcholic millionaire Jack Brennan and his lawyer... Michael.

To spite Michael, Sadie unhappily marries Brennan...

Shelf or charity shop?  SADIE McKEE is a keeper.  Directed by one of her favourites Clarence Brown, Joan acts with a steely determination as if, despite the plot contrivences, you WILL believe the storyline.  Needless to say, Adrian's costumes are glorious. Crawford's then-lover Franchot Tone knows his place and Edward Arnold makes the most of the sozzled Brennan. The supporting cast is peppered with cracking performances: Jean Dixon as big-hearted but cynical Opal, Esther Ralston as the singer Dolly, Leo G Carroll as Brennan's disapproving butler, Zelda Sears as the salty boarding-house owner, Akim Tamiroff as the excitable cabaret manager and Candy Candido as a manic double-bass player!  It was a delight to spot - in one scene with no dialogue but plenty of sour facial expressions - Ethel Griffies, best remembered as the sceptical ornithologist in Hitchcock's THE BIRDS.  Sadly Gene Raymond's performance as Tommy hasn't dated well, acting with the eye-wobbling woodeness of a ventriloquist dummy.  Oh and if you like are the song ALL I DO IS DREAM OF YOU this is the film it was composed for and it is repeated endlessly!

DVD/150: WATERLOO BRIDGE (Mervyn LeRoy, 1940)

1939: Colonel Roy Cronin stands on Waterloo Bridge, remembering his lost love Myra... 

In her first film after GONE WITH THE WIND, Vivien Leigh was unhappy acting opposite Robert Taylor having wanted Olivier instead.  But his lightweight performance allows her to shine and they both later said it was their favourite film.

Roy and ballerina Myra meet sheltering from a WWI air-raid and he later sees her dance.  Despite the ballet mistress' orders, they meet after the performance and fall instantly in love.

Roy is ordered back to France before they can marry and a desolate Myra is sacked by the ballet mistress along with her friend Kitty for defending her.

Myra reads that Roy has been killed and, unemployed and depressed, joins Kitty in prostitution.

While working Waterloo Station, Myra meets Roy - still alive and still in love...

But, tragically, Myra is too honest to forget her shame...

Shelf or charity shop?  A definite shelf for my luminous Vivien.  Although not a success on Broadway, Robert E Sherwood's play was filmed in 1931 starring Mae Clarke and also a ropey remake in 1956 with Leslie Caron.  LeRoy's film is perfect Hollywood melodrama with marvellous photography and music and a fairly good representation of London.  Robert Taylor doesn't attempt the Scottish accent his character should have but he is inoffensive and leaves the way clear for Vivien's wonderful performance, it is amazing to think she was only 27.  There is fine support from Virginia Field as the ever-realistic Kitty, Maria Ouspenskaya as Madame Olga, Lucille Watson as Taylor's upper-class mother and, in one scene and a thimble-full of lines, Ethel Griffies is glorious as a harridan landlady - Griffies is now remembered as the sceptical ornithologist Mrs Bundy in Hitchcock's THE BIRDS.