MovieChat Forums > The Guardsman (1931) Discussion > More reviews then topics

More reviews then topics

posted 16 years ago by rstory-3
4 replies | jump to latest

I see a lot of people, besides myself, have enjoyed this film. I am from Wisconsin, never have visited their home. It is now a museum. I certaintly have driven near since I have been to Genesee several times. I only have seen "The Guardsman" once thanks to Public Broadcasting. Even though it has been many years I still can bring up images of the dashing Russian Cossack and the lovely actress he seduces. They had great style and made watching this simple story enchanting.

If their are others who have had the good fortune to discover this film, please add your comments here and share.

Waffles Anyone
rstory-3
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731

[–] bradford-1 14 years ago

I've had a VHS of THE GUARDSMAN for many years. I find it quite entertaining and love the Lunt-Fontanne chemistry. My grandmother told me that she saw them on Broadway in TAMING OF THE SHREW. I wonder why they only made one feature film together? Unfortunately, their stage performances are lost in the ozone. And their stage hits were performed by others on screen (ELIZABETH THE QUEEN, PRIVATE LIVES, IDIOTS DELIGHT) or not at all.

[–] HarlowMGM 14 years ago

They only made one movie because they refused to sign a longterm contract without script approval. Nobody had that back in the 30's and I'm sure the studios felt if they gave that to the Lunts they would have every major star would demand it in their negotiations for movie contracts. Contrary to myth, the Lunts enjoyed their movie experience and were willing to make more films. Lynn's famous comment at the time was "We can be bought but we can't be bored."

[–] judith-mcgee1025 13 years ago

I am from the Chicago metro area and a visit to the Lunt-Fontanne home in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area is definitely on my list. You may wish to sign up for their e-mails to keep up with their scheduling.

I am old enough to remember them on TV but was not old enough to appreciate what I was seeing and the era they represented. A very late subscriber to cable TV, I am finally seeing "The Guardsman". It's a welcome recording of high style comedy; one wishes that Irving Thalberg had cast Gertrude Lawrence and Noel Coward in "Private Lives" instead of Norma Shearer and Robert Montgomery. Perhaps "The Guardsman" didn't do well at the box office and that's how we got Norma and Robert instead of Gertie and Noel.

[–] HarlowMGM 13 years ago

I know besides the Lunts Irving Thalberg tried to get Katherine Cornell to become an MGM contract star but she refused to act in films (of course, he was successful in getting Helen Hayes to act in films for a few years). I've never heard anything about him being interested in signing either Gertrude Lawrence or Noel Coward, perhaps he felt they were too British to be big movie stars with the American film audience.