MovieChat Forums > Strange Interlude (1933) Discussion > Unintentionally funny.....

Unintentionally funny.....

posted 20 years ago by cliffburton
10 replies | jump to latest

I saw this movie the other day and thought that the stream of consciousness device used was corny and annoying. I am not sure what the reception of this film was when it was released way back in the 30's, but that kinda stuff could not fly today. Norma Shearer is totally into the histrionics with her overly dramatic gestures and facial tics. And Clark Gable, who I normally like for his natural persona on screen, is just so not working with this melodramatic drivel. The last scene where he is calling to his airbound son is hilarious. So funny and so painful at the same time. But that's just one girl's opinion.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 16 years ago

Sancho Berman in his treatise on drains said this play was not well received when it was first performed. However, a redubbed film featuring the voice talents of the Ritz Brothers and Mamie Van Doren has surfaced and it is much better.

Nothing is more beautiful than nothing.

[–] Sproketer 15 years ago

Not only was it funny, it's hard to see why the audiences of the early 1930's didn't roar with laughter as well. This is one of the biggest mistakes ever put to screen, especially with big stars, and future stars, it should have been good, but it's terribly overacted, and I think they had no other recourse, the way it's written. It would be a great idea if someone took the same script and did it again, but update it and play it to the hilt with all the melodramatic bells and whistles. Carol Burnett could play the mother hiding the crazy person up in the attic!

[–] artistathome 13 years ago

It's just very strange. But back then a lot of movies were just so odd. You have to remember how long ago it was, no dna tests, no blood tests to speak of. No cell phones, a lot of people walked everywhere and Hollywood was determined to ignore the depression.

I think the story is a very old one, the woman has sex with a guy to get pg for her ailing husband and finds herself in lust with said guy. AGe old story.

This would have been good if the thoughts had not been broadcast.
Don't yu think Norma Shearer was always a little too dramatic in all her movies?

[–] Echo_in_big_sky 13 years ago

The thought revelations were really campy. Maybe it was one of the first times this idea was used. It might have been a novel idea.

I love how they can pine for one another after one lusty interlude years before.

I mean seriously, that's a stretch.

I love how she had all three men gaga over her for all those years, without giving any of them anything, if you know what I mean.

Always the officiant, never the bride. http://www.withthiskissitheewed.com

[–] beesting_12_dot 13 years ago

I saw this movie wayyyy back. I distinctly remember laughing my ass off at the end when Clark Gable was waving frantically to his son in the plane. Oh, the things they made that poor man do!

[–] mdonln 8 years ago

Echo_in_big_sky says > The thought revelations were really campy. Maybe it was one of the first times this idea was used. It might have been a novel idea.

The movie reminded me a lot of a soap opera. I don't know if it was hearing their thoughts or the facial reaction shots during the thought. At first it was kind of off-putting because I'm not a fan of soap operas but I liked the actors and the story so I stuck with it and got used to it.

I love how they can pine for one another after one lusty interlude years before.

Even before she married Sam there was an attraction between Nina and Ned. Ned was trying to get her to settle down so she could get over Gordon. He was interested in her but not in getting married. His profession came first. Sam was ga-ga over her so he pushed her in that direction. Charlie was supposedly interested but I think he was afraid of a real relationship. He used her 'flirtations' with the men at the hospital as an excuse to back away but she was interested in him anyway.

I never got the impression that Ned and Nina had a one-time encounter. It is possible to get pregnant after one time but it's unlikely. I think they were having a full blown affair with repeated sexual encounters. They told themselves it was for Sam's benefit, and it was, but they both were enjoying it and wanted each other.

I mean seriously, that's a stretch.

I believe they did develop genuine feelings but it was an impossible situation. Sharing such a big secret and a child; in addition to their lust and desire for each other; and spending all those years apart kept their 'relationship' going over the years. At different times they were each ready tell Sam the truth so they could be together but those times didn't coincide; when one was ready the other was not or the situation made it unfeasible.

I love how she had all three men gaga over her for all those years, without giving any of them anything, if you know what I mean.

I completely disagree. She gave Sam and Charlie exactly what they wanted. Sam wanted to marry her and he wanted a child. He got that. She stayed with him for the rest of his life. Charlie wanted her companionship more than anything and he got that too. He was around all those years and in the end he was the last man standing. He knew their secret; knew Nina didn't love him but he didn't care.

Early on Ned got want he wanted too but they fell in love with each other in the process so neither he nor Nina ever got what they really wanted; each other. Ned even said that; their love did great things for others people but for them, it caused heartache; something or someone always stood in the way of them being happily together.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] butaneggbert 11 years ago

I kept a pretty straight face until Norma Shearer crawled into Ralph Morgan's lap, rested her head on his shoulder, and cooed that she needed to be punished. "And you're the only one left to punish me!". Warner Brothers meets Saturday Night Live!

Then May Robson, as she unburdens herself of the family's tragic history, laments and moans and begs to be understood. Until she gets to her wish that she'd sought out another man to have a child by, and her tone ever so briefly turns bright and philosophical: " ... like we do with stock!".

Laughapalooza! And I say this as a fervent fan of both Shearer and Robson. But this was too big a piece of ham fat for even them to chew.

[–] ellbell65 9 years ago

Okay; so you're not a fan of O'Neill. Not everyone is. The play, which debuted in 1928, was considered experimental and "avant garde," much like "The Blair Witch Project" was considered unique when it came out several years ago. MGM wanted to present something different and sophisticated to its audiences, and bought the rights. If you look at this film with those ideas in mind, it's not funny.

[–] DougDumbrille 8 years ago

Oh yes it is. It's hysterically funny, and almost unwatchable.

Then again the Blair Witch Project was pretty funny too...