I've seen this film several times now and it never fails to delight. Marie Dressler is unforgettable as Carlotta Vance, the doggie-loving dowager. Jean Harlow is equally as memorable as Kitty (her scenes with Wallace Beery are classic) and of course who can forget that classic closing dialogue between Kitty and Carlotta ("Reading a book!"). This is one MGM's highlights of the 30s as well as of George Cukor's long career and it most definitley desreves a DVD release.
Crisso
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THIS IS CLASS. I agree and can't wait to get this movie on DVD. A total classic for me, watching it is like devouring a box of luxury chocolates. Marie Dressler, Jean Harlow, the tragic John Barrymore (playing himself?).
sharethe last scene SO classic!
Kitty: I was reading a book the other day.
Carlotta: Reading a book??
Kitty: Yes. It's all about civilization or something. A nutty kind of a book. Do you know that the guy says that machinery is going to take the place of every profession?
Carlotta: Oh, my dear. That's something you need never worry about.
That scene is exactly what I came here to post about! I love it. I hadn't seen the movie for about 6 or 7 years (I watched it again last night after finally acquiring the DVD I had been waiting for so long) and although other parts of the movie had faded in my memory, that scene remained crystal clear! And it was as hilarious and brilliant as I remembered! I think it's up there with the funniest film moments ever. George Cukor really was a master director with his actors. A classic film!!
"I was born on the side of a hill"
That is one of the all-time classic movie lines. I also love the scene in which some of the guests are talking about going to Florida for the winter. Harlow says (I'm paraphrasing), "my skin is so frightfully delicate that I can't stand to expose an inch of it." Then she turns, with perfect comic timing, and reveals her backless gown.
shareJungle_Red
the last scene SO classic!
Kitty: I was reading a book the other day.
Carlotta: Reading a book??
Kitty: Yes. It's all about civilization or something. A nutty kind of a book. Do you know that the guy says that machinery is going to take the place of every profession?
Carlotta: Oh, my dear. That's something you need never worry about.
No two persons ever watch the same movie.share
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Great to see others enjoying this film as much as me. Another scene from this movie I love is the one when Harlow kicks Wallace Beery in the shins from behind when they are at the dinner and he retaliates by kicking her in the behind. So elegantly done!
I also liked the scene where Elizabeth Patterson is fawning over Marie Dressler, telling her she saw her in a play as a little girl, when she appeared to be about the same age group as Marie Dressler, & Dressler shoots her a look that could kill. Tells her that they should have lunch someday & discuss the civil war. LOL!
shareI adore this movie, just adore it. I've seen it a dozen times and it was on TCM the other night (thank HEAVEN for that station) and I was immediately lifted to another level of consciousness...a fun, tragic one. The scenes I love are John Barrymore's final scourge for a drink, and his laying himself out for suicide, Billie Burke's fit over the day SHE'S had, any scene with Marie Dressler, and the lovable Loomis's.
I hope this film lives on for all eternity.
Watching Carlotta's (Marie Dressler) reaction to Kitty's (Jean Harlow) announcement that she once read a book is hilarious. I know it's coming...but it gets me every time...lol. I have a huge smile on my face as I see it now in my mind's eye...lol.
"Where's he been? You know?" "I?...Your Grace?" "Oh, spare me your discretion. He's been to play in the muck again. Hmmph...He's been to mistress Ann Boylen."
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A wonderful bit is provided by May Robson, who plays the cook responsible for the lion-shaped aspic. I love the scene where she tells her employer, Billie Burke, that the aspic is ruined because the chauffeur and the butler got into a fight over the maid and knocked it over ("He's in the hospital!") Ironically, that very same year, Robson got the best role of her career and an Oscar nomination in Frank Capra's "Lady for a Day," a role originally intended for Marie Dressler!
shareIn finally got to see this movie. It's wonderful. Harlow up against the Barrymores and Dressler and Beery and she wipes the floor with them!
I noticed certain similarities to Grand Hotel; John B. dies, by suicide this time instead of murder, and Lionel is ill, but hints are made that he may get better, just as at the end of GH. Lionel made a specialty of playing lovable old men, and this one is a winner, just like his character in GH. No sign of his dark side in this one. And Beery was superb as the baddish guy in both.
The scene where John gives up and sets the stage for his suicide is funny at the same time that it is so sad. I had tears in my eyes watching his despair, but appreciated the dark, dark humor of his setting the stage, complete with spotlight. Part of the sadness is that he really was playing a parody of himself in the movie and apparently knew it. What a tragic life. Poor dear man.
But man, Harlow! A review mentioned her and Beery's characters being a sort of precog of the two characters in Born Yesterday. I can see this; Kanin MUST have been riffing off this movie for that one. Judy Holliday was a true successor to Harlow in terms of comedy. How sad that her life was cut short too, though not as soon as Harlow's.
This is a real classic.
A wonderful bit is provided by May Robson, who plays the cook responsible for the lion-shaped aspic. I love the scene where she tells her employer, Billie Burke, that the aspic is ruined because the chauffeur and the butler got into a fight over the maid and knocked it over ("He's in the hospital!")Ironically, that very same year, Robson got the best role of her career and an Oscar nomination in Frank Capra's "Lady for a Day," a role originally intended for Marie Dressler!