I was 1200 words into my essay on the best supporting actress of 1932-33 when I changed my mind. It happens. I know you think I have this all mapped out in advance, but I really don't—I only think I do.So what that means is my post won't be ready today as originally planned.
In the meantime, how about passing the time with William Powell in a detective movie? This street-legal copy of The Kennel Murder Case comes courtesy of the Internet Movie Database and features Powell in his recurring role as Philo Vance, a high society dandy who solves murder mysteries in his spare time. This is pre-Thin Man, so no booze or wisecracks, but if you know Powell's work in The Thin Man series, this gives you a chance to see where he polished his chops.
Typically, actors in those days toiled for years before they got a shot at stardom, but when they got their break, they knew what to do with it. Powell was no exception. This was his fifty-sixth movie and you can see that he knows how to command the screen. All he needed at this point was Myrna Loy and a wire-haired terrier to make the leap to stardom.No slapdash B-picture, this. Directed by Michael Curtiz, who would later win an Oscar for directing Casablanca, it co-stars Mary Astor and one of my favorite character actors, Eugene Pallette.
Thanks for the imbedded video.
ReplyDeleteAs you know I like the wise-cracking, smart Wm. Powell, but I am an alcoholic who is shocked and offended at the licentious behaviour in the Thimn Man movies.
Shame on them.
So I will try.
But I must confess: it ain't really watching it on the big screen.
It looks better on my phone.
Hey -- WAIT!
PS love that Jack Larue.
Although I'm built more like Eugene Pallette. . . .
I wish I could watch movies on my phone. I think I'm the only person in America whose phone is only made for talking to people.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Mister Muleboy is only kidding about looking like Eugene Pallette. Fact is, he's Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.
Uh, that is an improvement, right? Because Bill Murray in Groundhog Day is one of my all-time favorite performances ...
To be honest, this is precisely the 100th time I've heard the name "Larue" -- but the 99 other times all came in the course of listening to this one fine song over the years.
ReplyDeleteAnd each of those 99 times I've wondered, who was Lucky Larue? And now I wonder, who is Jack Larue? Are they one & the same?
I shall not rest. Although I may take a few naps.
And hey -- thanks for the movie. It shall be viewed!
You're not the only person MM. My phone is only made for talking--and I think that's the way it's going to be for a long time. I don't need any more access to my email than I already have--sheesh.
ReplyDeleteI know that the Mule would normally have used the adjective embedded, but he feels that war correspondents have laid claim to "embed" as a verb. . . .
ReplyDeletebastardos
Marlon, if the Mule said it, it must be okay. He would never compromise his ideals where the language is concerned.
ReplyDeleteWhere everything else is concerned, sure, but not the language.
I kid. We kid because we love.
(I think he bought that.)
I don't need any more access to my email than I already have--sheesh.
ReplyDeleteKC, I admit, I'm beginning to feel like a Luddite, without even wanting to. But it's like how connected do we really need to be, what information is so important that it can't wait until tomorrow? Be Here Now! (he said, writing on his blog ...)