Yell At The Moon With Buzz Aldrin

Vaguely in honor of the 43rd anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon.

TCM's Classic Movie Trivia #4

In lieu of actual content.

In how many Laurel and Hardy shorts did Jean Harlow act?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 6
D. 8

TCM's Classic Movie Trivia #3

In lieu of actual content.

How many times was Carole Lombard married?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4

And no, they don't count "in your dreams," thus, no "E. 30 million."

A Random Review: Our Modern Maidens (1929)

Our Modern Maidens was the second leg of Joan Crawford's "flapper trilogy," sandwiched in between Our Dancing Daughters (1928) and Our Blushing Brides (1930). Like its predecessor, Our Modern Maidens centers on girl-gone-wild Joan Crawford, this time playing Billie Brown, a rich, spoiled, Jazz addict. She's engaged to marry Gil Jordan (Crawford's real-life fiance, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.), but keeps the relationship a secret until he can secure a diplomatic post worthy of her ambitions.

"It's got to be Paris!" she tells him. "The big brass band for me!"

Meanwhile, her school chum, Anita Page as the hopelessly naive Kentucky, dreams of romance—and more.

"Love! Beautiful love!" she writes in her diary. "Will it sweep me away in a cloud of glory or steal upon me ... gently?"

Unfortunately for her, the man she dreams of is none other than Billie's beau, Gil.

When Billie takes up with a powerful Washington insider—ostensibly to help Gil's career, but really to help herself—Gil consoles himself with Kentucky's virginity. When she gets pregnant, things get complicated.

Yes, this is definitely pre-Code. With its emphasis on fast cars, bathtub gin and Jazz music, the film serves as a time capsule, if not of the reality of the Jazz Age then of how America perceived it. Unfortunately, the stock market would crash just two months after the film's release. By the time its follow-up, Our Blushing Brides, hit theaters in 1930, the fun was over and Crawford's carefree flapper had become a careworn shopgirl.

While Our Dancing Daughters was Anita Page's most famous role, and best, this one is her most adorable, and the one I imagine that drove her fans—including fascist dictator Benito Mussolini—to write her mash notes by the bushel-basketful.

Equally fine is Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., in one of his best silent performances, worth seeing, if for nothing else, for his spot-on impressions of John Barrymore, John Gilbert and his own father, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.

Ironically, the least convincing performance in Our Modern Maidens is Crawford's own. Personally, I find it disconcerting to see her so wide-eyed and overeager, much preferring the world-weary cynicism of her best-known work. Although already a big star—a well-publicized marriage to Fairbanks, Jr. during filming didn't hurt—she wouldn't really hit her stride as an actress for another couple of years with such films as Dance, Fools, Dance and Grand Hotel.

Still, Our Modern Maidens is a frothy bit of fun and highly recommended for fans of Jazz Age frivolity. Mix yourself a gin rickey and enjoy.

Postscript: Our Modern Maidens was Crawford's last silent film, and if you haven't seen a silent film from this period, you may be surprised to discover it featured a synchronized score, sound effects and even some incidental dialogue.

TCM's Classic Movie Trivia #2

In lieu of actual content.

Which one of his own films was Harold Lloyd's professed favorite?
A. A Sailor-Made Man (1921)
B. Girl Shy (1924)
C. Grandma's Boy (1922)
D. The Kid Brother (1927)

Late Night Tripleheader On Turner Classic Movies

Beginning at 3:45 a.m. (EDT) this evening/tomorrow morning, Turner Classic Movies is showing three of my favorite silent movies. From the TCM website:

3:45 AM The Thief Of Bagdad (1924)
An Arabian thief sets out on a magical adventure to win a beautiful princess.
Dir: Raoul Walsh Cast: Douglas Fairbanks, Snitz Edwards, Charles Belcher. BW-140 mins,

6:15 AM The Sheik (1921)
An Arabian sheik kidnaps a beautiful Englishwoman to win her heart.
Dir: George Melford Cast: Rudolph Valentino, Agnes Ayres, Ruth Miller. BW-86 mins

7:45 AM Our Modern Maidens (1929)
In this silent film, a flapper offers herself to a diplomat to advance her fiance's career.
Dir: Jack Conway Cast: Joan Crawford, Rod La Rocque, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. BW-76 mins

By the way, the description of Our Modern Maidens neglects to mention some stellar supporting work from Anita Page. Now you're sold for sure!

Set your recorders boys and girls. Or better yet, stay up very, very late.

From TCM's Classic Movie Trivia #1

In lieu of actual content.

In 1915, Hal Roach began producing short comedies with what famous friend?
A. Buster Keaton
B. Charles Chaplin
C. Harold Lloyd
D. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle

The first person with the correct answer wins absolutely nothing other than the Monkey's everlasting respect. I will award extra credit (in the form of extra respect) if you show your work, i.e., "it can't be so-and-so because ..."

Beige Wall

As always, click on the image to view full-size.

Great Advice ...

... passed on from one of my very best-est pals.

The Great Recasting Blogathon (A Sneak Preview)

Mostly I've had to give this year's blogathons a miss—those non-blog projects are taking up all my time—but here's one coming up at the end of July that caught my eye.

It's called "The Great Recasting Blogathon" and it's hosted by In The Mood and Frankly My Dear, a couple of classic movie blogs you might want to check out on your own.

The rules are these:

1. Pick a movie that was made in between 1966 and today
2. Change the year of production
3. Choose new leads from Classic Hollywood
4. Choose a new director from Classic Hollywood
5. Explain why you think it would work

Starts Friday, July 27, and ends the following day.

I've already written my 1000+ word essay about a silent version of Ocean's 11 and have put together twenty-two additional posters for more silent movies you'll never see. Here's a sneak preview "pre-make" of a recent movie I finally got around to seeing (and enjoying) on the 4th of July:

Get your Photoshop on, boys and girls!