Back to Golden Days

Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, Dancing Lady (1933) tells the story of Janie «Duchess» Barlow (Joan Crawford), a young dancer who is reduced to stripping in a burlesque show. Arrested for indecent exposure, she is bailed out by millionaire playboy Tod Newton (Franchot Tone), who was attracted to her while slumming at the theatre with his society pals. When Janie tries to get a part in a Broadway musical, Tod intercedes with director Patch Gallagher (Clark Gable): he will put his money into the show, if Janie is given a part in the chorus. Although he needs the money, Patch is resistant, until he sees Janie dance and realizes her talent. Soon, Tod proposes to Janie and she accepts, but only if the show fails. Meanwhile, Patch has realized that neither his show nor his star, Vivian Warner (Gloria Foy), is right, so he gives Janie the lead in the new version. Although Patch and Janie are attracted to each other, she decides to go away with Tod when he secretly withdraws his backing and r...

This week on "Film Friday," I bring you a steamy little tale of divorce and infidelity that gave Miss Norma Shearer her only Academy Award for Best Actress. Theatrical release poster Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, The Divorcee (1930) tells the story of Jerry Bernard (Norma Shearer) and Ted Martin (Chester Morris), a young couple blissfully in love, much to the chagrin of their New York socialite friends, including Paul ( Conrad) and Don (Robert Montgomery) . Paul, who is in love with Jerry, is so distraught when the two announce their engagement that he gets drunk and ends up cr ashing his car, permanently disf iguring their friend Dorothy (Helen Johnson). Ou t of pit y, Pa ul marries Dorothy in her hospital bed, while Jerry and Ted spen d the next three years happily married. On the night of their third weddi ng anniversar y , however, Jerry discovers that Ted has had an aff a ir with a woman na med Janice Me redith ( Mary Doran). After Jerry confronts T...