It's a Fanny Friday

'Atlantic Flight' might be mistitled

Atlantic Flight (1937)
Starring: Dick Merrill, Paula Stone, Weldon Heyburn, Jack Lambie, Milburn Stone, and Ivan Lebedeff
Director: William Nigh
Rating: Five of Ten Stars

Real-life, record-breaking pilots Dick Merrill and Jack Lambie star as test-pilots and daredevils who undertake a dangerous cross-Atlantic flight to deliver life-saving medicine to the engineer who designed their latest stunt plane (Heyburn). Before that, though, one them develops a hate/love/hate relationship with a beautiful and wealthy dilletante aviatrix/stunt-pilot groupie (Stone). 

"Atlantic Flight" was one of the first productions mounted after Monogram Pictures was reestablished in the wake of a ill-fated merger with Republic Pictures and an ensuing court battle. In 1937, Dick Merrill and Jack Lambie were minor celebrities for having broken some flight records. Monogram's executives hoped that building a film around them is about average for a Monogram Pictures release. In the plus column, it's got a swift moving plot that's mostly logical in the way it unfolds; all the characters we're expected to like are actually likable; and the stock footage from airshows and Merrill and Lambies actual history-making trans-Atlantic flight.

Given that this is a Monogram Pictures production from the 1930s, ones sits down to watch it assuming it's either going to be a lot of fun, or it's going to be a tedious exercise in stagey acting and questionable writing. In the final analysis, "Atlantic Flight" is about average for what the studio offered during this time.

On the plus side, this is a fast-moving film with a mostly sensible plot; the characters we're supposed to like are generally likable and the acting is pretty good all around; and the aviation documentary/stock footage is so well-integrated with the scenes that surround it you can't tell it was not originally part of the film.

On the negative side, the fast-paced script has a number of flaws. The primary among these are that the subplot of the film's villain being wrapped up with aflashing a headline across the screen instead of actual story-content; the supporting character of Pokey (played by Milburn Stone, who would later go onto a 20-year stint as Doc on "Gunsmoke") is more interesting than any of the alleged lead characters; and the event of the title comes so late in the film so as to almost feel like an afterthought... and then it's motivated by such outlandish reasoning that it almost seems silly.

"Atlantic Flight" is an innocuous bit of fluff that tried to latch onto long-forgotten celebrities of its time. It's main appeal for modern audiences is limited to its pleasant and talented cast... although those with an interest in the histor of aviation might find it fascinating for the included real-life footage.

You can watch the film straight from this post by clicking below!

Summer is in full swing...

... and the Shades of Gray dancers are heading to the beaches!

'The Good Bad-Man' is Excellent

The Good Bad-Man (1916/1923)
Starring: Douglas Fairbanks, Bessie Love, Sam de Grasse, and Pomeroy Cannon
Director: Allan Dwan
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

"Passin' Through" (Fairbanks), a wandering outlaw with a heart of gold and a soft spot for those who are defenseless and in need, finds himself falling head-over-heels in love with a young woman (Love) he encounters by chance. This is sets in motion a series of events that will reveal "Passin'" mysterious past and change both their lives forever.

As I've mentioned before, I generally don't have the patience for silent dramas, especially if they run past the 15-20 minute mark. "The Good Bad-Man" is one of a growing number of films I've come across that are an exception to that rule. I don't know if my tastes have changed or if I've just had more luck with picking movies to watch in recent years.

Whatever the reason, I found "The Good Bad-Man" to be very entertaining. It's easy to see why Douglas Fairbanks was such a big star in his day, as he is seems equally natural whether his character is being friendly and playful, or whether he's getting ready to kill someone. 

In fact, like the other early Fairbanks picture I've watched and reviewed (the subversive Sherlock Holmes parody "The Mystery of the Leaping Fish"), he is the star of the film in very sense: He's the main character, he has all or is a key part of all the film's best moments, and he has a presence that almost leaps off the screen in every scene. Like their previous pairing, Fairbanks and Love also make a great couple on screen, with acting styles and on-screen chemistry that make them seem like a natural couple. Even the "insta-romance" between the characters doesn't bother me that much here, because Fairbanks and Love compliment each other so well.

Speaking of Love, I noticed that she spends most of her scenes either sitting down or leaning against posts or walls after taking just a few steps. I don't know if this is just some weird coincidence or if it was supposed to be a character quirk, but I also found myself wondering if perhaps Love perhaps had hurt one of her legs or perhaps her back. What little research I felt inclined to do didn't reveal anything specific, so if it was anything, it was probably just a sprained ankle.

Another bit I noticed--that is either a coincidence or an intentional sight gag--was a rider having trouble with his horse both times the band of outlaws saddled up and rode out en-masse. I'm hoping it was an intentional ittle background thing. Perhaps there was even something involving a clumsy comic relief character that ended up getting cut when the film was reportedly shortened for its 1923 release... I wish my imagining is true, because a cowboy outlaw who can't stay on a horse would be hilarious. (Unforunately, we will never know, because there are no known surviving copies of the original 1916 cut.)

Aside from excellent performances from the film's stars, Sam de Grasse has a fine turn as a local bandit leader whose secret connection to "Passin' Through" helps turn the plot upside down and accelerate the film toward its dramatic conclusion. Similarly Pomeroy Cannon, who plays a Federal Marshal who remains a question mark for most of the picture as to whether he was going to be a friend to the main characters or their downfall, also gives a fine supporting performance.

 

"The Good Bad-Man" is one of the films that have been featured in the Screening Room at the YouTube channel that's loosely connected with this blog. If you like westerns and fast-paced silent movies, you're probably going to enjoy this one. Just click below and watch the tale unfold!

It's a Mohammed Monday!

THIS WEEK WITH JESUS & MO

 

Musical Monday with Bamble B.

In my opinion, Mike Oldfield is one of greatest composers and musicians of the late 20th Century. He has yet to get the full credit and recognition he is due, but that will come some day, I hope.

In the meantime, we can enjoy his highly underrated music, as well as what few interesting covers that have been of it over the years. One of the most interesting ones is from 2000 and was recorded by Italian synthpop/dance outfit Bamble B. It was promoted with a black-and-white video that put me in mind of early Mario Bava films... which makes it a perfect choice for a Musical Monday and the ongoing string of cover tunes.

Crime of Passion (2000)
Starring: Marta Randon

Director: Dario Barezzi

Rating: Nine of Ten Stars

A PSA from Flapper Fanny...

 

It's a Fanny Friday!

 

The 'Hitch-Hiker' is a genre-shaping thriller

The Hitch-Hiker (1954)
Starring: Frank Lovejoy, Edmund O'Brien, William Talman, and Jose Torvay

Director: Ida Lupino

Rating: Eight of Nine Stars

A pair of friends (Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy) find themselves at the mercy of a psychopath when they give a ride to the wrong hitchhiker (William Talman). 

"The Hitch-Hiker" is an acclaimed thriller co-written and directed by Ida Lupino, an actress who turned to directing and producing during a time when she was fighting with Studio Bosses over the sort of roles they kept giving her versus the parts she wanted to play. She went onto direct, write, and/or produce ten movies and over 100 episodes of television series ranging from westerns, to dramas, to comedies. 

The tension you feel as this film unfolds is amazing, fueled by great camera-work, well-chosen locations, great lighting, and the performances of the three principal actors. It is also blessed with a perfectly paced script and tight editing. William Talman is especially effective as the psychotic killer. If you liked him as Perry Mason's courtroom adversary on the television series, you'll love him in this one. 

"The Hitch-Hiker" (1953) is a chilling film that will keep you guessing as to how it will all end up until literally the final fade-out. It becomes even a little more scary when you consider it was based on real events, and that Talman's character was based on an actual killer who preyed upon motorists and took two friends hostage in a fashion similar to what happens in the film. Even Talman's strange, unsettling quirks are echoes of the real-life murderer.

This film has been the inspiration/model for dozens of similarly themed chillers, and it holds up nicely to comparisons with any of those that followed. Fittingly, it was added to the U.S. National Film Registry in 1998.

You can enjoy this excellent film by clicking below. Go microwave some popcorn, grab a drink, and lean back and enjoy "The Hitch-Hiker"!

Jane Birkin has passed away

Retired actress and singer Jane Birkin passed away on July 16, 2023. She was 76 years old. In here memory, here's a gallery of photos she posed for at her height of fame during the 1960s and 1970s.

Rumor has it that Jane Birkin didn't wear shoes until she was 27 years old. After taking a walk in the snow on her 27th birthday, she discovered the usefulness of footwear!
 

 Jane Birkin was the subject of quarterly posts here at Shades of Gray in 2021. You can enjoy those pictures by clicking on her name underneath this post.