Disorder in the Court

Disorder in the Court

Columbia

May 30, 1936

Comedy

DVD
D+

This is on a Three Stooges collection and I am not a Stooges fan.  I might've gone with a C-, but it actually annoyed me that they bothered to resolve the "plot," and in such a half-assed way.  Jack White (not that Jack White, or him either) directed.

Three Comrades

Three Comrades

MGM

June 3, 1938

Historical Drama

DVD

C-

I couldn't really tell the title characters apart, but this wasn't bad.  F. Scott Fitzgerald, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and somebody I've never heard of co-adapted the Erich Maria Remarque novel.  Frank Borzage directed.

Things to Come

Things to Come

London Film Productions

21 February 1936

Sci-Fi

DVD
C-

While I suppose this was somewhat prescient about a "world war" in 1940, and I do like the look of the movie, especially the sets, I found the writing (apparently by H.G. Wells, based on his novel) and acting melodramatic.  William Cameron Menzies directed.

The Thin Man

The Thin Man

MGM

May 25, 1934

Mystery, Comedy

DVD
C+

I think I've seen this before, or at least one of the movies in the series.  While I know there are people who adore Nick & Nora, and their movies, they've never quite clicked for me.  The movie is at best cute and interesting, especially Asta (and I'm not a dog person), but there's too much where my mind wanders.  This is based on the Dashiell Hammett book, and directed by W.S. Van Dyke

Swing Time

Swing Time

RKO

August 27, 1936

Musical, Romance, Crime Comedy

DVD
C+

While some of the songs and dances are great, I was not happy with the script, with gambling, cheating, and dishonesty presented sympathetically.  And that's without getting into the blackface "tribute."  There are better Fred & Ginger movies, but this one is all right to pass the time.  George Stevens directed, before Gunga Din and Shane.

Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie

20th Century Fox

July 30, 1937

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Racist of course and I didn't really care about the characters.  This is based on a Kipling short story, and directed by John Ford.

Stowaway (1936)

Stowaway (1936)

Twentieth Century Fox

December 25, 1936

Drama

DVD
C-

Not as racist as I expected, and the dog is cute.  William A. Seiter directed.

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938)

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938)

Fox

March 18, 1938

Musical?

DVD
C-

It feels like all they took from the Kate Douglas Wiggin novel is the title.  OK, and Shirley's optimism, but she's like that in almost every movie.  Allan Dwan directed.

Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes

Fox

December 28, 1934

Dramedy

DVD
C

I thought the awful, rich family was more interesting than Shirley and her circle, but I don't know that I'd want a whole movie with them.  David Butler directed and co-wrote.

Baby, Take a Bow

Baby, Take a Bow

Fox

June 30, 1934

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

First-billed Shirley doesn't even show up until twelve minutes in, since her character's parents have to get married six years earlier.  Harry Lachman directed.

Susannah of the Mounties

Susannah of the Mounties

20th Century Fox

June 23, 1939

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Borderline racist, and not that interesting a story anyway, based on Muriel Denison's novel.  William A. Seiter and Walter Lang co-directed.

Just Around the Corner (1938)

Just Around the Corner (1938)

20th Century Fox

November 11, 1938
Musical
DVD
C

Interesting elements but it doesn't all hang together.  This is based on Paul Gerard Smith's short story "Lucky Penny," and directed by Irving Cummings.

Little Miss Broadway

Little Miss Broadway

Twentieth Century Fox

July 29, 1938

Musical?

DVD
D+

I just couldn't tell where they were going with this.  I mean, yes, there's probably going to be some fundraiser, but Shirley goes from being an orphan cheerfully singing about how no one will love you if you're unhappy to hanging out in the lobby of a vaudeville hotel.  Irving Cummings directed.

Heidi (1937)

Heidi (1937)

Twentieth Century Fox

October 15, 1937

Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
C+

I enjoyed this movie and the Johanna Spyri novel as a kid, but I must've reread the former more recently than I rewatched the movie, because this week I kept wishing there was more about "Blind Anna" and Peter.  And the other changes, like the chase scene, seemed to weaken the story.  Still, there's some nice acting and it's certainly one of the better Shirley T movies I've tried recently.  Allan Dwan directed.

Our Girl Shirley

Our Girl Shirley

Fox

1939ish

Comedy

DVD
C+

Reediting of a couple of the "Mary Lou" adventures, like Merrily Yours, with a new introduction, falsely claiming this is Shirley's "first picture."  Fairly entertaining, if not as much as Merrily.  Charles Lamont directed.

Merrily Yours

Merrily Yours

Educational Films Corporation of America

October 6, 1933

Comedy

DVD

B-

Yeah, I actually enjoyed this one, with Shirley playing the bratty but likable kid sister of a proto-Archie-Andrews teenage boy, but very '30s.  (And, no, not like Andy Hardy, since Sonny is actually pretty sweet.)  True, a lot of this enjoyment was laughing at rather than with the twenty-minute long-short, but it's a good-natured flick, with one of the earliest examples of the rich blond jerky rival archetype.  Lamont directed and co-wrote.

The Pie-Covered Wagon

The Pie-Covered Wagon

Jack Hays Productions

October 30, 1932

Historical Comedy
DVD
D-

This time racist against both Blacks and Native Americans.  Hays wrote, Lamont directed.

Kid "in" Africa

Kid "in" Africa

Jack Hays Productions

October 6, 1933

Comedy
DVD
F+

The worst so far, with Shirley as Madame Cradlebait trying to civilize African "cannibals," who of course capture her, and she has to be rescued by Diaperzan, whom she marries and henpecks.  Not only cringey, but there's even less plot than usual, though this is a couple minutes shorter than the other Hays shorts.  And this time Mr. Hays directed, although Lamont wrote.

Polly Tix in Washington

Polly Tix in Washington

Jack Hays Productions

June 4, 1933

Comedy
DVD
D+

Comparatively well-written, with sharper satirical elements and a more nuanced character arc for Shirley.  Still crappy, still creepy, still directed by Charles Lamont (who also wrote).

Glad Rags to Riches

Glad Rags to Riches

Jack Hays Productions

February 5, 1933

Comedy

DVD
D

Relatively funny, such as a line that goes something like "When I come back, I'll return," but still pretty creepy, especially Shirley's rendition of "She's Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage."  Charles Lamont directed again.