Brian Donlevy Gets an RKO Tryout in Another Face (1935)
The gear-up of B units at major factories
speeded writer assembly like Charlie tightening bolts in Modern Times; it was a
pace that killed creativity, other than rote repeat of formulae others were at
a same moment plying across town. RKO stole willy-nilly to construct Another Face, primarily from Warner's lately done Lady Killer, where gangster James
Cagney heads west to give movies a try when rackets go bust. Here it's Brian
Donlevy, starring for a first time after villainy for Goldwyn (Barbary Coast). To this porridge add getaway (for murder)
aided by plastic surgery, a wheeze that crooks (and scribes) often utilized to
juice a second act. Trouble is mood swaying between comedy (labored) and threat
Donlevy poses; he's a killer after all, so laughs are tentative. B output had not
luxury of getting things right; you'd ship on Friday ready or not. Christy
Cabanne directs. Like colleague Bill Beaudine, he'd left promise of major
silents to do talking B's where work was at least consistent, if not inspired.
I'm waiting for someone to lionize Cabanne as neglectedauteur like with peers
(remember all-day TCM tribute to Nick Grinde?). So why watch Another Face
today? Well, there's behind-scenes moviemaking, stuff shot on RKO's backlot (at
night), and character folk nicely deployed. 69 minutes could be worse spent,
and this turns up from time to time on TCM.
Christy Cabanne (pronounced CAB-a-nay) should indeed be mentioned in the same breath as Bill Beaudine... and Harry Fraser, and Elmer Clifton, and Lambert Hillyer. All A-list directors in the silent days, and all old warhorses who found themselves hitched to rickety, low-budget wagons in later years. Cabanne usually got the dregs at Universal, having to helm series that were at or near the end of the line, and he always made them worth watching. Thanks for the post, John!
I'm always grateful for comments from film historians, else I'd have gone through life saying Nick GRIND, Christy Ca-BAN, and Billy Be-VAN. It's interesting to see how the talkies affected folks behind the camera, as well.
I saw a TV interview with a "film conservator" who, while discussing Chaplin pictures, insisted on calling his leading lady "Edna PURR-vee-unce" instead of "Purr-VIE-unce." I've also heard "Billy HAY-lop" instead of "HAL-up," "Alfalfa SWIT-zer" instead of "SWITE-zer," "LOUIE Armstrong" instead of "Lewis," and the never-ending "BELL-a Lugosi" instead of "BAY-la." Fun with phonics, John! See how educational your blog is?
5 Comments:
I'm less a Cabanne completist that a Donlevy completist so thanks for the heads up --- this is on TCM July 10.
Christy Cabanne (pronounced CAB-a-nay) should indeed be mentioned in the same breath as Bill Beaudine... and Harry Fraser, and Elmer Clifton, and Lambert Hillyer. All A-list directors in the silent days, and all old warhorses who found themselves hitched to rickety, low-budget wagons in later years. Cabanne usually got the dregs at Universal, having to helm series that were at or near the end of the line, and he always made them worth watching. Thanks for the post, John!
I'm always grateful for comments from film historians, else I'd have gone through life saying Nick GRIND, Christy Ca-BAN, and Billy Be-VAN. It's interesting to see how the talkies affected folks behind the camera, as well.
I saw a TV interview with a "film conservator" who, while discussing Chaplin pictures, insisted on calling his leading lady "Edna PURR-vee-unce" instead of "Purr-VIE-unce." I've also heard "Billy HAY-lop" instead of "HAL-up," "Alfalfa SWIT-zer" instead of "SWITE-zer," "LOUIE Armstrong" instead of "Lewis," and the never-ending "BELL-a Lugosi" instead of "BAY-la." Fun with phonics, John! See how educational your blog is?
Similarly, I had learned from film historians that Frank Borzage pronounced his surname "Bor-ZAY-gee" and Walter Wanger rhymed with "danger."
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