What I Watched in April

 An overview of what I watched in April.

Million Dollar Baby (1941)

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Honestly, the day that TCM aired a block of movies called 'How to Make a Million' on April 3 was revolutionary for me. I may start talking about it the same way I dreamily recall the History of the Swimsuit monthly theme from June 2020 every time I think about how wonderful TCM is. 

Million Dollar Baby seems so hokey when you read its logline but there's so much heart and the performances from Priscilla Lane and May Robson are sublime (as is Ronald Reagan, and I've never been a fan—of the actor and the president). It's all about a young woman who comes into a million dollars after an old heiress tries to right a wrong from previous generations (Priscilla's grandfather was swindled out of a lot of money in a bad business deal with May Robson's father) and how she deals with the sudden influx of cash. 

While I know exactly what I'd do with a million dollars and can't really relate to Priscilla Lane's existential angst, she was nevertheless so sweet! She also very much reminds me of Ginger Rogers in both looks and the sound of her voice, which is an added bonus.

I've spent the past few weeks trying to source it on DVD, because I must save this from my DVR, and I'm coming up short. If anyone has any insight, let me know in the comments!

Next Time I Marry (1938)

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Here's where I confess that I missed the I Love Lucy boat. It was never in reruns on any of the television channels I had growing up, so my relationship to this groundbreaking show is tangential: I know how influential Lucy and Desi were, I've read multiple books about their legacy and their contributions to television history, but I've never really had the opportunity to watch the series. So my knowledge of Lucy as an actress comes mainly from her films, and she's always a delight on screen. One of these days (Alice) I'll borrow the DVDs from the library and watch it, it's just a matter of time!

Adding Next Time I Marry to the list of Lucy films I adore. It's like It Happened One Night combined with The Bride Came C.O.D. mashed together to make an ultra screwball. Lucy's an heiress who needs a quickie marriage so that she can come into her inheritance (she's truly in love with a foreign noble, but she has to marry an American in order to get her funds, and he's played delightfully by Lee Bowman, a character actor I always enjoy when he pops up on screen). That quickie husband is Jack Ellison, who's not going to let Lucy get away with anything. They balance each other very well, and that ending scene (I won't spoil it) made me swoon. The way he looks at her? Sigh.

This was the second film in the 'How to Make a Million' programming block and it was almost as delightful as Million Dollar Baby. Almost? Just as? Either way, I need to own this on DVD, too, and it appears to be easier to find than the former.

That Lady in Ermine (1948)

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This was fun! The backgrounds were so lush, the costumes and styling were perfect, the plot was enjoyable... but like, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. was waay too old. (Right?)

Cinderella Jones (1946)

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This was also on the 'How to Make a Million' programming block, the third one I watched that day. Alas, I don't really have as strong feelings on it like I do with Million Dollar Baby and Next Time I Marry. Still charming though, but not as swoonworthy as the first two. 

Follow the Leader (1930)

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I've been saving the last few of Ginger's films I need to see like they're rare gems, but in April I caved and watched a Pre-Code one: Follow the Leader. So interesting to see where she started and how she had the star quality so early on in such a forgettable film. She's definitely the most interesting thing about this! 

ALSO WATCHED:

The New Klondike (1927)
Road to Paradise (1930)
Dead Ringers (1988) — Horrifying yet magnificent but it's not getting a spotlight shoutout because of those reasons
Don't Bother to Knock (1961)
You Can't Have Everything (1937)

Lady in a Jam (1942)

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1978)