A Month of George Brent

 Another month in the books!

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What I appreciate about George Brent is how much his co-stars seemed to love him (either professionally, as a great co-star, or romantically, as in they were in love with him and wanted to be with him). He had endless charisma and I always find him so believable when he pops up on screen. 

It's a shame he's not more well-known today, but it makes me appreciate him so much more for his output. Who else got Bette Davis to call him her favourite co-star? Who else could pull those kinds of tender, dramatic performances out of Barbara Stanwyck? 

Heading into March, I'd already seen a lot of his more well-known films, like pretty much everything he made with Bette Davis and a chunk of what he'd done with Barbara Stanwyck, so the focus was on his Pre-Code work. 

The Purchase Price (1932)

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This was by far my favourite of the George Brent movies I watched this month. He and Barbara Stanwyck have such great chemistry (and I have fond memories of watching a few of their other films when she had her turn as Star of the Month last year). This is a short and sweet story of a mail-order bride who isn't who she seems but who grows to love the closed off farmer who sent away for her. 

Stranded (1935)

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I'm going to confess up front that I found Kay Francis's attempt at a Southern accent very distracting, and her too light eyebrows. Get thee a darker eyebrow pencil, madam! A pretty decent yarn, but I was so distracted by Kay Francis in this, and the reviews I read that said they found it hard to believe George Brent was in charge of the Golden Gate Bridge build. George Brent could clearly do it all, what were they even talking about?

Miss Pinkerton (1932)

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It's always fun when Joan Blondell pops up! This was a very decent mystery, though too short!

Lilly Turner (1933)

via Pre-Code.com

Meh, this was kind of boring. Also saw a few Letterboxd reviews that basically boiled down to "Let Ruth Chatterton have fun in a movie for once!" 

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April's Star of the Month: Sophia Loren! I'm excited for this one, although I wish there were more Italian films on the schedule.