A Month of Myrna Loy

I have been CAPITAL O Obsessed about Myrna Loy's turn as TCM Star of the Month, so let's dive in!

via summertimenoir

I love how classy and brassy Myrna Loy was. She was the perfect comedic partner for so many leading men, especially William Powell (I hope everyone who got to watch the Thin Man marathon of movies enjoyed them because AS USUAL we missed them in Canada), but also held her own in dramas and mysteries and musicals.

Some of my very favourite movies were shown this month, and I hope, if you hadn't already seen them, that you had a chance. Third Finger, Left Hand is just so charming and fun; we need rom-coms like it again. And Petticoat Fever is just so absolutely bonkers, I can't help but laugh when watching it. To say nothing of the many Myrna-and-Bill films, both Thin Man and not, that charm me.

This month I DVR'd just about every Myrna Loy film I hadn't seen, and even though I might not get to them all by the end of October, rest assured they're going to be watched very soon!

From the Terrace (1960)

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This film has been on my watchlist for a looooooong time (mainly due to Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, when I got really into them during the pandemic, but once I found out Myrna was also in this, bonus!) and it's never streaming and I've never seen it on my TV schedule, so when I noticed this would be playing this month, I was the most sold I've ever been sold. I've been impatiently waiting all month for this particular movie!

All that said, obsessed with this film. There's something about an early '60s melodrama that just hits different. I love the dark and sexy way Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward play off each other (and her platinum blonde hair? Divine!) and how engrossing of a story this was. Myrna's not in it that much but she plays an impactful part in driving the story forward.

Stamboul Quest (1934) 

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I wasn't too sure about this one, it sounded boring on paper, but it was actually a very intriguing spy drama. And the fact that George Brent was the leading man added to my liking it, because if you pair the guy with any actress he's believable as their romantic partner.

The Squall (1929)

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The fact that this had Loretta Young, too? Yes please!

That being said... yikes. I've read that in Myrna's earlier career they didn't know what to do with her before she began playing sophisticated ladies and so she often was cast as the international woman, which she is here. Not a fan of the movie, personally, but it does show you another side of Myrna's talents.

The Naughty Flirt (1930)

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It felt like she was barely in this one, but it was a good melodrama.

Vanity Fair (1932)

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Yawn.

New Morals for Old (1932)

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As soon as I saw that Robert Young was in this, I was doubly sold! I wished there was more Myrna, these two are a charming pair.

The Animal Kingdom (1932)

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This was also particularly boring, I'm sorry!

Night Flight (1933)

via Letterboxd

Now this, this I enjoyed! It felt a little preachy towards the end but the yarn was good and the casting was spectacular.

DVR'd BUT HAVEN'T WATCHED YET:

Noah's Ark (1928)
The Great Divide (1929)
Rebound (1931)
Love Me Tonight (1932)
The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)
Men in White (1934)
The Red Pony (1949)
Airport 1975 (1974)

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And there you have it! One of my favourite months of features this year, and I'm excited for what's coming in November, so that's an added bonus!

November's Star of the Month: Burt Lancaster!