Nothing Sacred

This film classic takes cynicism to new heights in fun fashion as Carole Lombard gives a truly wonderful performance as a girl from a small town in Vermont who becomes the toast of New York thanks to jaded reporter Fredric March, and a bad medical diagnosis from her pal Charles Winninger. David O. Selznick produced and William A. Wellman directed what is not only a screen classic, but one of the finest moments in Carole Lombard's career.Ben Hecht wrote the screenplay from a story by James H. Street and it is both a funny and cynical take on the newspaper business and the American public. Oscar Levant wrote the score and Raymond Scott and his Quintett add some swing music. Fredric March and Carole Lombard have a chemistry that makes this one a lot of fun.Fredrick March is Wally Cook, a star reporter for the "New York Morning Star" who is demoted to the obituary page when his paper is taken for a free ride by a man passing himself off as a Sultan. When he turns out to be only a bootblack, Cook feels the heat from his boss, Oliver Stone (Walter Connolly). Connolly is fine as the editor with egg on his face. Stone has a heart, but only if you're willing to blast for it!Wally sees a chance to get back in Oliver's good graces when he spots a short story about a young girl from the small town of Warsaw, Vermont, who has been diagnosed with radium poisoning and has only a short time to live. He heads for Warsaw to bring back, and exploit, Hazel Flagg, cut down in her prime.Carole Lombard, of course, is Hazel Flagg. The reason Hazel is crying isn't because she's dying, but rather because Dr. Enoch Downer (Charles Winninger) has just told Hazel he made a mistake and she's going to have to remain in Warsaw after all. Hazel was going to use the 200 dollars you get from dying in Warsaw to see the world, and get out of the small town. Winninger is a hoot as the doctor who drinks his poison out of a black jug and is still upset with not winning an essay contest in Wally's paper.When Wally shows up and wants to take Hazel back to New York, she sees her chance to get out, and talks her friend Enoch into going with her under the ruse that she really is dying. As she tells Enoch: "It's startling to be brought to life twice, and each time in Warsaw!" Once they travel by plane to New York, which is a new experience for both Hazel and Enoch, the real fun begins.Lombard is sweet and adorable as Hazel lives it up as though she were really dying and in the process, thanks to a series of stories by Wally, becomes the toast of New York. Wally begins to feel bad, however, and finds himself falling for Hazel. There is a romantic scene as they go sailing and Lombard is lovely here. Hazel is beginning to fall for Wally as well, and is starting to feel bad about the charade.Lombard is hilarious as she gets plastered at a casino and passes out before the devoted crowd. The cynicism of Ben Hecht's script really shines as Oliver, standing over Hazel, inquires from Wally about her condition: "Don't spare my feelings. We go to press in 15 minutes." There are many such moments contrasted against the sweetness of Hazel Flagg.Once a team of real doctors are brought in to examine Hazel, the gig is up. Hazel loves Wally and decides to fake her suicide with Enoch's help in order to save his career. Wally doesn't care that it was all fake, however, and in a rush to save her, ends up knocking her in the river where he almost drowns himself, because he can't swim. Lombard in a fireman's hat and wet clothes will leave no doubt that she was one of the screen's most beautiful actresses, as well as one of its finest comedians.There is a hilarious fight scene between Wally and Hazel as he tries to give her symptoms of pnemonia that has a romantic glow despite the cynicism involved. The only way to make things work for both Hazel and the paper, however, is for her to go away alone to die. Wally may have to leave also if he wants to join her on the cruise to "death" she's taking with Enoch.This was a film originally in early technicolor. Prints vary as to color quality, the Kino version being the best I've seen. All are watchable, however, and this film is just as wonderful, perhaps even more so, if you turn off the color and simply watch it in glorious black and white. Lombard would give her life for her country on an Indiana war bond tour and this film is a shining example of the magic she left behind. You do not want to miss it.

The editorial comment is just a teensy off - the movie it's describing is "A Star Is Born," not "Nothing Sacred" as stated. That said, let me say that this double feature from Marengo is a happy little surprise. Criterion quality being a 10 and Madacy being, well, a 1, I'm giving Marengo a good solid 7 for overall quality.Nowadays, everybody and their dog's company is offering old movies on DVD. With the results you'd expect. Having spent about a bazillion bucks on old movies, I learned the hard way that you generally get what you pay for. So, I wasn't expecting much when I ordered Marengo's double feature of "Nothing Sacred" and "A Star Is Born." Imagine my delight when it turned out to be a terrific bargain.Both movies are Selznick productions made in 1937, both directed by William Wellman and both are technicolor starring vehicles for Frederick March. March's leading ladies are respectively Carole Lombard and Janet Gaynor."Nothing Sacred," co-starring Lombard, is a hilarious screwball comedy about fibbing, fraud and all the attendant tangle-ups. The ensemble cast plays it broadly and brilliantly. Hazel Flagg (Lombard) has been diagnosed with radium poisoning (fatal) by the local doc. But early on, Doc admits to her that she's OK after all - says he'd got so he was seeing radium poisoning everywhere. Hazel's a little disappointed. Not much excitement in a small New England burg and it was fun being the center of attention. Meanwhile, a reporter (March) from a big New York paper has arrived to do a human interest story on Flagg. He's so taken with her "bravery" in the face of impending death that he offers her a fabulous all-expenses-paid trip to New York to do it up right before the bitter end. They know it's wrong, but Hazel and Doc convince themselves that after all they've been through they're entitled. So, off they go, Hazel becoming the next New York flavor of the month. The movie's a great romp, skewering hypocrisy, affectation, sham and pretense, sparing "Nothing Sacred.""A Star Is Born," co-starring Gaynor, is a well made drama that was rather overshadowed by the Judy Garland/James Mason remake of 1954. But this picture has merit because of the fine performances of the cast and Wellman's directorial touch. Janet Gaynor plays Esther Blodgett, an average kid who wants to be in the movies, so her loving granny subsidizes the trip out to Hollywood with her funeral money. Esther meets top actor Norman Maine (March) by accident while waitressing at a party and it's through him that she eventually gets her toehold in the industry. They fall in love, marry and live "happily" ever after. As Esther's star rises, Norman's becomes eclipsed and he succumbs to alchoholism. There's hypocrisy, affectation, sham and pretense in this movie, too, framed within the story of the movie industry itself. However, instead of fun and satire, we find tragedy and sorrow.Gaynor had a meteoric rise in silents and in fact became the recipient of the first Oscar for best actress in 1929. She was at the top of her game in this piece, receiving the nomination again for best actress, but her career abruptly ended after just two more pictures, eerily echoing the theme of "A Star Is Born."So, I recommend you get this DVD, kids. The price is right. The quality's surprisingly good and the stories are ideal vehicles for the stars and director. A jug of root beer, a tub of popcorn and thee...

The story hasn't aged at all and Lombard proves again what a supreme actress she was. I had an earlier DVD which was a good print except for a couple of extended scenes which were the victim of differential shrinkage of the original three strips. The Blu Ray has overcome this problem and the print is solid throughout. A very enjoyable comedy.

NYのモーニング・スター新聞の記者、クック(フレドリック・マーチ)は、特ダネを探すことに必死で、ついネタをでっち上げをしてしまう。激怒した編集長(ウォルター・コノリー)は、彼を異動させるが、クックは、今度こそ特ダネを掴むと編集長に宣言し、ヴァーモント州に住むラジウム中毒で、余命幾ばくもない女性フラッグ(キャロル・ロンバード)の記事を書くことにする。ニューヨークへと連れて来られたフラッグは、悲劇のヒロインとして一躍有名になるのだが…。新聞記者出身のベン・ヘクトが書き上げた脚本(著名脚本家たちもリライトに関わっている)を、ウィリアム・ウェルマンが監督したスクリューボール・コメディの快作。製作は、『 風と共に去りぬ [Blu-ray ]』で有名なデヴィッド・O・セルズニック。いろいろな指示を記した「メモ」を撮影現場に送りつけることで有名なセルズニックは、本作でも、ウェルマンにメモを送りつけたそうだが、ウェルマンは徹底的に無視したとのこと。早世したキャロル・ロンバードが出演した唯一のカラー作品ということでも記憶される1本。風刺コメディという糖衣で包まれているとはいえ、本作は、自身、新聞記者としてジャーナリズムの大海を泳いできたベン・ヘクトの筆による、過熱するジャーナリズムに対する皮肉の効いたきつい一撃だ。それも、一見軽やかながら、後から効いてくるかなり重い一撃。ネタの真偽を確かめずに、刺激だけを求めて喰いつくジャーナリズムの軽佻浮薄、また、それを鵜呑みにする受け手側の思考停止を徹底的に茶化した一編なのだ。現在でも、全く古さを感じさせない(全く変わっていないというほうが正確か)、ヘクト流ジャーナリズム批判論と言えるだろう。そして、監督はあらゆるジャンルで(もちろんコメディも)、練達の腕をみせるウェルマンだから、その脚本を見事に捌いてみせる。徹底的にセンチメンタリズムを嫌い、小気味良い乾いたタッチのコメディに仕上がっているのは、いかにもウェルマンらしい。「コメディ、ドラマ、西部劇…問わず、あなたの作品に共通するものは何だと思いますか？」と訊かれ、「そうだな、一言で言うと『テンポ』かな」(『 Film Crazy: Interviews With Hollywood Legends 』)と答えた通り、本作も弾むような軽やかなテンポが(70分強)素晴らしい。同じように、ジャーナリズムの力と無責任さを(左翼的なイデオロギーも込めて)描いたフランク・キャプラの『 群衆 [DVD ]』とは違い、思想やウェットなセンチメンタリズムとは一切無縁で、透明な開放感に溢れているのがスクリューボール・コメディたる所以だろう。数多くの有能な女優と仕事をしたウェルマンは、お気に入りの女優として、バーバラ・スタンウィックとロンバードの名を挙げているが、その彼が「素晴らしい女優」と絶賛する通り、ロンバードのただ美しいだけではなく、形振り構わない溌剌さが実にチャーミング。すでに、ハワード・ホークスの『特急二十世紀』(こちらも、ベン・ヘクトとチャールズ・マッカーサーの舞台劇を基にした脚本)で、名優ジョン・バリモアと対等にやり合ったロンバードだが、本作でも、マーチと派手に殴り合うのが、何とも彼女らしい(何としても、マーチ扮する記者のあごに一発お見舞いしようとする！)。殴り合いが似合うという女優は、映画史上でもロンバードぐらいだろう。元々、ロンバードの役には、セルズニック＝ウェルマンの『スタア誕生』のジャネット・ゲイナーが予定されていたということだが、あのお淑やかなゲイナーでは、とても殴り合いなどこなせなかったに違いない。やはり、本作は、気どりない開けっぴろげなロンバードの魅力あってこその作品だ。本Blu-rayは、クラシック作品を精力的に発売する米KINOのもの。本作は、パブリック・ドメイン作品として、劣悪な画質のVHS及びDVDが数々のヴィデオ会社から発売されてきたが、本盤は、ジョージ・イーストマン・ハウス所蔵の可燃性35mmプリントからHDテレシネされたマスターを使っている。映画ファンにとって、待ちに待った正規盤なわけだが、残念ながら、画質はそれほど良くない。時折、ハッとする箇所もあるが、全体的に、キズ、コマ飛びがあり、カラーは褪色気味で、ディテール表現も甘い画質。もちろん、当然、パブリック・ドメイン盤よりは良好な画質だが、正規盤ということで過度の期待をしていると、肩透かしを食うだろう。KINOの方針として、デジタル・レストアはしないので仕方がないところだが、やはり、最低限のパラ(キズ)消し、カラコレ(色補正)はして欲しかったところだ。2.0chリニアPCMの音声は明瞭。英語字幕は未収録。特典(と言っていいかは微妙だが)には、本作、『スタア誕生』、『 パンドラ [DVD ]』の予告編が収録。ただし、『パンドラ』の予告編は、オリジナルではなく、KINOが発売しているBlu-ray用のもの。正規マスターを使ったHD化は実に嬉しい限りだが、その質と特典の少なさの点で、星1つ減点。 風と共に去りぬ [Blu-rayFilm Crazy: Interviews With Hollywood Legends群衆 [DVDパンドラ [DVD

This newly released 20NOV2018 KINO LORBER edition arrived from amazon.ca Prime today, and t'was in the bluray player moments later. To quote a great man--the bluray's first amazon.com fan named Fred--there's, "No need to review the movie--it's fantastic of course--" So, let's get technical, technical. The grain of the original film source is just the exactly right amounts grainy; the colours of this early Technicolor offering just pop off/on the screen; the focus is indubitably focused--that's why they paid cinematographer W. Howard Green so much; the depth of field image is evident as never before in any one of those other public-domain release blunders, eclipsing them so much so that it almost comes across as 9D; and William Wellman Jr.'s Commentary is anything but common--having the great benefit of growing up in the world in which--as he so proudly gets to say over & over again--"MY FATHER," was one of the truly great directors of the time.P.S. One of Jr.'s insight corrects a think I'd always thought, which was that HE plays the kid who gnaws on Mr. Cook's leg shortly after arriving in Warsaw, Vt.; but he informs that it was actually the one and only Billy Barty. Beautiful.P.P.S. The detail is so remarkable that I'd never ever noticed in any other video release, that someone actually emerges from the front door Selznick International Pictures' building. I wonder if it may be even be David Zero himself(?)To those who can't stand this gem, aren't able to find the humour in it at all; all I have to say to them is well...all I can say is some things may be Sacred, but nothing and nobody's perfect--and by that I mean You!

A film to watch and rewatch, and not only because of the Divine Carole Lombard. It is really true that nothing is sacred here: high New York society is false and money-grubbing; the newspapers care only for their scoops; politicians (in the person of the State Governor) will use even a funeral to win votes; immigrants (a foreign fire fighter) are an object of fun, as are great historical figures, and then a children's choir. But cinema itself is not sacred either. A major star (March), for absolutely no reason is bitten on the leg by a child, and his macho dignity will be punctured again later when Carole Lombard knocks him out; and the lady herself (a great indignity considering the epoch) is pushed into the river. Also, the very nature of filming/directing: in particular, examples abound of strange and unusual camera angles (in one scene the two stars converse with their faces hidden by a tree branch): look out for the others yourself. In many ways a film ahead of its time. And how not mention the wonderful anecdote of how Carole Lombard cooled her co-star's ardour? March came on to her very strong off-set, and eventually she decided enough was enough. She invited him to her room and intimacy soon began, but when he slid his hand up her dress he found she was wearing a dildo! He never made another pass at her again! What a wonderful woman.

This was a movie I had never heard of before, but decided to get it because of the actors, and the director. It was well worth it - lightweight, but very enjoyable!