Jerry Vermilye

"The old Hollywood I knew is dead. It only exists now in still photographs and a few people's memories." — Olivia de Havilland

The Films of the Thirties covers a fairly wide range of films and its stars which, while by no means comprehensive, is full of delightful surprises. Rather than simply choose all the films people would know or perhaps fondly remember, author Jerry Vermilye has interspersed these with films of merit not nearly so commonplace to the average movie fan. This has the effect of opening a treasure chest for newer fans of classic films, and brings a smile to the more seasoned film buff's face.

How could you not like a book which remembers Nancy Carroll, Helen Chandler, Evelyn Brent, Dorothy Mackaill, Evelyn Venable, and Ann Harding? Yes, you'll get wonderful films such as The Thin Man, Red Dust, The Gay Divorcee, The Awful Truth, Gunga Din and Wuthering Heights. But you'll also get The Silver Horde, Outward Bound, The Story of Temple Drake, Born to Love, The Last Flight, Three Comrades, and scores of others. Each film is represented with several black and white photographs, many quite lovely.

The 1930s was a marvelous decade for film fans, as the movies began to talk, acquiring more technical sophistication with each passing year. The final year of this decade is widely regarded as the zenith of American film. The eloquence of the silent art form had undergone a metamorphosis into a different art form. This is on full display in this lovely book paying homage to the first decade of sound. Each year is represented by ten films, each having cast and credits listed, as well as commentary on the film and the stars represented.

Those who love film can never have too many entertaining and informative books about their passion. I would say this book is very informative for new fans of classic films, but more a fun addition to the libraries of those who get excited seeing Ann Dvorak and Richard Barthelmess. The big names are here too, so no need for worry. The film chosen to represent your favorite star, however, may be somewhat of a surprise. If you can find this softcover coffee table size book at a fairly inexpensive price, it is definitely worth it. A fun film book for fans of this era in film.… (altro)

I’ve had this one from Citadel Press for a very long time, and I still leaf through it from time to time. It accompanies Jerry Vermilye’s Films of the ‘30s, which I also own and have reviewed. It isn’t second-tier to that book, however, just more films from the era to enjoy. It’s a paperback, coffee table size book. Like the first one, it has an eclectic mix of featured films which makes it interesting. There are photos of each film, printed on paper stock — not glossy photo paper — but it’s still nice to have them there as you read about the film chosen. Each film has a cast and credits listing, and two pages — worked around the photos — of discussion about the film.

I think it is the eclectic mix of films, the surprising choices for a book such as this, which I like most. Lesser known stars like Helen Chandler, Nancy Carroll, Mae Clarke, and Dorothy Mackaill get a well-deserved moment in the sun here. You get the big names too, so not to worry. There is a photo here of the underrated Marion Davies from Going Hollywood that is absolutely stunning. It reminds me somewhat of a shot of Marilyn I’ve seen while she was filming The Misfits. And there is one photo from the film Let “Em Have It, starring Richard Arlen and Virginia Bruce, that is so atmospheric in its noir look — even though it was released in 1935 — that every fan of the genre will be trying to find it once they’ve seen the photo. Only hard-core film buffs even know about the film, which was made on the heels of G-Men.

Not being hampered by ties to any one studio, Vermilye has been able to put together some really interesting films to represent a wonderful era in film. Not a top-tier reference book, but leaning more toward a supplemental filmgoer’s companion, it still has much to recommend it:

Where else are you going to find the original filming of Theodore Dreiser’s, An American Tragedy? Sure, you’ve no doubt seen the George Stevens film, A Place in the Sun, marked by Montgomery Clift’s fabulous performance. But were you even aware that Joseph Von Sternberg filmed it first, in 1931, under the book’s actual title? It starred a very young and lovely Sylvia Sidney, and Phillips Holmes — bet you never heard of him! A couple of lovely photos of Sidney as Roberta Alden accompany this one, and a stark photo of Holmes holding up a paper with the headline splashed across the front page: Girl’s Body Found!

There aren’t many places you’ll get a couple of pages, and photos, from Clara Bow’s comeback picture, Call Her Savage. She’d had a breakdown, taking a year off. Call Her Savage was successful, putting her back in the spotlight for a time.

Films you don’t expect to be here, are. They include the breezy Easy Living, starring Ray Milland and Jean Arthur; The Young in Heart, starring Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbank’s Jr, and Paulette Goddard; Irene Dunne in the fabulous Theodora Goes Wild; and Ronald Colman and a young and beautiful Ida Lupino in The Light that Failed.

You’ll probably never run across a better look at the filming of Little Man, What Now? It was an adaptation of Hans Fallada’s novel. It starred — in only her second film — the luminous Margaret Sullavan.



Probably the greatest surprise here, however, is King Vidor’s experimental film about communal living, Our Daily Bread. Even the always-ready-to-gamble-on-quality, Irving Thalberg, felt the idea too hot too handle, so Vidor reached into his own pockets and made the film. There are a couple of terrific shots of Karen Morley from the controversial film.

There are some more famous films and stars you’ll run across, as ten films from each year in the decade are chosen. While it isn’t a must-have type of reference book, it is very nice to own, and if you can track down a copy and pick it up at an inexpensive price, you’ll no doubt enjoy looking through it. Good stuff.… (altro)