Fred and Ginger. Bogart and Bacall. Hepburn and Tracy. Those are just a few of the famous on-screen couples of the golden era of Hollywood. Their chemistry kept audiences entertained, intrigued, and begging for more. In old Hollywood, when it became clear that two actors had a great on-screen magic- and more importantly box-office success - studio heads did not hesitate to find more opportunities to pair their two stars and milk the chemistry for all they could. William Powell and Myrna Loy were no exception. Starring in over a dozens films together, 6 of which were part of The Thin Man series, Powell and Loy re-defined modern marriage and provided an idealized marital romance for audiences everywhere.
Great Cover for Dashiell Hammett's novel The Thin Man.Via.
It all started thanks to Dashiell Hammett, the American novelist known for his hard-boiled detective crime novels. In 1934 Hammett introduced the world to Nick and Nora Charles; the sophisticated, high class couple who also solve crimes on the side. Hammett's novel, The Thin Man, quickly became a literary hit, and fell into the hands of MGM director W.S. Van Dyke. As a fan of mystery novels, Van Dyke devoured the book and knew immediately that Nick and Nora's story would make a terrific film. After finding out that MGM had already acquired the story rights, Van Dyke quickly began campaigning to head the film.
William Powell, Myrna Loy, and director, Van Dyke. Via.
Van Dyke's dream finally came to fruition later that year when MGM approved the film adaptation. Van Dyke immediately knew who he wanted to take on the married detective duo: William Powell and Myrna Loy. Van Dyke had just collaborated with the pair earlier that year on the film Manhattan Melodrama. He had been completely charmed and inspired by Powell and Loy's chemistry both on screen and in between takes. He knew they would be able to perfectly portray the Charles' loving, but banter-filled relationship.
MGM however did not agree. Having both got their start in the silent pictures of early Hollywood, Powell and Loy were considered veteran actors by 1934. Loy, who was only 29 years old at the time, was looked at as old and washed-up. Typical Hollywood. The studio heads also couldn't picture either actor as glamorous socialites. Powell had been typecast throughout the silent era as the perfect villain, and transitioned to the other side of the law in a series of B-movie detective talkies. Loy's career had been crippled by typecasting as well, known for portraying vamps and Oriental seductresses (leave it to Old Hollywood to be ever so racist). The Thin Man was the perfect opportunity for Powell and Loy to breakout of these typecasts and try their hand at new characters. Thanks to Van Dyke, who wasn't afraid to pull his weight with the studio heads, Powell and Loy finally got that chance.
Casting wasn't the only thing Van Dyke immediately decided on. He also directed screenwriters, Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrick (a married duo themselves), to play up Nick and Nora's quirky relationship and their witty banter in the script. This move made the story's crimey case a secondary subplot, focusing instead on the couple and their modern marriage.
"You know, that sounds like an interesting case. Why don't you take it?" - Nora
"I don't have the time. I'm too busy seeing you don't lose any of the money I married you for." - Nick
Prior to the release of the first Thin Man movie, marriage had two primary roles in film plots. It was the end-goal of light romances and comedies, where the couple finally ends up together and the picture closes with a shot of them walking down the aisle. Or marriage was the catalyst for conflict in tense melodramas, where the married couple wrestles with infidelity, financial issues, or marital discontentment. The Thin Man however introduced a new type of marriage.
"Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."
"You give such charming parties, Mr. Charles."
"Thank you, Mrs. Charles."
Nick and Nora hosting an extravagant Christmas party. Via.
Nick and Nora Charles are rich, glamorous, and very much in love despite being in an established marriage. Instead of dealing with infidelity or unhappiness, they enjoy one another's company and have fun together. They are also childless (at least for the first few films), which means their only charge is their dog, Asta. With no responsibilities besides their pooch, and no financial worries thanks to Nora's considerable inheritance, the Charles' have quite the idyllic situation.
Introducing Nick and Nora Charles.
"Do you want a drink." - Nora
"What do you think?"- Nick
The Charles' instead spend their time gallivanting around town enjoying drinks (oh so many drinks!) in the chicest nightclubs, and taking on the occasional detective case for fun. Enjoying dual residency between NYC and San Francisco, they are cross-country travelers who enjoy the finest in life along the way. Nick and Nora made marriage fun- something audiences at the time we're not used to seeing in film. They teased and bickered, but they also worked together and genuinely loved each other.
Also, despite their lofty status, the Charles' still had colorful friends from not-so-glamorous backgrounds, thanks to Nick's past career as a private eye. Crooks, criminals, and mob members all visit the Charles', some lending a hand in their latest case and others asking the couple for their help. For the depression era, I think this was a key factor to Nick and Nora's likability; sure they are living the worry-free good life, but they're also down-to-earth at the same time, instead of being stuck-up and snobby.
"We want to go someplace and get the taste of
respectability out of our mouths." - Nick
Powell and Loy continued to entertain through 5 Thin Man sequels, not to mention 8 other non-Thin Man films. They made 14 successful movies together, and although their on-screen chemistry never permeated their off-screen relationship, Powell and Loy still portrayed the perfect, happily married couple.
An example of Nick and Nora's quirky and playful relationship. Via.
Audiences, in fact, were so convinced by their on-screen romance, that many believed Powell and Loy were married in real life. When the pair first arrived in San Francisco to begin filming the first Thin Man sequel, the management at the hotel where the entire cast was staying excitedly handed over a key to their finest penthouse suite, for "Mr. and Mrs. Powell." The situation was awkward not just because they weren't actually married, but also because Powell's finance at the time, Jean Harlow, had accompanied him on the trip. Thankfully Harlow found the situation hilarious and announced that she and Loy would share the suite together. Powell was moved to the only other available room- a much less extravagant single room several floors down.
Loy, Powell, and Jean Harlow arriving in San Francisco. Unfortunately one of the last pictures of Harlow before her unexpected death. Via.
Nick and Nora's relationship wasn't just fun for audiences, it was also fun for Powell and Loy. It was so easy for them to portray Nick and Nora because, despite being just friends, they had a unique companionship. Throughout the filming of all the Thin Man series, Powell and Loy both experienced misfortunes in their personal lives. Shortly after the second Thin Man film, Powell's finance Jean Harlow died very unexpectedly and tragically. Not long after, Powell was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo extensive medical treatment. Loy went through a series of husbands and very public divorces throughout her Thin Man days, which started to become a professional issue considering her "perfect wife" film personae. Together they comforted one another, and saw each other through dark times by teasing, bickering and goofing around- just like Nick and Nora.
Powell and Loy goofing around together on set. Via.
This ease and comfort between the two of them transitioned seamlessly onscreen. As Powell said, "We weren't acting. We were just two people in perfect harmony." Similarly, Loy said "I never enjoyed my work more than when I worked with William Powell." Together they revived their careers, broke out of their respective type casts, and made a life-long friendship. They also introduced the world to a new type of movie marriage based on love, humor, and adventure- and kept the audiences laughing the entire time!
I was hoping to have this post ready yesterday in honor of Veterans Day, but better late than never. Besides, our veterans should be celebrated every day, not just on Veterans Day. With that in mind, I bring you, The Great Escape;John Sturges' 1963 film that's not only a fantastic movie, but is also a great tribute to the men and women who served, and continue to serve, our country.
"...It is the sworn duty of all officers [POWs] to try to escape. If they can't, it is their sworn duty to cause the enemy to use an inordinate amount of troops to guard them, and their sworn duty to harass the enemy to the best of their abilities." - Capt. Ramsay
Based on true events, The Great Escape tells the story of a Nazi-run prisoner of war camp during WWII which confined hundreds of Allied officers. Labeled as security risks by the Nazis for their numerous escape attempts, these British and American soldiers were rounded up and taken to a maximum security, "escape-proof" POW camp. The Nazis' idea was to put "all their bad eggs in one basket;" what they didn't realize however, was that by putting all of the Allies' greatest escape artists together, this would also give the officers the opportunity to pull off one of the greatest POW escape plans in history.
The film introduces you to several different POWs, all with different skills, different challenges, and different motives for wanting to escape. Flight Lieutenant Hilts, played by film's star actor Steve McQueen, is the main American soldier the story follows inside the camp. After quickly partnering up with British POW, Ives, Hilts begins to devise a series of ingenious, yet simplistically absurd escape plans. When these harebrained plans are consistently foiled, Hilts earns himself the nickname "The Cooler King," for the extensive time he spends in and out of isolation.
Hilts' Blitz Out: "It's so stupid, it's positively brilliant."
"I haven't seen Berlin yet, from the ground or from the air, and I plan on doing both before the war is over." - Hilts
Meanwhile, British Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett, nicknamed Big X, (played Richard Attenborough- AKA John Hammond in Jurassic Park!!) has an escape plan of his own. "No half-measures this time," as Bartlett says. He devices a plan to dig three tunnels all leading out of the camp in different directions. His goal: breakout two hundred and fifty men. Quite the lofty goal, when the average POW escape usually freed around three or four officers. Although Bartlett asks for Hilts' (McQueen) help, Hilt is too cynical to believe this mass breakout plan will work; his mission is to find a way to blitz himself out and back to front lines as soon as possible.
"We're going to devote our energies to sports and gardening, all the cultural pursuits as far as their concerned. In fact, we're going to put the goons to sleep. Meanwhile, we dig. - Big X Bartlett
As work begins on the three different tunnels, the film takes a closer look at the various prisoners: Bartlett who's motive is to handicap the Nazis as much as possible; Hilts who's plan is to get back to the front lines; Flying Officer Ives who's numerous failed escape attempts have him close to cracking; Flight Lt. Blythe who's deteriorating vision may jeopardize his opportunity to escape, and Flight Lt. Danny who's continuous tunnel digging has inflicted him with crippling claustrophobia. Those are just few of the numerous soldiers working and striving to escape. The Great Escape gives us a glimpse at their struggles and challenges both leading up to, and after, their escape.
Danny starts his 17th tunnel.
Although Sturges' received the story rights for The Great Escape by promising to be faithful to the actual events, he didn't quite live up to that promise. As the title page explains several circumstantial details, characters, time frames, and places were changed in the film. Stalag Luft III, the mission, and the method of escape, however, were all factual. For me, that's what made the various characters' stories so moving. Although they might be fictionalized, the situations they found themselves in were very real. It's amazing that despite having the opportunity to live out to rest of the war reading, gardening, and generally relaxing, these soldiers remain faithful to their oaths; instead of giving up and waiting out the war, they risked their lives to escape and continued to contribute to war effort.
James Coburn, John Sturges, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bronson on the set of The Great Race. Via.
Since I don't want to spoil the ending in case any readers haven't seen the film yet, I will just say that the film goes full circle back to Capt. Ramsay's first explanation of the captured officer's duty. While watching the escape plan unfold, I forgot about that statement and found myself disappointed and frustrated by some of the final scenes. By the end however, the film reminds us that a soldier puts aside his personal feelings and desires for the greater good of the mission- that's what makes them heroes.
"Do you think it was worth the price?" - Hendley
"Depends on your point of view."- Ramsay
Boasting an all-star cast, The Great Escape has some excellent performances. It's still considered one of Steve McQueen's greatest films. Shooting The Great Escape was definitely fun for McQueen as well; known to be something of a daredevil in real-life, he was able to do many of his own stunts. He even got to fill in as one of the Nazis during the motorcycle race towards the end of the film. So, thanks to the magic of Hollywood editing, McQueen is technically chasing himself in that scene.
Steve McQueen isn't the only actor that shines in The Great Escape; James Garner also gives an excellent portrayal of Flight Lt. Hendley; as the mission "Scrounger" he uses his wits and charm to obtain all the supplies necessary for the escape. He is also the honorable escapee who volunteers to help Flight Lt. Blythe, who's macular dystrophy prevents him from escaping alone. All the actors offer realistic and honest portrayals of the POW soldiers. Their performances remind us of the suffering and sacrifices our veterans have made for our country.
Although the mission did not free the 250 as planned, 76 Allied officers still escaped. The the real-life mission was one of the largest mass POW escapes throughout the entire second World War. The Great Escape is a well-acted and well-produced tribute to all the officers who were held at Stalag Luft III and all other POWs. As the film's epilogue reads:
