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TCM Schedule for Thursday, August 2, 2018 -- Summer Under The Stars -- Myrna Loy
Welcome to Day Two of Summer Under The Stars. Today's star is Myrna Loy...Myrna Loy was one of Hollywood's most popular actresses of the 1930s and maintained that stardom for decades. She came to embody the perfect wife--sympathetic, wise and sexy--opposite William Powell, Clark Gable and others. Loy was the ultimate proof that marriage and companionship in the movies need not be an exercise in mutual henpecking or a mere happy ending, but rather something fun and exciting in and of itself.
A former dancer, Loy began in films as a bit player from the mid-20s and was primarily cast as mysterious, exotic types for the first decade of her career. Loy entertainingly wrecked many a home and stole many a leading man (however temporarily) from the arms of his wife or fiance in films including "The Squall" (1929) and "Consolation Marriage" (1931). She occasionally snagged a more realistic or sympathetic part, as in "Cock of the Walk" (1930) or "Arrowsmith" (1931), but Loy's dominant image was summed up in films like "13 Women" (1932), in which her vengeful half-caste murders the sorority sisters who snubbed her long ago, and "The Mask of Fu Manchu" (1932), as the title villain's daughter, gleefully whipping his white captives.
In retrospect, 1932 began the real turnaround in Loy's career, her delightful flair for comedy first highlighted with her supporting performance as the man-hungry Vantine in Rouben Mamoulian's musical masterpiece "Love Me Tonight" (1932). She also provided sophisticated competition for nominal star Ann Harding in "The Animal Kingdom" (1932) and "When Ladies Meet" (1933) and brought her trademark subdued sexiness to an early important lead opposite John Barrymore in the whimsical "Topaze" (1933).
Stardom awaited her, and, in 1934, W.S. Van Dyke cast Loy opposite ideal co-star William Powell in the first of the hugely successful "Thin Man" comedy-mysteries, confirming her as a favorite with movie audiences around the country. Her Nora Charles came from money but was eager for thrills, and so she pushed husband and former detective Nick into one comic adventure after another as he solved seemingly impenetrable whodunits. Loy's best non-"Thin Man" films opposite Powell (with whom she made 14 joint appearances in all) include the drama "Evelyn Prentice" (1934) and the screwball farces "Libeled Lady" (1936), "I Love You Again" (1940) and "Love Crazy" (1941). Her best efforts with Clark Gable, meanwhile, include "Wife vs. Secretary" (1936) and Loy's own personal favorite among her starring vehicles, "Test Pilot" (1938). Her popularity peaked in the late 30s, and when Gable was voted "King of Hollywood" in a popularity poll, Myrna Loy was right beside him as elected "Queen."
Increasingly active in politics after her WWII service with the Red Cross (she was a founding member of the Committee for the First Amendment), Loy continued a career distinguished by her fine performance opposite Fredric March in William Wyler's Oscar-winning study of postwar readjustment, "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946). She also extended her perfect wife image opposite Cary Grant in the delightful "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948) and the enjoyable "Cheaper by the Dozen" (1950) opposite Clifton Webb. She became very active in promoting liberal causes, was a thorn in Richard Nixon's side for decades before it became popular, and was the first film star to work for the United Nations. Loy continued in occasional character roles with star billing from the mid-1950s until the 80s ("Lonelyhearts" 1958, "The April Fools" 1969, "The End" 1977), and ventured successfully into stage work as well. Her final film work was a lovely supporting performance as Alan King's long-suffering secretary in Sidney Lumet's comedy, "Just Tell Me What You Want" (1980). She also performed beautifully opposite Henry Fonda on the TV drama "Summer Solstice" (1981).
Loy's deceptively straightforward artistry kept her from getting the types of flashy roles which netted Oscar nominations, but she was rewarded for her illustrious career with an honorary award in 1990. She was also feted with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Kennedy Center in 1988. The first of her four husbands was producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr. (married 1936-42) and the third was screenwriter-producer Gene Markey (married 1946-50).
A former dancer, Loy began in films as a bit player from the mid-20s and was primarily cast as mysterious, exotic types for the first decade of her career. Loy entertainingly wrecked many a home and stole many a leading man (however temporarily) from the arms of his wife or fiance in films including "The Squall" (1929) and "Consolation Marriage" (1931). She occasionally snagged a more realistic or sympathetic part, as in "Cock of the Walk" (1930) or "Arrowsmith" (1931), but Loy's dominant image was summed up in films like "13 Women" (1932), in which her vengeful half-caste murders the sorority sisters who snubbed her long ago, and "The Mask of Fu Manchu" (1932), as the title villain's daughter, gleefully whipping his white captives.
In retrospect, 1932 began the real turnaround in Loy's career, her delightful flair for comedy first highlighted with her supporting performance as the man-hungry Vantine in Rouben Mamoulian's musical masterpiece "Love Me Tonight" (1932). She also provided sophisticated competition for nominal star Ann Harding in "The Animal Kingdom" (1932) and "When Ladies Meet" (1933) and brought her trademark subdued sexiness to an early important lead opposite John Barrymore in the whimsical "Topaze" (1933).
Stardom awaited her, and, in 1934, W.S. Van Dyke cast Loy opposite ideal co-star William Powell in the first of the hugely successful "Thin Man" comedy-mysteries, confirming her as a favorite with movie audiences around the country. Her Nora Charles came from money but was eager for thrills, and so she pushed husband and former detective Nick into one comic adventure after another as he solved seemingly impenetrable whodunits. Loy's best non-"Thin Man" films opposite Powell (with whom she made 14 joint appearances in all) include the drama "Evelyn Prentice" (1934) and the screwball farces "Libeled Lady" (1936), "I Love You Again" (1940) and "Love Crazy" (1941). Her best efforts with Clark Gable, meanwhile, include "Wife vs. Secretary" (1936) and Loy's own personal favorite among her starring vehicles, "Test Pilot" (1938). Her popularity peaked in the late 30s, and when Gable was voted "King of Hollywood" in a popularity poll, Myrna Loy was right beside him as elected "Queen."
Increasingly active in politics after her WWII service with the Red Cross (she was a founding member of the Committee for the First Amendment), Loy continued a career distinguished by her fine performance opposite Fredric March in William Wyler's Oscar-winning study of postwar readjustment, "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946). She also extended her perfect wife image opposite Cary Grant in the delightful "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948) and the enjoyable "Cheaper by the Dozen" (1950) opposite Clifton Webb. She became very active in promoting liberal causes, was a thorn in Richard Nixon's side for decades before it became popular, and was the first film star to work for the United Nations. Loy continued in occasional character roles with star billing from the mid-1950s until the 80s ("Lonelyhearts" 1958, "The April Fools" 1969, "The End" 1977), and ventured successfully into stage work as well. Her final film work was a lovely supporting performance as Alan King's long-suffering secretary in Sidney Lumet's comedy, "Just Tell Me What You Want" (1980). She also performed beautifully opposite Henry Fonda on the TV drama "Summer Solstice" (1981).
Loy's deceptively straightforward artistry kept her from getting the types of flashy roles which netted Oscar nominations, but she was rewarded for her illustrious career with an honorary award in 1990. She was also feted with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Kennedy Center in 1988. The first of her four husbands was producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr. (married 1936-42) and the third was screenwriter-producer Gene Markey (married 1946-50).
Enjoy!
6:00 AM -- TEST PILOT (1938)
An irresponsible test pilot's wife and best friend try to get him to grow up.
Dir: Victor Fleming
Cast: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy
BW-119 mins, CC,
Nominee for Oscars for Best Writing, Original Story -- Frank Wead, Best Film Editing -- Tom Held, and Best Picture
Reportedly Myrna Loy's personal favorite movie of all her films.
8:15 AM -- EVELYN PRENTICE (1934)
A criminal lawyer's wife faces blackmail when she has an affair.
Dir: William K. Howard
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Una Merkel
BW-79 mins, CC,
Film debut of Rosalind Russell.
10:00 AM -- LIBELED LADY (1936)
When an heiress sues a newspaper, the editor hires a reporter to compromise her.
Dir: Jack Conway
Cast: Jean Harlow, William Powell, Myrna Loy
BW-98 mins, CC,
Nominee for an Oscar for Best Picture
Reportedly, while shooting the movie, the four stars had become close friends, and William Powell even gave up his old habit of hiding out in his dressing room between scenes so he could join in the fun with the rest of the cast. One of the biggest jokes was a running gag Spencer Tracy played on Myrna Loy, claiming that she had broken his heart with her recent marriage to producer Arthur Hornblow Jr. He even set up an "I Hate Hornblow" table in the studio commissary, reserved for men who claimed to have been jilted by Loy.
11:45 AM -- MAN-PROOF (1938)
A woman refuses to give up on the man she loves, even after he marries someone else.
Dir: Richard Thorpe
Cast: Myrna Loy, Franchot Tone, Rosalind Russell
BW-75 mins, CC,
Working title: "The Four Marys", the title of the novel by Fanny Heaslip Lea on which this film was based. I wonder if the name was changed because there is no character in the film named Mary!
1:00 PM -- TOO HOT TO HANDLE (1938)
Rival newsreel photographers vie for scoops and a beautiful lady flyer.
Dir: Jack Conway
Cast: Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Walter Pidgeon
BW-107 mins, CC,
Fourth and final film pairing of Clark Gable and Myrna Loy.
3:00 PM -- THIRD FINGER, LEFT HAND (1940)
A man-shy fashion editor pretends to be married until a suitor claims to be her husband.
Dir: Robert Z. Leonard
Cast: Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas, Raymond Walburn
BW-97 mins, CC,
At one time, both Marion Davies and Rosalind Russell were considered for the role played by Myrna Loy.
4:45 PM -- WIFE VS. SECRETARY (1936)
A secretary becomes so valuable to her boss that it jeopardizes his marriage.
Dir: Clarence Brown
Cast: Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy
BW-88 mins, CC,
The name of one of the screenwriters, Alice Duer Miller, is seen as the author of an article in a magazine, and Clark Gable remarks, "Hey, Alice has written a very nice article here."
6:15 PM -- MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (1948)
A New York businessman's dream of a country home is shattered when he buys a tumbledown rural shack.
Dir: H. C. Potter
Cast: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas
BW-94 mins, CC,
Although this film was from the novel of the same name, much of the story is autobiographical. Novelist Eric Hodgins and his wife built the actual house in the rural Litchfield County, Connecticut town of New Milford. Located in the bucolic Merryall section of town, the house recently sold for $1.2 million.
TCM PRIMETIME - WHAT'S ON TONIGHT: SUMMER UNDER THE STARS: MYRNA LOY
8:00 PM -- LOVE CRAZY (1941)
A businessman concocts a series of harebrained schemes to keep his wife from divorcing him.
Dir: Jack Conway
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Gail Patrick
BW-99 mins, CC,
William Powell had a mustache for the entire length of his career, but he shaved it off for this movie for the sequences in which his character poses as a woman.
10:00 PM -- I LOVE YOU AGAIN (1940)
A solid married man discovers he's forgotten a past existence as a con artist.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke II
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Frank McHugh
BW-99 mins, CC,
Paired "Our Gang" members Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer and Robert Blake (as Mickey Gubitosi).
12:00 AM -- DOUBLE WEDDING (1937)
A dress designer tries to break her sister's engagement to a free-living artist, only to discover the man is falling for her instead.
Dir: Richard Thorpe
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Florence Rice
BW-87 mins, CC,
Production was halted because of the June 7, 1937 death of William Powell's fiancée Jean Harlow. Powell later described finishing the movie as "very difficult under the circumstances". Myrna Loy, a good friend of Harlow's, disliked the film because of her death, stating in her autobiography it was "the scapegoat for concurrent despair".
1:45 AM -- THE THIN MAN (1934)
A husband-and-wife detective team takes on the search for a missing inventor and almost get killed for their efforts.
Dir: W. S. Van Dyke
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan
BW-91 mins, CC,
Nominee for Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- William Powell, Best Director -- W.S. Van Dyke, Best Writing, Adaptation -- Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, and Best Picture
William Powell spoke of how much he loved working with Myrna Loy because of her naturalness, her professionalism, and her lack of any kind of "diva" temperament. "When we did a scene together, we forgot about technique, camera angles, and microphones. We weren't acting. We were just two people in perfect harmony," he said. "Myrna, unlike some actresses who think only of themselves, has the happy faculty of being able to listen while the other fellow says his lines. She has the give and take of acting that brings out the best."
3:30 AM -- STAMBOUL QUEST (1934)
A notorious enemy spy falls for an American medical student during World War I.
Dir: Sam Wood
Cast: Myrna Loy, George Brent, Lionel Atwill
BW-86 mins, CC,
In the scene where Annemarie (Loy) tells Von Sturm (Lionel Atwill, tomorrow's Star!) of her recent exploits as she prepares to bathe, the slip she is wearing is so shear that it becomes see-through. This was not unusual for the pre-code era during which the production was filmed, bu would have been considered too risque for a movie of the post-code era which immediately followed.
5:00 AM -- THE NAUGHTY FLIRT (1931)
A flighty heiress goes to work as a secretary to win the straitlaced man she loves.
Dir: Edward Cline
Cast: Alice White, Paul Page, Myrna Loy
BW-56 mins,
Myrna Loy's last film at Warner Brothers before moving on to 20th Century-Fox and finally MGM.
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