Feb 18, 2022
For this Universal 1938 episode, we begin by again discussing the relationship between comedy, tragedy, and horror, courtesy of John M. Stahl's Letter of Introduction, featuring famed ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his alter ego, Charlie McCarthy. Edgar rises and Adolphe Menjou falls in a kind of Tolstoyan double plot. Then we watch as Universal's new banker overlords do their best to launch another young female star with the initials DD. French actress Danielle Darrieux (later of Max Ophüls masterpieces) plays a real weirdo in The Rage of Paris, a risqué romantic comedy co-starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and directed by Deanna Durbin specialist Henry Koster, and we give our opinions on whether we think this attempt to launch her in America was a success.
Time Codes:
0h 01m 00s: LETTER OF INTRODUCTION [dir. John M. Stahl]
0h 39m 44s: THE RAGE OF PARIS [dir. Henry Koster]
Studio Film Capsules provided The Universal Story by Clive Hirschhorn
Additional studio information from: The Hollywood Story by Joel W. Finler
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* Marvel at our meticulously ridiculous Complete Viewing Schedule for the 2020s
* Intro Song: “Sunday” by Jean Goldkette Orchestra with the Keller Sisters (courtesy of The Internet Archive)
* Read Elise’s latest film piece on Preston Sturges, Unfaithfully Yours, and the Narrative role of comedic scapegoating.
* Check out Dave’s new Robert Benchley blog – an attempt to annotate and reflect upon as many of the master humorist’s 2000+ pieces as he can locate – Benchley Data: A Wayward Annotation Project!
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