Lillian Russell (film)

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Movie
Original title Lillian Russell
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1940
length 127 minutes
Rod
Director Irving Cummings
script William Anthony McGuire
production Gene Markey
Darryl F. Zanuck
co-produced 20th Century Fox
music David Buttolph
Cyril J. Mockridge
Alfred Newman
camera Leon Shamroy
cut Walter Thompson
occupation

Lillian Russell is an autobiographical film adaptation from 1940 directed by Irving Cummings . Shown are parts of the life of the singer and actress Lillian Russell ( Alice Faye ) from the time of her discovery to her retirement from show business and her marriage to the journalist Alexander Moore ( Henry Fonda ).

action

Helen Louise Leonard, born in Clinton , Iowa at the time of the Civil War , moved to New York with her family as a young girl . Under the guidance of her music teacher Leopold Damrosch, she developed into a talented singer. One day after class is over, on her way home, she meets aspiring reporter Alexander Moore, who helps her out of a tricky situation. Both take this as an opportunity to get to know each other a little better. In the period that followed, Helen achieved her long-awaited professional success when the impresario Tony Pastor heard her sing, took care of her and sent her on stage under the name Lillian Russell. Helen, now Lillian, quickly became a crowd puller. However, her mother, a women's rights activist , warns her that she will buy her success with a less than happy private life. And the warning actually came true when Lillian's friend Alexander, overwhelmed by her sudden fame, withdrew more and more from the young woman. Lillian is flattered by many wealthy admirers and showered with gifts, including the millionaire Jim "Diamond" Brady and Jessie Lewisohn. Lillian isn't sure if it's not just a trophy that rich men want to adorn themselves with. Frustrated by Alexander's withdrawal, she finally decides to accept the composer Edward Solomon's proposal . After the wedding celebration, the newlyweds travel to London. Solomon vivaciously interferes in his wife's engagements and provokes Lillian's new boss until he fires her.

The couple have a daughter, but Solomon dies a little later from complications of a heart attack . Lillian returns to her homeland after a while, where she rejects a marriage proposal that she receives from Jim "Diamond" Brady. A little later, Alexander visits one of her performances and then comes into her cloakroom. He tells Lillian that he now owns a newspaper in Pittsburgh and they both decide to give their never-quite-extinct love another chance.

Production and Background

Lillian Russell (around 1890)

Filming began in mid-January and continued until early March 1940. According to the Hollywood Reporter , the location for the film was filmed in Santa Barbara , California and at TJ Bradford's Pasadena estate . The real Lillian Russell had rented the property once while on vacation in 1905. The film premiered in New York on May 15, 1940 . Then on May 24, 1940 it was generally released in cinemas in the United States. It is a Darryl F. Zanuck production in association with 20th Century Fox Film Corp.

The diamond-studded corset that Alice Faye wears in her role as Lillian Russell in the film is said to have been designed for her by Madame Rosa Binner. Edward Arnold played the role of Jim "Diamond" Brady in this film for the second time, after he first appeared as Diamond Jim Brady in the 1935 film of the same name. In October 1940 the Lux Radio Theater presented a radio version of Lillian Russell with Alice Faye and Victor Mature .

Lillian Russell (1860-1922), who was born as Helen Louise Leonard, made a career under her stage name after she was discovered and promoted by Tony Pastor. She is said to have had a longstanding relationship with businessman and millionaire James Buchanan Brady. The film speaks of two marriages, but Russell was married three times before marrying her last husband, Alexander Moore.

Music in the film

  • Adored One

Music: Alfred Newman, lyrics: Mack Gordon , sung by Alice Faye

  • Blue Lovebird (Onscreen as Blue Love Bird )

Music: Bronisław Kaper , text: Gus Kahn , sung by Alice Faye, performed by Don Ameche

  • Back in the Days of Old Broadway

Music and text by Charles Henderson and Alfred Newman, performed by a choir

Music and lyrics by Bob Cole, James Weldon Johnson and Rosamond Johnson, love theme between Lillian and Alexander

  • The Battle Cry of Freedom

Music by George Frederick Root (opening scene)

  • Suffragette Marching Song

played by a band while the suffragettes march

  • Comin 'thro' the rye

Traditional tune, lyrics by Robert Burns , sung by Alice Faye, on piano Joseph Cawthorn

  • Battle Hymn of the Republic

Music: William Steffe, text: Julia Ward Howe , sung by the suffragettes during a meeting

  • Brighten the Corner Where You Are

Music: Charles Gabriel, text: Ina D. Ogdon, performed by Alice Faye, Elyse Knox, Joan Valerie and Alice Armand

  • The Band Played On

Music: Chas. B. Ward, lyrics by John F. Palmer, sung by Alice Faye in Tony's theater

  • Come Down Ma Evenin 'Star

Music: John Stromberg, text: Robert B. Smith, sung by Alice Faye with orchestral accompaniment

  • Ma blushin 'Rosie

Music: John Stromberg, text: Edgar Smith, performed by Alice Faye and choir

  • After the ball

Music and lyrics: Charles Harris, sung by Alice Faye and choir, on piano Don Ameche

  • He Goes to Church on Sunday

Music: E. Ray Goetz, text: Vincent Bryan, performed by Eddie Foy Jr.

  • Waltz is King

Music: Charles Henderson, lyrics: Mack Gordon, sung by the choir in the finale

  • Artist's Life ( Artist's Life ), Op. 316

written by Johann Strauss

criticism

Bosley Crowther of the New York Times spoke of the filmed biography of an excursion into a sentimental past, in which music would gain the upper hand over the plot and well-sounding names would want to carry off into a glamorous era . With all the attention to detail and the existing atmosphere, it is noteworthy that spectacular points in Miss Russell's (or Helen Leonard's) life were overlooked or changed. Because her first and third marriage (she had four of them) are casually renounced. The fact that she only married her last husband Alexander Moore at the age of 51 was generously overlooked. Miss Russell was said to have been a pretty bad actress and Miss Faye doesn't fight that reputation in this film adaptation. Only when Lillian Russell takes the time to sing her old songs is the film alive. But there are long, tedious and strangely strange sections in between.

Glenn Erickson rated the film for DVD talk and was of the opinion that this film version was definitely one of the better musical biographies and Alice Faye was a perfect fit for the role. The film selects the right period in Ms. Russell's life and she sings the numbers so well that the audience melts away. The film manages to suggest that Russell is every man's dream. Dorothy Peterson in her role as Lillian's feminist mother is also "excellent". The other roles were also praised.

Awards

1941 were Richard Day and Joseph C. Wright for Lillian Russell in the category "Best Production Design in a black and white film" for an Oscar nomination, however, had over Cedric Gibbons and Paul size for their work in the Jane Austen adaptation Pride and Prejudice in the cold .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Lillian Russell (1940) Notes at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  2. ↑ Lillian Russell (1940) overview at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  3. ↑ Lillian Russell (1940) Original Print Information at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  4. ^ A b Bosley Crowther: Lillian Russel (1940) with Alice Faye and Edward Arnold - Is a Tuneful Biography . In: The New York Times, May 18, 1940 (English). Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  5. ↑ Alice Fay in Lillian Russell movie review at dvdtalk.com (English). Retrieved January 21, 2014.