The Duke Steps Out
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Duke Steps Out |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1929 |
| length | 62 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | James Cruze |
| script | Dale Van Every |
| production | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| music | William ax |
| camera | Ira Morgan |
| cut | George Hively |
| occupation | |
| |
The Duke Steps Out is a 1929 American silent film starring William Haines and Joan Crawford . After Spring Fever from 1927 and Der Schlauberger from 1928, it is the last joint film by the two actors and the end of the studio's attempt to establish both as a screen couple .
action
Duke, the spoiled son of a millionaire, is eager to make a career as a boxer. On the way to an important fight, he meets Susie and falls in love with her. Duke decides to win Susie over and numerous innocuous misunderstandings unfold. In the end, Susie realizes that Duke is a nice person and falls in love with him too.
background
Joan Crawford had been with MGM since 1925 and quickly rose to become a popular actress. However, she had not yet found a fixed type of role for herself and so she alternated between main and supporting roles in a wide variety of genres. Thanks to the resounding success of Our Dancing Daughters , she made her breakthrough as a star in mid-1928. The studio was surprised by the success, however, because the follow-up projects made little use of the fans' interest in Crawford as a boisterous young woman who experiences all kinds of romantic entanglements. Instead, immediately after filming was finished, the actress was used as a guitar-playing gypsy who loves a prince in Dream of Love . The film flopped at the box office and the next film, The Duke Steps Out , wasn't much of a progress either.
The studio had tried to make a screen couple from William Haines and Joan Crawford , and launched the two actors purposefully to compete with Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell . However, audiences preferred William Haines in solo roles, so the entire film was tailored for his role. Joan Crawford was reduced to the rank of Leading Lady and her name was given under the title, only half the size of Haines'. For William Haines, whose box office popularity peaked in the late 1920s, it would be his last major financial success. Although he made the switch to sound film without any problems, Haines lost most of the good roles after 1929 to Robert Montgomery . The actor had a lifelong friendship with Joan Crawford.
Joan Crawford was realistic about her role as second fiddle:
“Metro was building Bill Haines back then and the film was tailored just for him. I might as well have stayed at home. "
Theatrical release
With a budget of $ 218,000, it was a rather inexpensive production by MGM standards. With a sum of 714,000 US dollars, he made a good twice as much as Dream of Love . With overseas revenues of $ 206,000 and a cumulative total of $ 920,000, it was the most successful of the three Haines and Crawford films together, and the studio ended up with a profit of $ 343,000.
Reviews
The contemporary critics were impressed by what they considered feather-light entertainment.
Mordaunt Hall wrote in the New York Times :
“James Cruze, producer of The Covered Wagon and a number of other cinematic achievements, is the director. His talent with the camera and keen sense of humor help as much as Mr. Haines' grimaces and gestures to turn it into an entertaining film. [...] Miss Crawford is lively and competent. "
Harry Mines raved about the Los Angeles Daily News
“Always a charming and exuberant comedian, Haines beats most of his previous appearances in this hilarious story of a boxer falling in love with a college beauty. He's very good at every setting, especially those with Joan Crawford. Miss Crawford is as beautiful as ever and offers a lively presentation. "
Photoplay shared the view:
“Another meringue for the talents of Metro Goldwyn Playboy Billy Haines […]. A lightweight, dear people, but amusing. "
literature
- Roy Newquist (Ed.): Conversations with Joan Crawford . Citadel Press, Secaucus, NJ 1980, ISBN 0-8065-0720-9
- Lawrence J. Quirk: The Complete Films of Joan Crawford . Citadel Press, Secaucus, NJ 1988, ISBN 0-8065-1078-1
- Lawrence J. Quirk, William Schoell: Joan Crawford. The Essential Biography . University Press, Lexington, KY. 2002, ISBN 0-8131-2254-6
- Alexander Walker: Joan Crawford. The Ultimate Star . Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London 1983, ISBN 0-297-78216-9
Web links
- The Duke Steps Out in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- detailed information and pictures - English
- The Duke Steps Out at Legendary Joan Crawford (English)
- The Duke Steps Out at Turner Classic Movies (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Metro was building Bill Haines then, and this picture was created strictly for him. I might as well have stayed home.
- ↑ James Cruze, producer of "The Covered Wagon" and a number of other film achievements, direted this subject. His skill with the camera and his keen sense of humor help as much as Mr. Haines's grimaces and gestures to make this an entertaining feature. […] Miss Crawford is engaging and competent.
- ↑ Haines, always a charming and breezy comedian, outdoes many of his past efforts in this clever tale of a pugilist who falls for a college beauty. He scores tremendously in every sequence, particularly in those with Joan Crawford. Miss Crawford is as gorgeous as ever, and offers a vivid performance.
- ↑ Another cream puff for the antics of the Metro-Goldwyn playboy Billy Haines […]. A lightweight, friends, but amusing.