Nanette Parks Movies
- 1948
Speed to Spare is an efficient entry from the Pine-Thomas Productions assembly line. Ricard Arlen, who'd been a "regular" with the P-T output since the early 1940s, stars as daredevil auto racer Cliff Jordan. Opting for a safer profession, Jordan forms a trucking firm with his somewhat more even-tempered pal Jerry (Richard Travis). Before long, however, the reckless Jordan once more finds himself in hot water, courtesy of all-around villain Pusher (Ian McDonald), the head of a rival trucking concern. Though billed third, Jean Rogers has little to do other than register concern over the carefree Jordan. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Arlen, Jean Rogers, (more)
After turning down several other Hollywood producers, playwright William Saroyan sold the film rights of his whimsical Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Time of Your Life to James and William Cagney. The scene is a rundown San Francisco waterfront bar, populated by a group of lovable eccentrics. Joe (James Cagney), a philosophical souse, encourages all around him to indulge in their wildest dreams. Joe's pal Tom (Wayne Morris), a born patsy, runs errands for Joe, the only person who has ever shown him kindness. Kitty (Jeanne Cagney), a streetwalker, willingly allows Joe to sponge drinks off her in exchange for a few nice words. Harry (Paul Draper), an enthusiastic but hopelessly untalented dancer-comedian, is hired by bartender Nick (William Bendix) at Joe's urging. And Kit Carson (James Barton), an addled old man who lives in a dream world, is prodded by Joe into weaving his unlikely reminiscences of the Wild West. It is Kit Carson (James Barton) who solves everyone's problems by eliminating a particularly scabrous detective named Blick (Tom Powers). Time of Your Life was originally filmed with Saroyan's bizarrely humorous ending intact, but the preview audiences reacted negatively, forcing the Cagney brothers to shoot $300,000 worth of retakes. Though many historians have written off The Time of Your Life as a brave failure, the film was actually a hit, grossing $1.5 million. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Cagney, Marlene Ammes, (more)
- 1947
This story of two young hopefuls who come to Hollywood is merely a thin device to feature almost every star working for Paramount Studios in 1947. Mary Hatcher plays Catherine Brown, a woman of humble origins who arrives in Hollywood, where she meets another wanna-be movie star, Amber La Vonne (Olga San Juan). They work their way through the Paramount studios, trying to impress every important person. Mostly, the film is a cavalcade of songs by various stars that take place at several studio and Hollywood locations, including the famous Brown Derby restaurant. Many of the film's songs were written by Frank Loesser. Dorothy Lamour and Alan Ladd sing "Tallahassee"; Bing Crosby and Bob Hope play golf and sing a duet, "Harmony"; the Original Dixieland Jazz Band plays "Tiger Rag"; and a host of other top performers of the era appear in brief cameos. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mary Hatcher, Eric Alden, (more)
- 1945
There were some theatres in 1946 that refused to display the anagramatic title of this film on their marquees: it was, after all, no secret that the letters S.N.A.F.U. did not precisely stand for "Situation Normal, All Fouled Up" as the studio insisted. Based on a stage play by Louis Solomon and Harold Buchman, Snafu details the misadventures of Ronald Stevens, a teenaged boy who is honorably discharged from the Army when it is revealed that he was too young to enlist. By the time he returns home, Ronald has become so acclimated to the military that he can't readjust to civilian life. In his final film appearance, Robert Benchley does a nice, subtle job as Ronald's flustered father, but Vera Vague (aka Barbara Jo Allen) seems to be having trouble with the role of the the mother. And yes, that is the same Conrad Janis who later played Pam Dawber's dad on TV's Mork and Mindy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Conrad Janis, Robert Benchley, (more)
- 1945
Based on a play by Ruth Gordon, Over 21 represents the felicitous teaming of two middle-aged but attractive film favorites. Alexander Knox plays newspaper editor Max Wharton, who despite his age, patriotically signs up for Officer Candidate School. The humor arises from the fact that Wharton has trouble adjusting to the rigors of Army life, not to mention the good-natured competition of much-younger OCS aspirants. Meanwhile, Wharton's wife Paula (Irene Dunne) does her best to accommodate her husband's peripatetic military existence, and to ward off Wharton's boss Robert Gow (Charles Coburn), who insists that Max give up this "nonsense" and return to civilian life. Sharply directed and cleverly cast, Over 21 still delivers a full quota of laughs despite the dated quality of the storyline. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Irene Dunne, Alexander Knox, (more)
