Tom Rutherford Movies
- 1941
If Selznick could make a Gone With the Wind, reasoned Paramount Pictures in 1941, anyone can. Paramount's own spin on Scarlet and Rhett was Virginia, starring British actress Madeleine Carroll as Southern belle Charlotte Dunterry. A first a showgirl, Charlotte arrives in Fairville, Virginia to take charge of her family plantation. Intending to sell the estate for a quick turnover, Charlotte is dissuaded when she falls in love with impoverished local aristocrat Stonewall Elliot (Fred MacMurray). Though devoted to Elliot, she must find a way to keep herself solvent, and to that she enters into a loveless marriage with wealthy northerner Norman Williams (Sterling Hayden). The rest of the story finds Charlotte wavering between Elliot and Williams, while the audience settles in for a good long nap. As in Gone with the Wind, Virginia is distinguished by the performance of one of its black supporting players, namely Leigh Whipper as an elderly ex-slave who returns to Fairville to die (he doesn't sing "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny", but one can hear it anyway). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Madeleine Carroll, Fred MacMurray, (more)
- 1940
William Holden and Bonita Granville, heavily if not convincingly decked out in "old age" makeup, recall on their 35th wedding anniversary how they first met in 1904. Holden was a brash college freshman, while Bonita was the daughter of a local judge (Vaughn Glaser). Since Holden couldn't stay out of trouble, the judge prohibited him from visiting his daughter, but the boy opposed the edict and ended up being arrested--with Bonita managing to have herself thrown in jail as well. The anecdotal storyline comes to a comically ironic conclusion when the ageing Holden complains that he can't control his own headstrong son. Based on the "Siwash" stories by George Fitch, Those Were the Days gets by on its nostalgic appeal, but cannot be considered one of William Holden's more significant pictures. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Holden, Bonita Granville, (more)
M.G.M.'s opulent costume drama Marie Antoinette marked a return to the screen after a two-year absence for reigning Queen of M.G.M. Norma Shearer. Shearer plays the title role of an Austrian princess who is married off to Louis Auguste (Robert Morley), the Dauphin of France. Marie, by becoming the Dauphine, finds herself plopped smack in the middle of French palace intrigue between Louis's father King Louis XV (John Barrymore) and his scheming cousin, the Duke of Orleans (Joseph Schildkraut). With Louis unable to consummate his marriage to Marie, she takes to holding elaborate parties and gambling her fortune away. In a casino, she meets the handsome Count Axel de Fersen (Tyrone Power) and they have an affair. But when Louis XV dies and Louis becomes King Louis XVI, Fersen takes his leave, telling her that he could carry on an affair with a dauphine but not the Queen of France. Marie vows to be a great queen and remain loyal to her king. But the Duke of Orleans is plotting against Louis XVI, financing the revolutionary radicals. When the monarchy is overthrown, Louis and Marie are thrown into prison, awaiting execution. But when word gets back to Fersen, he travels back to France in an attempt to rescue Marie. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Norma Shearer, Tyrone Power, (more)
- 1938
More burdened with leaden production numbers than plot, Rosalie took Sigmund Romberg and George Gershwin's 1928 Broadway hit, threw out most of the songs, including "How Long Has This Been Going On?," but retained the spindly story of the incognito Princess Rosalie of Romanza (Eleanor Powell), who falls head-over-heels in love with All-American Dick Thorpe (Nelson Eddy), although she finds him conceited at first. But Dick gallantly flies to Romanza where the crooning Charles Lindbergh lands in the middle of yet another comic opera revolution. Rosalie, of course, is engaged to someone else, but after a series of misadventures and a colossal closing number, the star-crossed lovers decide to settle down together in democratic America. Cole Porter was hired to write a new score and Eleanor Powell, Nelson Eddy, and newcomer Ilona Massey perform "I've Got a Strange New Rhythm in My Heart," "Why Should I Care?," "Spring Love is in the Air," "It's all Over but the Shouting," "Who Knows?," "To Love and Not to Love," and, most memorably, "In the Still of the Night." ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nelson Eddy, Eleanor Powell, (more)
- 1938
In this romantic comedy, a passionate French painter nearly goes berserk when he learns that his well-meaning friends have stolen one of his paintings so it can be exhibited. Their ploy works beautifully, and he becomes famous. Unfortunately, it is an embarrassing picture of his dream girl and he finds it utterly humiliating. Fortunately, he meets the real-life doppleganger of this gal and a romance eventually blooms. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ramon Novarro, Marian Marsh, (more)
- 1938
Directed by Richard Thorpe, this costume drama stars Luise Rainer as 16-year-old southern belle Gilberta, who, upon her return to Louisiana after a brief stay in France, discovers her sister Louise Barbara O'Neil) has recently gotten engaged. Gilberta (Rainer) quickly finds herself attracted to her sister's fiance George (Melvyn Douglas), and eventually steals him for herself. Though they marry and have a son together, Gilberta is unable to to cope with the stress and responsibility involved in running a plantation and raising a child at the same time. At Gilberta's request, Louise (O'Neill) agrees to take over the duties of the plantation. Meanwhile, Gilberta begins an affair with a former suitor of hers, Andre Vallane (Robert Young), and agrees to go to New York with him. Upon their return, George (ouglas and Andre (oung) have a duel, which proves fatal for Andre. Shortly after, Gilberta catches a fatal disease. Though much strife had been created due to her sordid affairs, Gilberta comes to terms with her behavior and makes peace with her family shortly before she died. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- Starring:
- Luise Rainer, Melvyn Douglas, (more)
- 1938
Nobody really takes a Vacation from Love in this MGM programmer, though it's not from lack of trying. Dennis O'Keefe and Florence Rice star as young marrieds Bill and Patricia Blair. Have left her family's wealth behind to struggle along on Bill's salary, Patricia comes to regret her decision when her husband immerses himself in his work, totally neglecting his domestic life. The couple separates, with every intention of finalizing the split in divorce court. Despite formidable opposition from handsome Mark Shelby (Truman Bradley) and gorgeous Flo Heath (June Knight), Bill and Patricia finally realize that they're still in love with each other, and only with each other. The obviousness of the storyline is leavened somewhat by the sparkling supporting-player contributions of Reginald Owen, Ed Brophy and the ineffable Herman Bing. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dennis O'Keefe, Florence Rice, (more)
- 1937
In this entertaining comedy, an American expatriate lives in Paris and fancies himself a clever con artist. Getting cocky, he invites his wife and daughter to join him. The daughter is about to marry and he promises her an exquisite French chalet. Now he must quickly find one before she arrives lest he end up with egg upon his face. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frank Morgan, Florence Rice, (more)
- 1937
In this adaptation of the operetta by Rudolf Friml, secret agent Nina Maria Azara (Jeannette MacDonald) is working undercover for the King of Spain as a singer known as the "Mosca del Fuego" or "Firefly." Her mission is to uncover Napoleon's plot to invade Spain before it is too late. This film features a variety of songs including "Donkey Serenade," "Love Is Like a Firefly," " and "When a Maid Comes Knocking At Your Heart." ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jeanette MacDonald, Allan Jones, (more)
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.