“Yeah, put a muzzle on that ‘attaboy’, lingo.”

I am pretty sure that you all have heard of Damon Runyon.

In case your memory needs some refreshing or you are new to classic films: He was a journalist and wrote some stories which became movies – I think the best known is GUYS AND DOLLS (does that ring a bell?) – but there are so many, many more..

Let’s have a look at some of the things which are supposed to be not used in today's film:

In the 1930s Runyon paired up with Howard Lindsay to write a comedy play about a gangster who tries to become legitimate after prohibition is finished. The play opened in September 11, 1935 – with unknown actor José Ferrer playing a policeman.. Warner Brothers payed $ 50,000 for the rights of this play - which with a bit of rewriting by Earl Baldwin and Joseph Schrank as well as non-credited Mary C. McCall jr., the appearance of one of the most popular gangster performers at that time and also Lloyd Bacon as director became one of Warner’s biggest hits in 1938:

A SLIGHT CASE OF MURDER

In a nutshell:

1933. The 13 years of prohibition are over and speakeasies are history. Remy Marco (Edward G. Robinson) – a big shot mobster making a lot of money with selling his beer (he just ruled the city – so there wasn’t any alternative for drinkers and barkeepers) – decides to go legitimate. From now on his mobsters are supposed to be salesman, talking refined and having a daily (..) shave – not to speak of clean shirts.. But due to the fact that his beer is really awful (Remy doesn’t know about that because he drinks no beer) he soon gets into financial troubles and money lenders Post (John Litel) and Ritter (Eric Stanley) are trying to overtake his brewery.

~ Remy Marco breaking to his boys that from now on they're legitimate. ~

Then his daughter Mary (Jane Bryan) comes back from the fancy Parisian (yeah - Paris, France..) school she was sent to – and the Marco’s are going to spend some months in their new bought summerhouse. With them come Remy’s personal staff Mike (Alan Jenkins), Lefty (Edward Brophy) and Guiseppe called “Gip” (Harold Huber) - besides that orphaned brat Douglas Fairbanks Rosenbloom (Don’t you just adore that name!?! – he is personated by Bowery Boy/Dead End Kid Bobby Jordan) is with them. Since Remy left the orphanage of Mrs. Cagle (Margaret Hamilton) he wants to help the orphans – so he takes the worst boy for the summer..

~ Bobby Jordan and Edward G. Robinson - and Margaret Hamilton's back!!

WOW! I AM EXCITED!! ~

Actually there is a slight problem with the summer house: Four other gangster are sitting in the guestroom - shot during a card game.. No good timing – especially because Mary’s fiancé Dick Whitewood (Willard Parker) - he just joined the state troopers - appears with his upperclass father (Paul Harvey) and Remy’s wife Nora (Ruth Donnelly

) wants to make a good impression on them.

~ Everyone carries about father Whiteman.. ~

Soon after Remy and his boys got rid of the corpses they find out that there is a high reward for those now dead hoodlums - so they have to get them back - and discovered without getting in trouble - they are after all now legit, see?

Oh - and there is the killer - with the lovely name Innocence (Joe Downing) - still running around the house trying to get a bag of money back he left there.

~ Innocence - looking not sooo innocent at all.. ~

Watch out for:

• George E. Stone, one of my favourite supporting players as Kirk - remember Toothpick Charlie from SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959), Otero from LITTLE CAESAR (1931) or Andy Lee from 42^ND STREET (1933)? He was a close friend of Damon Runyon’s .
  
  
• Harry Wilson as Butch, one of Remy’s gangsters, who is told to have a manicure.
  
  
• Carole Landis in a bit role leaning towards the piano in the party scene.
  
  
• Betty Compson as Loretta in the party scene.
  
  
• The statuette of the Great Dane in Remy's anteroom - soo 1930's.. Just gorgeous..

Schmooze:

• Before he started acting Willard Parker was a professional tennis player under his actual name Worster von Eps. His most popular role was Ranger Jace Pearson in TV series TALES OF THE TEXAS RANGERS (1955-1958). He had a height of 6'5'' (1,96 m) - just as a comparison: Edward G. Robinson had a height of 5'5'' (1,65 m) and Ruth Donnelly a height of 5'6'' (1,68 m)..
• Ronald Regan was tested for the role that later went to Willard Parker.
• The German title VIER LEICHEN AUF ABWEGEN could be translated into „Four corpses going astray” – it wasn’t shown in Germany untill 1979 – then it was premiered in TV.

A REAL case of slight murder:

Hymie Miller (please don't mix him up with the boxer by the same name..) – one of the bit players who performed as one member of Marco’s gang was reportedly shot at the age of 30 in 1938 – three months before the film was released.

~ Hymie Miller listening to Edward G. Robinson.~

After closing the delicatessen he co-owned and arriving home he went to bed - there he was shot in his sleep. – Though his nose was shot off and many other parts of him were badly hurt (let’s skip those details..) he was still conscious and able to tell the police that he didn’t know the assailant.

He died in the hospital. Later it came out that he and his partner (with whom he owned the deli) were actual small-time gangsters, who like appearantly many others worked in bit parts in films.

The deli was a popular meeting place for shady fellas.. The night clerk of the house Miller lived in was able to identify the murderer from photos as Johnny Fisher – another not so kosher extra with whom Miller reportedly had a quarrel about a girl.. – Fisher was arrested just while working on the tournament scene in THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) – and apparently the police just marched through the merry men to arrest him… must have been a lovely mix of outfits..

You should watch this film if you…

• … love gangster flicks – esp. LITTLE CAESAR (1931).
• … like 1930 party scenes.
• … adore Ruth Donnelly, Alan Jenkins, Jane Bryan and Edward G. Robinson - like yours Irene does..
  
  
• ... want to learn how to open a beer bottle and in the same second misuse a piano..

~ Bobby Jordan is mighty thirsty in this flick.. . no wonder: they keep taking all bottles away from the poor, poor kid.. ~

Know your stuff:

• Like Rico in LITTLE CAESAR (1931) Remy Marco is always speaking of himfelf in third person:

"Make over, mug, make room for Marco."

Neverending story:

There is a remake of 1952 with Broderick Crawford and Claire Trevor.

~ classic mobster boudoir style - please notice the elegantly placed guns.. ~

Let’s face the music:

Take a deep breath – there is a lot of music in this:

• • The film starts with “HOW DRY I AM” – well, what better song to end prohibition??
  
  
• • When Remy Marco is going to get “his orphan” the orphans sing for him: “HOW DO YOU DO, MR. MARCO?”
  
  The lyrics go like:
  
  “How do you do, Mr. Marco, how do you do?
  All the happy little orphans are welcome you.
  We are glad that you are here
  ‘cause you always bring us cheer.
  How do you do, Mr. Marco, how do you do?”
  
  ~ awww... I love the "all the happy little orphans" part... ~
  
  
• • You can hear “KINDERSZENEN” by Robert Schumann when Remy and Nora are looking at the apparently sleeping Douglas.
  
  
• • At the very lively party you can hear – some of them not directly because the storyline leaves the party scene then:
  
  “IT HAD TO BE YOU”
  
  “SHINE ON, HARVEST MOON”
  
  “THE MERRY-GO-ROUND BROKE DOWN”
  
  “MY MELANCHOLY BABY”
  
  “DANCING WITH TEARS IN MY EYES”
  
  “BOB WHITE (WHATCHA GONNA SWING TONIGHT)”
  
  “I’M LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER”
  
  “YOU CAN’T STOP ME FROM DREAMING”
  
  

Quite a soundtrack isn't it?

~ Remy worried about Douglas health, Douglas worried about his beer, Nora worried about the piano.

Me

(not in the picture)

w

orried that no one is called Douglas Fairbanks Rosenbloom anymore. ~

Scene to watch:

Absolutely every scene with Alan Jenkins, Edward Brophy and Harold Huber – also every scene with the incomparable Ruth Donnelly is more than worth seeing. And I simply love the scene in which Remy makes his mob drink his beer – after he himself learned about how awful it tastes, of course – another scene you really, really should watch – because Edward G. Robinson is just awesome!

Gip's (Harold Huber) explanation why he looks greenish after testing Remy's beer:

“I always turn a little green this time of the year, boss."

...

~ Mike and Gip seem to be not very anxious to follow Lefty's example and test the beer.. ~

Have a look:

Here Remy Marco tells his boys that from now on they have to be legitimate:

Quotes corner:

“Yeah, they’re always passing laws interfering with people.”

I love the humor of this film - the dialogues are great - a lot of gangster talk - I LOVE that!!

And I also love how Bobby Jordan greets Jane Bryan when they are introduced:

“Hiya, toots!”

This film is made with a marvellous cast - including some of my favourite 1930s actors like Edward G. Robinson, Ruth Donnelly, Alan Jenkins, George E. Stone and of course my beloved Margaret Hamilton.

Oh – and Jane Bryan just looks stunning – when she comes down the stairs with that shiny, slinky dress to greet her fiancé – well.. I would call that positively breathtaking..

~ I wasn't able to find a proper picture of Jane Bryan from this flick - so you'll get this one.. ~

What I also love about this film is the pairing of Edward G. Robinson and Ruth Donnelly.

~ publicity still of Ruth Donnelly for A SLIGHT CASE OF MURDER ~

Not only because they work so well together – I also like the fact that Mrs. Marco is no classic gangster moll – you know them from several other films:

the Gloria Grahame type - gorgeous looking a bit sneaky etc. ..

No, Nora Marco is Remy’s partner. In the moment she learns that he had lost his money she immediately suggests to sell her jewels – just to be told that she is wearing phonies for months now – just because Remy was ashamed to tell her about his failure.

Thank you all for listening,

yours truly

Irene

and remember:

“Now, stay kosher, keep your nose clean..”

~ and better stay away from Remy's beer for now... ~

Not sooo far away from Hollywood

* This series contains spoilers. Please be also aware that my feelings for the German films are the same one has for embarrassing family members: At the same time one is a little bit proud and also just ashamed of them.. *

Ok - let's start: Some classic Hollywood stars made also appearances in German films - can you guess who this lady is?

Yes - absolutely right:

It's Ingrid Bergman - with Hans Söhnker (just btw. "Söhnker" arises from Old High German for little son/ sonny..) in 1938 German film

DIE VIER GESELLEN

(= The four companions/assistants/ journeymen ... )

Here is Miss Bergman on a publicity still from 1938:

~ Isn't she just adorable?? ~

Now - to the movie:

In a nut shell (- probably coconut..):

Berlin, 1934. At the farewell party of a commercial arts academy Stefan Kohlund (Hans Soehnker) proposes to his now ex-student Marianne Kruge (Ingrid Bergman) in a most lovely way - while she is working in the kitchen for the party guests: He tells her that he needs someone to cook for him and to mend his socks..

~ Perfect setting for a proposal, isn't it? ~

She is not really startled – and that he was constantly telling her and her three female co-students during the four years of class that women shouldn’t work and for sure are not able to have success in business - somehow didn't help at all..

Months later Marianne and her three female ex-co-students and still-friends Käthe (which you could vocalise "Kata"), Franziska and Lotte meet again – neither of them was able to get a good job.

So the four girls found their own firm “Die vier Gesellen”. (=> The four companions/assistants/ journeymen.)

~ Käthe, Marianne, Franziska and Lotte - about to find their way into the business world. ~

Everything could be fine. But each of them develops other plans and has to hide it from ambitious Marianne:

Tomboyish Franziska (Ursula Herking) prefers the high arts and gets some help by Professor Lange (Leo Slezak) – finally she'll get her own exhibition.

~ Marianne, Kohlund, Franziska and Professor Lange ~

Smug Lotte Waag (Carsta Löck) is on the hunt for a wealthy husband and finds finally her man in square 45 years old bachelor and tax inspector Alfred Hintze (Erich Ponto).

~ Lovely Carsta Löck - really good in being touchy - and mostly speaking with an accent of Hamburg and around - yay! We are really snotty here in North Germany -aren't we?!?!

(Just by the way: I lived almost 10 years near Hamburg..) ~

Meanwhile sweet Käthe Winter (Sabine Peters) who tries to stay true to Marianne and their firm, fells head over heels for precision mechanic Martin Bachmann (Heinz Wenzel).. ..and gets preggers.. - She finds that out after Martin has left her - because he doesn't want to play second fiddle behind the firm..

~ Well, Käthe - who will you choose? Martin - or Marianne?

- and don't forget:

“Business interest go before private interest.”~

Of course Kohlund appears again – he now is top brass for “XYZ Zigaretten” (a big cigarette-company - invented for this film) and in position to give a profitable job to the girls – but he is still about to make Marianne that what a woman should be: A wife and hausfrau – not a business partner.

Naturally Marianne and Kohlund finally end up together - after the firm went to pieces – and honest: in a rather sweet way he tells her in the last seconds of the film that she should stay the way she is: a strong woman.

~ The End ~

In some parts I really dislike the film - not to speak of my difficulties to understand Hans Söhnker’s voice in this film here and there.. Especially in the beginning and in the end.. - Let me tell you this: I watched this film about 5 times till I finally noticed that he tells her NOT to change!! Boy.. What energy I wasted - just because I was mad about Hans Söhnker.. Wait! I still am! SPEAK UP, SONNY! (haha! Get it? ;"p)

But really: Telling Marianne (without any smile!) how to fix his breakfast as a (second!!) proposal to marriage isn’t my idea of lovely. As is telling her that she only found that firm to make him attracted to her.. OOH BOY!!! After such a proposal your sweet Irene would end in court..

Or Martin who tells Käthe that she never really loved him – because otherwise she would leave Marianne immediately for him and not stay true to the promise she made to Marianne.. Hm…

Ingrid Bergman's character is not much of a challenge for her acting skills.. but a very solid appearance - well: It's Miss Bergman - she was ALWAYS great..

Well - but there are some really sweet scenes – yes, ok… kitschy scenes:

A classic boy meets girl scene of old German films (I saw it in countless German flicks..) with Käthe and Martin:

girl can’t pay for her tram ticket, boy pays, tram “jumps”, boy falls against girl, he blushes and apologises, girl smiles – sweet melody fades in as picture fades out..

~ Awww...~

Käthe and Martin have a really lovely story (and of course a happy end - including a newly built single room flat..) – and after one of their quarrels they make good in a cinema – which is really cute – and all without words.. (You just hear Zarah Leander, who was a big star in 3rd Reich at that time, singing a song on the screen..) Käthe and Martin have some scenes without any dialogue – which I find very well done.

~ five seconds later she leans her head onto his shoulder and they watch the end of the film.. Aww.. ~

I love Sabine Peters, who looks a bit like a curled doll.. She never had a big career - but she for sure was good in being "the sweet naïve girl".

Another scene I love: Alfred who proposes to Lotte by simply suggesting to pay her taxes.. He is a bit intoxicated because after waiting for Lotte in the rain he caught a cold – and Lotte nurses him by giving him amounts of alcohol..

And in the end of this scene he says with a deep sigh:

"This is soo romantic."

- I am always laughing at that point. - Erich Ponto - who was actually 54 and not like Alfred is supposed to be 42 - is such a cute man.. It might not be romantic - but it makes me want to hug him.

~ Erich Ponto - lovely, humorous man - some of you will know him as Dr. Winkel from THE THIRD MAN (1949) ~

And Franziska.. personated by the marvelous Ursula Herking, a very tartly comedienne.. to me Franziska seems to be lesbian - always making fun of the other girls who are dreaming of men (“You don’t listen when virgins talk of love.”) - and confessing to Professor Lange that Marianne makes her melting away with her sad looks..

There are sources in www who will tell you that all four women marry in the end - so to satisfy the Nazi ideology - but Franziska stays single.. Living for art .. drawing girls..

... think what you want... I am waving the "flag of pride" into her direction!

3rd Reich aspects:

This film was clearly for escapism. There is no one doing the Nazi salute - and for wearing uniforms: if you watch really carefully you can spot the back of a man wearing an uniform of the SS: He is climbing up the stairs of a tramway station - while Ingrid Bergman goes down.. Maybe there are other uniformed men in the scenes which are setted in the streets of Berlin - but it doesn't make any difference to the film.

It runs in the family:

The son of Leo Slezak

later became a popular actor in Hollywood

– ever heard of Walter Slezak?

My favourite anecdote of Leo Slezak, who was a very popular opera singer, is this one:

Once he appeared in opera LOHENGRIN by Richard Wagner in which a swan carries the hero. One time a stage worker started the swan too early which left Leo Slezak alone on stage – he turned to the audience and asked:

“What time’s the next swan?”

And here just for fun and all of you who like dogs - like Leo Slezak did :

Thank you all for listening!

Auf Wiedersehen!!

Yours truly,

Irene