John Barrymore and Carole Lombard, Twentieth Century
In honor of Carole Lombard’s birthday, I enjoyed (make that GREATLY enjoyed) a rewatch of one of my favorite screwball comedies, Twentieth Century (Amazon dvd link). The hilarious film was directed by the wonderful Howard Hawks and stars the equally wonderful John Barrymore and Carole Lombard in the lead roles.
Some consider this comedy a bit of a stretch… maybe over the top.. but I love it with every fiber of my being. As far as I’m concerned a film can seldom be TOO over the top because that’s where the fun often is! As I’ve said countless times, the only time I get annoyed with a film is when it bores me.
The ultimate, unpardonable sin for a movie to commit in my little world! If a film asks me to extend my imagination or to believe the unbelievable… I don’t hesitate for a single second. I’m always ready, willing, and able to go as far with them as they want me to go.
Just don’t bore me… that’s my only requirement as a traveling companion. Keep my attention… keep me entertained… make me laugh or make me cry. Make me wish, for the duration of the film, that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Twentieth Century does all that and more.
John Barrymore and Carole Lombard, Twentieth Century
After filming of Twentieth Century (Amazon dvd link) ended, John Barrymore gave Carole Lombard an autographed photo he’d autographed with a tribute she must’ve treasured: “To the finest actress I have worked with, bar none.”
High praise, indeed, from an actor who worked with some of the greatest talents the world has ever known. However, the praise is completely understandable – Carole Lombard was the very definition of the word special. Her charisma, talent, beauty, and spark (which came from within) comes through in every film she made.
Something else comes through loud and clear in each of her films as well – she, literally, made everyone around her “step up their game” whether they (or she) knew it or not. I don’t just watch and enjoy old movies…. I kind of study them, for lack of a better word, and I have noticed that the stars around her in a film (while often brilliant in other films as well… such as William Powell, Kay Francis, Cary Grant or Clark Gable) seem even more inspired, even more ALIVE than ever.
Personally I think it’s never more obvious or true than with the great John Barrymore. Wonderful in all films, he (somehow) seems even more inspired, motivated, and ALIVE in Twentieth Century with Carole Lombard than any of his other films.
I call it that Lombard magic and it never, ever fails to fascinate me.
You can find Twentieth Century (Amazon dvd link) on dvd – no film collection is complete without this one!
~ Joi (“Joy”)