Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

Now that I've blown my nose and wiped the tears from my eyes, I can write about Here Comes Mr. Jordan, the 1941 romantic fantasy starring the warm and friendly and even gentle Robert Montgomery (Elizabeth's dad), the comely Evelyn Keyes (Scarlett's younger sister) and the take charge Claude Rains (Charlotte's doctor). The original engorges the heart just as deeply as its more famous 1978 remake Heaven Can Wait but lacks the laugh out loud comedy of the latter. Although it has no Dyan Cannon, Here Comes Mr. Jordan does have James Gleason, Edward Everett Horton, a very young Lloyd Bridges and any number of great and familiar Hollywood character actors (many from the Preston Sturges stable) that we've all come to know and love.

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Night Must Fall (1937)

Night Must Fall, the 1937 film of the successful Emlyn Williams dramatic thriller, is a dark, atypical MGM film in that its tone and characters go against the studio's more famous light-hearted fare. Young Rosalind Russell, Robert Montgomery and (yes!) Dame May Whitty are all fascinating to watch dancing around the central murder mystery and are supported by a stellar cast (all in Oscar caliber performances). I don't want to convey anymore because it's a tight story (adapted by John Van Druten of I Am A Camera/Cabaret fame) and a fine film to watch unfold without prior knowledge.

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Night Must Fall (1937)

What is the deal with Night Must Fall? It's supposed to be a thrilling murder mystery of yore but the murderer is revealed (for all intents and purposes) early on so there is no mystery. I guess people like the photography and maybe at one time it had chills but now, although a pleasure to watch Rosalind, Russell, Robert Montgomery and Dame Mae Whitty, it's a little stage bound and traditionally British.

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