Fools for Scandal (1938) April 12, 2007
Posted by jackal in : Films , trackbackI’ll be the first to admit that I can watch Carole Lombard in anything. It helps that she spent most of her career in screwball comedy, a genre that fit her like a glove. Therein - beautiful, fast-talking, brash, often nutty as a fruitcake - she’s a super-charged dynamo propelling even the flimsiest plot along with madcap glee. Every time I catch even a few moments, I’m instantly reminded why she’s my favourite actress.
Fools for Scandal was a film I had every reason to fear would fit into the ‘flimsy’ category. The Warner Bros comedy was a flop on its release in 1938 and the public’s ’Screwball Queen’ deliberately moved to dramatic roles for her next four films. Never, to my knowledge, released on home video, it remains little-seen, but time, to my eyes at least, has been kind to this forgotten gem.
Lombard is US film star Kay Winters who, while vacationing incognito in Paris, falls for penniless aristocrat Rene Viladel (Fernand Gravet). Kay, though, is engaged to Phillip (Ralph Bellamy) and feels compelled to return to London and resume her life. The smitten Rene follows, gatecrashing Kay’s high-society fancy dress party, and talking himself into a job as her chef. In the midst of rampant tabloid speculation in the following days, Kay tries to rid herself of the charming Rene, but he ain’t having none of it …
Perhaps it is thinly plotted, but at 80 minutes it doesn’t outstay its welcome. Yes, it’s predictable - Ralph Bellamy as the poor sap, again - but played delightfully by the leads. Gravet, an actor I’ve never seen before, is wonderful: witty, charming and an appropriately daft foil for the ever-sparkling Lombard. The main pleasure for me was the sheer unexpectedness of discovering a minor gem like this lying all-but forgotten in Lombard’s filmography.
Not much more to say on this, really, other than - as a WB film - it at least has a decent chance for future DVD release. It’s no My Man Godfrey, nor is it worthy of an incisive and thorough evaluation. It’s a breezy, amusing little film which allows Lombard to shine. That’ll do.
Comments»
Oh dear, the screencaps alone make this one I want to see! I’m a sucker for screwball, especially Lombard (it’s the two Ls for me - Lombard and Loy).
Was it televised recently? It would be nice for Warners to release another comedy collection, albeit with more minor titles such as this.
Yes, it showed up on TCM in the States recently; I got a friend over there to record it for me. I really hope it gets a DVD release (it looks in good condition from the broadcast print) and thus a wider audience. As for Myrna Loy, I’m a big fan of hers too - eagerly awaiting the WB Powell/Loy set which is supposedly in the works.
BTW if you want to see ‘Fools for Scandal’ I don’t mind sending you a copy. Email address is in my member profile over at DVD Forums.