Robert Z Leonard

Dancing Lady

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Patch and Janie laughing

Can a dancer also be a lady? 1933’s Dancing Lady is already asking the question in its title. It stars Joan Crawford – 1933 Joan Crawford, before the batshit stare developed – as a dancer in a risqué burlesque show who, in the film’s opening moments, is being arrested for indecency by the cops. And is then bailed out by a Park Avenue swell who thinks he sees something in young Janie Barlow. What Tod Newton (Franchot Tone) sees, in fact, is another notch on his bedpost, but ambitious Janie is determined she’s not going to help him carve it. Instead, holding on tight to her honour, she decides to ride what she … Read more

The Bribe

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Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner

In Casablanca “everybody comes to Rick’s”, in The Bribe it’s Pedro’s, a sweaty canteen somewhere in venal Central America, around which this messy mix of thriller, romance, exotic adventure and detective story plays out. Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner are the stars, but Charles Laughton is the standout, taking it upon himself – probably not for selfless reasons – to save this odd mishmash from itself with a performance that lifts everything up several rungs. The story centres on a racket dealing in hooky war surplus, which FBI agent Rigby – no first name – has been sent in to sort out. Instantly suspicious characters include alcoholic ex-pilot Tug Hintten (John Hodiak) and … Read more