Here are three lesser-known titles you may have missed, but I think they definitely deserve some love:
Hands Across the Table (1935)
Back when TCM was merely a twinkle in Ted Turner’s eye, I used to stay up watching the “Late, Late Show” on Boston’s WBZ-TV. One night, I discovered Hands Across the Table, starring Carole Lombard as a manicurist who dreams of marrying for money, but falls for a broke millionaire/fellow fortune hunter (Fred MacMurray) who’s engaged to an heiress he doesn’t love.
That thin-as-cellophane premise may sound wobbly, but in the hands of pros like Carole and Fred, this rom-com packs humor and heart. Look for the scene where Carole impersonates a nasal-voiced telephone operator calling Fred’s unsuspecting fiancee, who thinks he’s in Bermuda. (He’s actually hiding out at Carole’s place.) Director Mitchell Leisen builds this phone bit to a hilarious climax, and when his co-stars finished the scene (but kept laughing), Leisen kept the cameras rolling. So fun to see Carole and Fred’s genuine chemistry captured on film.
Availability: Hard to find. Check the usual streaming sites. For now, TCM’s Ben Mankewicz’s intro nicely recaps the plot and Lombard’s screwball comedy chops.
The Cameraman (1928)
Buster Keaton is my favorite comedian. His “stone face” and balletic stunts have entertained audiences for over a century. His shorts, which Buster often directed, are as fresh as when they debuted in the 1920s. Once he began making full-length features in 1923, Buster’s genius was preserved for the ages: The General, Sherlock Jr. and Steamboat Bill, Jr. are legendary, must-see movies.
The Cameraman is more like the runt of Buster’s litter, the only decent comedy he shot while under contract to MGM following a stellar decade at his own indie studio. Sadly, MGM micromanaged Buster’s work, which literally drove him to drink. Somehow, he managed to squeak out this last little gem before his career hit the skids, playing a newsreel “shooter” out to impress the girl he loves. It’s definitely an underdog in the Keaton canon, which is why I always recommend it.
The More the Merrier (1943)
This film captures a snapshot in history: Washington, D.C. during the WWII housing shortage. Caught in the crunch, three total strangers share an apartment. Wackiness ensues. Known for directing dramas (Shane, A Place in the Sun), George Stevens actually cut his teeth as a gag writer for Laurel & Hardy, ideal training for maximizing laughs from Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea and Charles Coburn, playing the reluctant roomies. The script zips merrily along, and unlike many rom-coms that simply piddle out, this pic totally sticks the landing.
Availability: Rent it on Amazon, YouTube, Google Play and iTunes.
I need to check all three of these out! I've only seen the first 10 minutes or so or Hands Across the Table, I've definitely never seen The Cameraman, and for some reason, I've seen bits and pieces of The More, the Merrier, but never the whole thing from start to finish. I will add all three to my watchlist -- I'm a huge fan of both Carole Lombard and Jean Arthur, and I've only seen one Buster Keaton movie (not counting his Beach Party movies), so I need to up my Keaton game. Thanks for putting these on my radar!
And while I have you here, Jeannie, I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for…
One of my favorite, largely forgotten comedies is 1932's "Jewel Robbery", starring Kay Francis and William Powell. I do love "The More the Merrier" for its insight into a side of the war's domestic impact that has largely been forgotten. But as a comedy set-up, it's also the grandparent of endless TV sitcoms about mismatched roommates.
Have not seen it yet but “The More the Merrier” sounds like a very timely premise, has it ever been remade?