God's Gift to Women, with Louise Brooks, was released on this day in 1931

God's Gift to Women, with Louise Brooks, was released on this day in 1931. The film is a Pre-Code musical comedy whose musical numbers were cut and whose humor and suggestive scenes are largely tempered by the presence of star Frank Fay. He plays the Parisian descendant of a Don Juan who vows to stop philandering in order to win the hand of a virtuous young lady with a disapproving father. Louise Brooks plays one of a handful of women irresistibly drawn to Fay’s character. More about the film can be found on the Louise Brooks Society filmography page.

Frank Fay and Louise Brooks in God's Gift to Women

Film Daily described the film as a “Merry French farce with amusing plot and deft comedy work by Frank Fay, fine feminine support and good direction.” Edward Churchill, writing in Motion Picture Herald, stated “Frank Fay is the whole show in this broadly sophisticated story of Parisian love and Parisian life. Fay has all the women in the world after him, so it seems, and they are all good-looking. In fact, some of them are very beautiful, and they seem to like Fay. . . . Jane Hinton hasn’t given the picture much of a story as far as the plot is concerned, but the situations are excellent. Jackson and Griffith have tossed in some rare gags and some excellent dialogue and the costume department at Warners has been busy. . . . Michael Curtiz has built a snappy, laughable and highly entertaining picture around Fay and the preview audience laughed plenty. Photography is good, settings are in perfect keeping with the vehicle and the sound is clear.”

The movie, indeed, belongs to Fay, who was a popular Broadway star of light comedies. Casting the not-quite leading man as a Casanova was a stretch, but his delivery is mildly amusing at times. The plot line is predictable, and there’s a twist in the final scenes. The San Francisco Chronicle thought “The picture is a bit of fluff, but it is amusing and is well produced.”

Harry Mines of the Los Angeles Daily Illustrated News thought “All the girls in the cast have the opportunity to wear beautiful clothes and look their vampiest. They are Laura LaPlante, Marguerite Livingston, Yola D’Avril, Louise Brooks, Joan Blondell, Ethelyn Claire and the Sisters ‘G’.” Not surprisingly, Jerry Hoffman of the Los Angeles Examiner considered the film little more than “album of Hollywood’s beautiful women.” Harry Evans of Life magazine quipped “These few amusing moments are the film’s total assets — unless you haven’t seen Louise Brooks, Joan Blondell and Yola D’Avril in their underwear.”

All were not so forgiving. Variety called God’s Gift to Women “no gift to audiences.” Richard Watts Jr. of the New York Herald Tribune called it a “thin farce.”  Thonton Delehanty of the New York Post was less generous, “The humor is in the style of the hackneyed French farce, so hackneyed that it is paralyzingly awful.”

Unfortunately, the film was nowhere near a star turn for Brooks. And, her second consecutive supporting role left some critics surprised. As with her small part in It Pays to Advertise, some, including W. Ward Marsh of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, could only wish…. “Louise Brooks (returning to the screen in a comparatively minor role)….”

Under its American title, documented screenings of the film took place in Canada, England, New Zealand, The Philippines, Sweden, and possibly Brazil and France. In the United States, the film was also promoted under the title O Presente de deus para as Mulheres (Portuguese-language press). 

Elsewhere, God’s Gift to Women was shown under the title Dar boha k ženám (Czechoslovakia); Gotten Geschenk au die Frauen (Germany); Bóg dal za duzo kobiet (Poland); and Tantas veo… (Spain). The film was also shown in South Africa and the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) under the title Too Many Women.

SOME THINGS ABOUT THE FILM YOU MAY NOT KNOW:

— The film was originally completed as a musical. Due to audience distaste for musicals, however, all the songs were cut in American prints. The complete film was released intact in other countries, where there was no such decline in popularity. Cut from the version released in the United States was a theme song sung by Frank Fay, then a major Broadway star. The theme song, which is heard over the credits, is underscored several times in the film. Also cut was an elaborate dance number by the Sisters “G” which appeared in the film during its nightclub sequence. The complete film was released intact outside the United States, but only the American print is known to have survived.

— During the film’s April, 1931 showing in New York City, star Frank Fay made a personal appearance at the Strand Theater. (Fay was married at the time to Barbara Stanwyck).

—  Leading lady Laura La Plante played Magnolia in the first film version of Show Boat (1929); Charles Winninger, who plays her father in God’s Gift to Women, would play Cap’n Andy Hawks in the 1936 version of Show Boat.

— Fay’s character enjoyed a different lover each night of the week. Brooks – “brunette, bad and bold” – was assigned Thursday night.

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2023. Further unauthorized use prohibited.

Lulu in America : the Lost History of Louise Brooks and Pandora's Box

I have written a long article for Film International focusing on the little documented exhibition history of Pandora's Box in the United States (in the 1930s and 1940s). This lost history includes censorship, wholesale cuts, damning reviews, "thrilling sound effects", adults only screenings, and ads which scream "Sin Lust Evil !" The architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Little Theater movement, Iris Barry and the NY Museum of Modern Art, Marlene Dietrich, Charlie Chaplin's FBI file, and others also figure in this story.

My article, “'Sin Lust Evil' in America: Louise Brooks and the Exhibition History of Pandora’s Box (1929)", can be found at https://filmint.nu/louise-brooks-and-the-exhibition-history-of-pandoras-box-1929-thomas-gladysz/

This groundbreaking article overturns a couple of long held beliefs: one is that Pandora's Box wasn't shown in the United States following its NYC debut in 1929 until James Card screened it in Rochester, NY in the late 1950s. The second is that G.W. Pabst choose Louise Brooks for the role of Lulu after seeing her in Howard Hawks A Girl in Every Port (1928).

A reminder.  Pandora's Box starring Louise Brooks, will be shown at the Paramount theater in Oakland, California on Saturday, May 6. More about that special screening, which will feature live musical accompaniment, can be found HERE.

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2023. Further unauthorized use prohibited. 

King of Gamblers was released on this day in 1937

King of Gamblers was released on this day in 1937. The film is a stylish low-budget crime drama about a slot-machine racket and the crusading reporter who uncovers it. Though a “B” picture, this almost noir was given an “A” treatment by director Robert Florey. Louise Brooks’ role as Joyce Beaton, love interest of the reporter, was cut from the film’s final release. More about the film can be found on the Louise Brooks Society filmography page.

The film was part of an unofficial Paramount series based on crimes and criminals suggested by the J. Edgar Hoover book, Persons in Hiding. Despite its source material, the film’s gritty realism shocked some. The Christian Science Monitor stated “Sociological aspects of the theme are quite overshadowed by melodramatics which may prove too violent for the more sensitive.” Fox West Coast Bulletin said the film was “Not wholesome. Waste of time.” Motion Picture Review wrote “Such a picture as this has no constructive social value.” The Kansas City Star added “. . . the subject hardly can be recommended to the attention of the youth and future glory of the land.” While Mae Tinnie, the onomatopoeically named film critic of the Chicago Tribune, suggested “If you like a grisly little programmer, King of Gamblers is that.”

Though considered a B-movie (typically shown as part of a double bill), the film received very good notices from both exhibitors and the public alike. The manager of the Cory Theater in Winchester, Indiana stated, “I thought when I showed Night Key I had given my patrons the best picture ever made, but this King of Gamblers is even better than that. Played last two days of week to big business.” Other exhibitors agreed: comments published in Motion Picture Herald included “Excellent entertainment in any spot. Well liked by all,” and “Was afraid of this one, but found it packed with suspense and action.”

In reviewing the film’s New York City opening, Irene Thirer of the New York Post wrote “Criterion goers are clutching their chairs these days, because this is probably the most blood-thirsty picture in several seasons. . . . Supporting the principals (and Lloyd Nolan’s job as the reporter in corking), are Larry Crabbe, the late Helen Burgess (who strangely met her untimely death immediately after she had died in this picture via script requirements), Porter Hall, Harvey Stephens, a couple of walloping shots of the capable Evelyn Brent, and others. Robert Florey directed – which accounts for the picture’s unusual camera angles.” 

The Washington Post had a similar sentiment. “The cold chills and icy thrills of King of Gamblers make the Metropolitan air-conditioning quite superfluous. If you are one for hard-boiled homicides mixed in with your entertainment, this show will give you a good time and a half.”

The film reunited Brooks with Evelyn Brent. The two actresses had first appeared together in Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em (1926), when each were emerging stars. For the two faded stars, King of Gamblers was seen as a comeback opportunity. And indeed, studio publicity promoted their appearance as such. Around the time of the film’s release, the Los Angeles Times ran a picture of Brooks and Brent under the headline, “Two actresses resume screen career.” The caption noted their “return to the silver sheet.” Brooks’ scene and character were cut from the film before its release.

Under its American title, documented screenings of the film took place in Australia (including Tasmania), Bermuda, Canada, China, Dutch Guiana (Surinam), Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, The Philippines, and the United Kingdom (including England, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, and Scotland). On a few occasions, the film was shown in the United States under the title Czar of the Slot Machines. In the United States, the film was also promoted about under the title El Rey de los Jugadores (Spanish-language press).

Elsewhere, King of Gamblers was shown under the title L’homme qui terrorisait New-York (Algeria); O Amor é como Jogo (Brazil); El Rey de los jugadores (Cuba); Král hazardních hrácu (Czechoslovakia); Storbyens sjakaler (Denmark); El Rey de los Jugadores (Dominican Republic); L’homme qui terrorisait New-York (France); O tromokratis tis Neas Yorkis (Greece); Rándyr stórborgarinnar (Iceland); 犯罪王 or Hanzai-ō (Japan); L’homme qui terrorisait New-York (Morocco); Król graczy (Poland); El Rey de los jugadores (Spain); L’homme qui terrorisait New York and Der König der Spieler (Switzerland); NewYorku' Titreten Adam (Turkey); and El Rey de los jugadores (Uruguay).

 

SOME THINGS ABOUT THE FILM YOU MAY NOT KNOW:

 — Director Robert Florey hoped to use Louise Brooks in an earlier film, Hollywood Boulevard (1936), but it didn’t work out.

— An opening sequence with “Jim Adams” (Lloyd Nolan) being jilted by “Joyce Beaton” (Louise Brooks) was shot but eliminated from the final cut. Prints of the film which include Brooks’ may have been sent overseas, as Brooks is included in advertisements for the film in at least two countries.

— Helen Burgess, a promising 18 year old actress who had the second female lead in the film, died shortly after its completion on April 7, 1937 (and just five days before this film’s preview). Discovered by Cecil B. De Mille, the demure actress was cast by the famous director in his epic western The Plainsman (1936). While working on her fourth film, Night of Mystery (1937), Burgess caught a chill that resulted in a serious cold, which in turn developed into pneumonia. An article at the time of her death noted that the Hollywood High School graduate had recently been picked for stardom by a vote of the Paramount film editors.

— The film was previewed at the Alexander theater in Glendale, California. This first ever showing took place on April 12, 1937. King of Gamblers was paired with Swing High, Swing Low – a romantic drama starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. Advertisements in the local paper noted stars of the unnamed preview film would be in attendance. Motion Picture Herald reported “The audience, which had been watching Swing High, Swing Low, found in the added attraction a contrast that caused it to pay strict attention. Several times it broke into applause.”

— In Los Angeles, King of Gamblers played at the Orpheum Theater, a prominent downtown venue. The film was also shown at the neighborhood theaters like the Beverly (now owned by Quentin Tarantino), Egyptian, and Village, as well as the Figueroa and Larchmont, where the film was paired with Go-Getter, a Busby Berkeley film whose stars were coincidentally listed as Brent – Louise (George and Anita).

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2023. Further unauthorized use prohibited. 

Louise Brooks Society gives up social media

Over the last few months, the Louise Brooks Society™ has suffered attack after attack on its various social media accounts, and has decided to call it quits on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Maintaining these accounts is just not worth the trouble, and anyways, their influence is waning - especially Twitter. 

Sadly, each of these social media platforms have allowed an internet troll (we all know who I'm talking about) to attack the LBS through a series of nuisance complaints alleging the Louise Brooks Society has somehow infringed on their trademark and intellectual property rights. Bullshit. It is simply not true, but these platforms and others, like LinkTree and Etsy and CafePress, simply don't care. The truth is in the details, but sadly, these platforms can't be bothered with details like my Louise Brooks Society predates the troll's trademark by more than 20 years. It is enough to simply file a claim, and have someone's else page or account permanently disabled.

The Louise Brooks Society Twitter account, established in 2009, had gained more than 5000 followers, and was taken down. And so was the recently established second LBS Twitter account.

The Louise Brooks Society Facebook fan page, established in 2010, had also gained more than 5000 followers, and was taken down. And so was the official LBS Facebook account.

The Louise Brooks Society Instagram page, established in 2021, had gained more than 5300 followers, and was taken down. And so was the second LBS Instagram account, which in the last couple of months had gained more than 500 followers.

If these platforms don't care enough about me, then I don't care about them.  

But what's more, this vindictive troll has also had my PERSONAL Twitter and Facebook pages permanently disabled, likely because I describe myself as the "Director" of the Louise Brooks Society. (With its reference to a film director, what else could I call myself ?) BTW: I founded the Louise Brooks Society website in 1995, and have long displayed a © copyright symbol on my website. Sadly, I have been cut off from my family and friends.

I expect to not post about this situation anymore. It is a drag, and I could imagine many readers of this blog find this matter a bit tedious. But, I would expect, they are more reason and interesting than the bat-shit crazy posts the troll has been posting about me.  

The two decade old images shown here are of the images that got my accounts taken down.

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2023. Further unauthorized use prohibited.

Pandoras's Box, will be shown at the Old Woollen in Farsley

The 1929 Louise Brooks' film, Pandoras's Box, will be shown at the Old Woollen in Farsley in the United Kingdom. More information can be found HERE.

And here is a bit more information regarding this screening from the venue website.

Pandora’s Box - Silent Film With Live Score

Thu, Apr 20 @ 7:00PM

The Old Woollen, Sunny Bank Mills, 83- 85 Town Street, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5UJ

£13 + Booking Fee. Doors 7pm. Show 8pm. (Unreserved Seated)

G.W. Pabst’s 1929 silent movie masterpiece Pandora’s Box stars Louise Brooks in the role which ensured her a place in the Pantheon of immortal goddesses of the silver screen. This controversial, and in its day heavily censored, movie is still listed in the UK Guardian Newspaper’s top 100 films. It is a two-hour emotional rollercoaster ride through the loves – male and female – of Lulu, a high class courtesan and dancer, and the trail of devastation she blazes through 1920s Berlin society, to exile in a Parisian gambling den, and abject poverty and violent death in a fogbound London.

This special screening features an original live score.

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2023. Further unauthorized use prohibited.
 

Very rare Louise Brooks OMD Pandora's Box t-shirt now for sale on Etsy

UPDATE: The item described below has been removed from Etsy following a complaint from the internet troll who has been harassing me and the Louise Brooks Society. Apparently, this troll thinks he owns the intellectual property rights of the the OMD t-shirt I was hoping to sell. I guess I should inform the band and Virgin records, their label at the time. I have appealed to Etsy, but considering what numskulls they are, I don't expect a favorable response.  Following the Etsy take-down, the Louise Brooks Society Instagram was also suspended (again) following yet another complaint from the same troll. 

UPDATE #2:  I just posted a complaint - my third - on the Etsy Forums. I doubt it will do any good.

UPDATE #: Today, on 4/18/2023, the Louise Brooks Society Etsy account was "permanently suspended" due to the fact that my account received multiple ALLEGATIONS of intellectual property infringement - not actual infringement, just allegations - the most recent example is detailed below. Its ridiculous, I know. But there you go.

When ever I want a pick-me-up, I watch one of the many videos of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) performing their hit song "Pandora's Box (It's a long, long way)". YouTube has a number of similar videos. What I love about this particular video, in which the song is performed live in concert, is that images of Louise Brooks are projected on screen behind the band. The song's introduction is given by OMD singer and big-time Louise Brooks fan Andy McCluskey.

I love that band, and I love that song. I remember how thrilled I was to discover the LP and CD (and also a  limited edition single depicting Louise Brooks which featured a remix of "Pandora's Box") at a record store on Haight Street in San Francisco, where I then lived and worked. I believe it was a branch of Rough Trade records, sometime in the early 1990s. (Another highlight was seeing the Violent Femmes playing for free outside the store. Or was it the Replacements? I must be getting old....)

Well anyways, I have also had great affection for OMD, as discovering that song was intimately tied in to my discovery of Louise Brooks. Sometime around then, in the early to mid-1990s, I was walking around Berkeley, California and went into one of its many record stores - and guess what I found. It was an OMD t-shirt depicting Louise Brooks. SCORE!!!!! 

I now need to raise some money, so I am willing to sell that very collectible shirt. I have put it up for sale on my Louise Brooks Society Etsy account as a fundraiser. In case you are wondering why my Etsy account is no longer named Louise Brooks Society - it is now called lulupandorasbox - that's because Etsy forced me to change it because a certain internet troll complained. What a grumpy pants. Here is the picture of the front and back of the t-shirt. (Don't worry, I have laundered it more than a few times.)

Here is my Etsy product description: "Offered here is a very cool, very rare VINTAGE t-shirt, dating from the early 1990s. It depicts Louise Brooks, the iconic silent film star, on the front. On the back are the words "Pandora's Box" and "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". This t-shirt was issued in the early 1990s as a promotional tie in to the Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) song "Pandora's Box" (subtitled "It's a Long, Long Way" for US release) from the band's 1991 album "Sugar Tax."

This is an official t-shirt, not some counterfeit knock-off. I bought this shirt in a store in Berkeley, California. I have owned this t-shirt for nearly 30 years. It is in good though used condition, and has been worn a number of times. There is one whole on the left sleeve, and another smaller whole below the image of Louise Brooks, pictured from her Denishawn days. (The same image was used on other OMD releases from the time.) There is some yellowing around the collar. The tag is missing. My wife describes it as a "wrinkled old t-shirt," though I think of it as precious. You may too."

* * *

And, here for good measure, is the original 1991 video for the song. Once, when I had the chance to chat with Andy McCluskey online, he mentioned how determined he then was to put out a video for the song which featured imagery of Louise Brooks - despite the fact that they had to pay a good deal to license the material. I love it.

 

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2023. Further unauthorized use prohibited.