Today and tomorrow are pretty busy for me and Summer Under the Stars and this blog are going to suffer for it. But I have a little moment for Mary Astor. I always do.
Paradise for Three (1938)
Spoiler alert: Mary Astor did not play the lead role in any of the films I watched today. But each of her characters was interesting in some particular way. Paradise for Three is a charming, old school comedy about mistaken identity. Two winners of a soap slogan contes get a stay at a European hotel. One of the winners happens to be a millionaire owner of the soap company but to the people at the hotel he „switches places” with an unemployed man who lives off participating in contests.
Mary Astor plays a broke hotel guest who is VERY excited to hear that there is a millionaire staying at the place at that time – of course, she does not know the man she thinks is rich is… the opposite of that.
The charade does not go for long as pretty much everyone figures it out but the film remains pleasant and funny and Mary is great.
Midnight (1939)
Speaking of actresses being great – Claudette Colbert! She’s the lead of Midnight and I loved her!
She is also in dire straits financially and she also arrives in Europe, Paris this time, where she is going to look for work. Buuuut… she ends up impersonating European royalty. Mary Astor plays a rich lady who is onto Claudette and is determined to catch her in a lie.
The film’s leads are Claudette Colbert (as I mentioned multiple times already) and Don Ameche – a taxi driver ready to help the charming foreigner. Their chemistry is fantastic and they make Midnight a truly wonderful comedy.
Little Women (1949)
And we’re ending very appropriately, I think, seeing as Greta Gerwig’s remake is coming in December. The 1949 version of the film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Janet Leigh (so beautiful!), and June Allyson. And if I’m being honest June Allyson as Jo is the one part of the film that does not work for me. Maybe I got spoiled by Katharine Hepburn and Winona Ryder.
Mary Astor is Marmee in this adaptation and it was nice to see a different side of her. I’m used to her playing these fabulous, independent women who have certain coldness to them (not a bad thing!). Here, she’s a warm and loving motherly figure – versatility!
(P.S. Laurie seemed VERY old.)
Swingin' at the Seance 