Lady for a Day

Rating:
Summary: The 1933 Columbia Pictures logo
Review: LADY FOR A DAY is worth seeing if only to see that 1933 Columbia Pictures logo which introduces the film. This movie deserves a cluster of stars, the Frank Capra 50 star rendition of Damon Runyon's wonderfully Broadway story of Apple Annie. The characters are in the tradition of the Lemon Drop Kid--Moose Moran, and Oxford Charlie; in this movie it's Dave the Dude. Dude, played by Warren William, is portrayed as Runyon would have expected him to be portrayed. And what a supporting cast to "Apple Annie," May Robson; cast including Walter Connolly as the Spanish Count, and Ned Sparks, with his monotone delivery, is Dude's mobster sidekick. Of course the brassy, nightclub bombshell, moll-to-be Glenda Farrell rounded out the bunch of Broadway mugs. It just wouldn't have been a 1930s Manhattan movie without the New York celebrities including Irish cops, the Mayor and Governor. Their evening police escort with motorcycle sirens and headlamps blazing was in the Grand B movie tradition for a Grand A movie. It was a fairy tale as weren't all of Damon Runyon's tales? Well written, well cast, well done. Take it from Dude's muscle-man, Shakespeare, "Ee-say, is-thay, ovie-may-- Or else! Yer may find yerself takin' a ride up tah 42nd Street.

Rating:
Summary: MAY ROBSON AS APPLE ANNIE
Review: This movie is a light-hearted, sentimental tale of Apple Annie (played by the charming 75-year-old Australian May Robson). As the "queen" of her neighbourhood, Robson is friends with practically everyone in Times Square from Bigwigs to panhandlers. She pretends to be the gracious and rich Mrs. E. Worthington Manville when she learns her daughter Louise is visiting her (she lives in Spain) for the first time since infancy. Enough of the plot! Audiences laughed and cried at the film when first released in 1933 and it was a smash hit. This was considered the great stage actress Robson's greatest screen performance and as much as I admire the work of Bette Davis, I think Robson made her character more realistically warm and her playing was natural and heartfelt. William is suited for his role as Dave the Dude as it fit his rather mealy con-man typecasting. Jean Parker does what she can with her role as Louise. This is a movie worth owning!

Rating:
Summary: A warm-hearted drama.
Review: This saga of old New York's seedier denizens provides a lesson on the basic goodness of humanity without being preachy or maudlin. While they may be down on their luck, their basic dignity is well illustrated in typical Capra-esque fashion, and the film provides an excellent example that people of all ages and station can be represented as interesting and attractive characters.

Rating:
Summary: stay away
Review: This wonderful film is a total disaster in its DVD format. Frank Capra Junior calls it a restored print which is a joke. The film is often dark, details are hard to see and there are sprocket holes, white spots and all kinds of detractions in the film. How could Image and Capra release this mess on DVD! This outstanding film deserves much better than is offered.