On This Day...Madame Butterfly (1932)

Well, as the year draws to a close, we see the last film release of the year. Madame Butterfly was released on this day in 1932 and was Cary Grant's 7th full length film.

Synopsis:

Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton (Cary Grant) and Lieutenant Barton (Charlie Ruggles) are two American Naval officers onshore in Japan. 

At a gathering, Pinkerton meets Cho-Cho San (Sylvia Sidney), a beautiful Japanese maiden who is about to become a Geisha.

She disgraces her family by accepting Pinkerton's love to become his bride. Although she takes her marriage vows seriously, theirs are not truly bound with love. 

After the "honeymoon" is over, Pinkerton returns to the States with the fleet, with Cho-Cho San, whom Pinkerton has nicknamed "Butterfly," remaining in Japan, where she keeps his home until he returns. Three years pass. During that time, Cho-Cho San, has given birth to a son she names "Trouble" (Philip Horomato). She is still confident that someday her husband will return to her. But what has happened to Pinkerton during that time? 

He has married his fiancé, an American girl named Adelaide (Sheila Terry), whom he intends on taking with him to Japan.

Did You Know?

The Japanese censor cut a scene where Cary Grant and Sylvia Sidney share an embrace, because Miss Sidney's elbow was exposed.

Gary Cooper was originally slated for the role of Lieutenant Pinkerton.

When the US Navy returns to Tokyo Bay/Yokohama, mountains are seen rising from the sea. There are no mountains in that area.

The story is based on Puccini's opera of the same title.

On set with Sylvia Sidney.

Cast:

 Sylvia Sidney ... Cho-Cho San
 Cary Grant ... Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton
 Charles Ruggles ... Lt. Barton
 Irving Pichel ... Yomadori
 Helen Jerome Eddy ... Cho-Cho's mother
 Edmund Breese ... Cho-Cho's grandfather
 Louise Carter ... Suzuki
 Sándor Kállay ... Goro
 Judith Vosselli ... Madame Goro
 Sheila Terry ... Mrs. Pinkerton
 Dorothy Libaire ... Peach Blossom
 Berton Churchill ... American Consul
 Philip Horomato ... Trouble

Lobby Cards and Posters:

Directed by Marion Gering.

Distributed by Paramount Publix.

Running time: 86 minutes.

On This Day...Devil and the Deep (1932)

On this day, in 1932, Devil and the Deep was released. This was Cary Grant's 4th full length feature film.

Cary Grant plays Lieutenant Jacques, in a drama that takes place on a naval base and a submarine that is commanded by Commander Sturm (Charles Laughton). Laughton plays the jealous husband of his wife Tallulah Bankhead and her lover Gary Cooper.

With Charles Laughton.

"This picture is, in my opinion, the best dramatic talkie we have yet seen."

- David Fairweather, Theatre World

"Everyone who pays a visit to the Carlton during the current run of The Devil and the Deep must wonder how it was that Mr. Charles Laughton was allowed to make his debut on the talking-screen in an American picture." - Michael Orme, The Illustrated London News

Cast:

Pauline Sturm             Tallulah Bankhead

Lieutenant Semper     Gary Cooper

Commander Sturm     Charles Laughton

Lieutenant Jacques     Cary Grant

A Lieutenant              Gordon Wescott

Hassan                        Paul Porcassi

Mrs. Planet                 Juliette Compton

Mr. Planet                   Arthur Hoyt

Mrs. Crimp                Dorothy Christy

Hutton                       Henry Kolker

With Tallulah Bankhead.

Lobby Cards:

Directed by Marion Gering
Produced and distributed by Paramount Publix
Running time: 70 minutes.

"Lights, camera...action!" - The Directors - Part 4

So there were four directors who worked with Cary Grant on three films each.

They were, Marion Gering, George Cukor, Leo McCarey and George Stevens.

Marion Gering:

19th June 1901 - 19th April 1977

Devil and the Deep (1932)

With Charles Laughton and Tallulah Bankhead.

Madame Butterfly (1932)

With Sylvia Sidney

Thirty-Day Princess (1934)

Again with Sylvia Sidney

George Cukor:

7th July 1899 - 24th January 1983

On Grant -"One of the reasons he was so successful as an actor was that he truly just behaved like he was a normal guy and like he didn't look like that."

Sylvia Scarlett (1936)

With Katharine Hepburn.

Holiday (1938)

Again with Katharine Hepburn.

The Philadelphia Story (1941)

With George Cukor, John Howard and Katharine Hepburn.

George Cukor was awarded an Oscar for Best Director for The Philadelphia Story. He also directed many Oscar nominated performances.

Leo McCarey:

3rd October 1898 - 5th July 1969

The Awful Truth (1937)

Publicity shot with Irene Dunne and Leo McCarey.

Leo McCarey won the Oscar for Best Director.

Once Upon A Honeymoon (1942)

With Ginger Rogers.

An Affair to Remember (1957)

With Deborah Kerr.

George Stevens :

18th December 1904 - 8th March 1975

Gunga Din (1939)

On the set of Gunga Din (above) relaxing and (below) with George Stevens.

Penny Serenade (1941)

On set of the film that bought him his first Oscar nomination.

The Talk of the Town (1942)

With George Stevens, Jean Arthur and Ronald Colman.

Four directors completed two film projects each with Cary Grant...

..."Lights, camera...action!" - The Directors - Part 5