THE SHOPWORN ANGEL
US, 1938, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Walter Pidgeon, Hattie Mc Daniel, Nat Pendleton.
Directed by H.C. Potter.
The Shopworn Angel is a story about World War One, filmed on the eve of the outbreak of World War Two. It was written by Waldo Salt, contract writer at MGM who was later blacklisted but recovered his career writing routine films in the 50s and 60s but eventually writing such classics as Midnight Cowboy, Serpico, Coming Home, The Day of the Locust. H.C. Potter was a contract director, director of such films as Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House, The Miniver Story.
Margaret Sullavan had a strong career at the end of the 1930s and was to appear with James Stewart in The Shop Around the Corner and The Mortal Storm. James Stewart was at the beginning of his career and soon to win an Oscar for The Philadelphia Story. Walter Pidgeon is his usual stalwart self. Hattie Mc Daniel is a sassy maid, a year before she won her Oscar for Gone with the Wind.
Margaret Sullavan portrays a Broadway star, of humble origins, who is a spoilt shopworn angel. Walter Pidgeon portrays her devoted agent. James Stewart portrays a naïve young soldier, in New York for the first time, about to go to France for fighting in the war. He encounters the actress, she becomes fascinated with him, he pretends that she is his girlfriend – and an attraction, then a romance follow. There is a sad and sobering ending. Interesting to see in the light of the career of James Stewart as well (who had a strong war career himself) and the style of film-making at MGM in the 1930s.
1. Old-style MGM film-making, the story, the cast, the glossy look, the New York settings?
2. The title, the evocations, Daisy as shopworn?
3. The black and white photography, New York in 1917, the city, tickertape parades, skyscrapers? The theatre, Coney Island? The army headquarters? The war sequences? The musical score?
4. The 1930s, the menace of Hitler, America making morale-boosting stories of World War One? America’s ultimate involvement in World War Two?
5. The picture of Daisy, spoilt, living in luxury, late for rehearsals? Sam as her manager, his smoothing things out for her? Partying, drinking, headaches? Martha as her maid, her reliance on Martha? The purpose of her life?
6. The marching of the soldiers, the tickertape parade, Daisy hearing it? Sam’s comments about the war? Bill, marching, ingenuous, gaping at the skyscrapers, his Texas background? With the men, pretending to have a girlfriend? Going on the bus tour of the city? Knocked down on the street? The ride imposed on Daisy? Their talking, the beginning of a friendship? Bill’s friends seeing Daisy?
7. Bill and his talk, Daisy, going to the stage door, with his friends, having the soda?
8. Bill and his falling in love, having Daisy’s photo? Hearing that she was ill, concern, buying the gifts? Taking her to Coney Island, the collage of their enjoyment? His going overseas, his attitudes towards life, fighting, death, the front line? The decision to go AWOL? Sharing the time with Daisy? She going AWOL from the musical? The background of Sam and Bill’s friendship, Bill proposing to Daisy, the marriage, his going to war?
9. Sam, a good man, manager, spoiling Daisy and excusing her, falling in love, their conversations, the encounters with Bill, the morning with Daisy at his home, her promise, breaking the promise, his being upset, supporting the wedding, the later news with Bill’s death?
10. Daisy and her change, her past, ordinariness, enjoying Bill’s company, falling in love with Sam, yet sharing with Bill? The proposal, the agreement to marry, her persuading Sam despite his jealousy, the ceremony? Her singing on stage, at the nightclub, the message about Bill’s death?
11. The background of the army, the men, their characters and spirit?
12. Old-style love, fidelity, patriotism? The niceness in films at the end of the 1930s?
