NOTHING SACRED

US, 1937, 75 minutes, Colour.
Carole Lombard, Fredric March, Halter Connolly, Charles Winninger, Sig Rumann, Frank Fay, Maxie Rosenbloom, Margaret Hamilton, Hedda Hopper, Monte Woolley, Hattie Mc Daniel, Olin Howland, John Qualen.
Directed by William A. Wellman.

Nothing Sacred was in the tradition of wacky comedies of the '30s featuring such stars as Carole Lombard. Here she encounters Fredric March in a story of satire on New York paper exploitation of victims, especially those considered sentimental, and the heroine here is about to die. However, it is a mistake and there are all the workings then of the cover-up.

William Hellman, who made A Star Is Born at this time, keeps the pace moving and it is one of the early Technicolor films. The humour and the satire are quite effective. It was remade and reworked as a Martin and Lewis comedy in the '50s - Living It Up. This time the satire is on the nuclear threat and radiation. Jerry Lewis has the Carole Lombard role and Janet Leigh has the Fredric March role. It is quite humorous and has the usual routines. Living It Up was directed by Norman Taurog who directed a number of Martin and Lewis comedies in the '50s.

1. The significance and tone of the title, indications of satire and irony? The humour and irony of the introduction, truth, newspapers and the public's believing newspaper reporting?

2. The film as a picture of America in the late '30s, symbolised in the world of the newspapers, the types of news and headlines, treatment, expectations of people's responses? American sentiment in the late '30s, sensationalising, the possibility of exploiting people and themes?

3. The film's use of early colour techniques, the comedy styles and swift dialogue of the times, the comedy of the country towns, the comedy of New York city? Comment on the small details of humour: the use of newspapers and the revelation by headlines, the ironic use of newspapers for wrappings etc.

4. The insight into the newspaper world: the initial build-up of the dinner with the fake Indian and the melodrama of his exposure? The ironic presentation of the busy editor, his anger and bluster, his relationship with reporters, his being manoeuvred into gimmicks? The world of the reporters and their sensationalism, trying to keep alive and working? The humour of Wally being relegated to the Obituary Notices? The presentation of this section of the newspaper world, people being busy, people Ignoring one another etc.?

5. The film's presentation of and comment on gimmicks, people's feelings, expense, the circulation of newspapers etc.?

6. The humour of the presentation of the country town, the way that people spoke monosyllabically, Wally's response to this? Comment on the varied types met in Wally's introduction to the town.

7. How much social comment was there in the satire on Hazel's predicament, her illness and its cause? Hazel as fitting into the way of life of the town? An ordinary girl of the 30s, the Depression, wanting the trip? Her relationship with the doctor? The truth? How deliberate was the plan for the cover-up?

8. Wally and his impulsiveness in taking on Hazel's cause? The importance of his job, his cynical attitude towards people's sentimentality, his reaction to people in the town, his hosting of Hazel's trip to New York? His dealing with the city types? His various plans, the involvement of New York? The effect of the ballyhoo on him, the effect of Hazel on him? How did he change?

9. The build-up to Hazel's arrival, the arrival in New York by plane, the visualising of the city, the elaborate welcome? Hazel's presentation to the public, the ailing heroine, the appeal to sentiment via illness? The contrast with her outings, encounters with people, the wrestling, the club, her drinking? The quick thinking to prove that she was still ill? Papers exploiting her, the photos of her illness, her every movement? The public's response?

10. The effect on her, her not being able to cope, the involvement of the doctor in the cover-up? The move to suicide? A more realistic tone in the satire, yet the attempted suicide turned to satire via the note. Jumping into the river, Wally's saving her, the rescue, the presence of the editor etc.?

11. The effect on Wally at the end with the marriage out of pity, the reaction to the suicide?

12. The humour of the exposure, the comedy of the visiting doctors and the revelation of the truth? Hazel trying to put off the doctors? The revelation to the editor, the plan, the fight of Hazel and Hally?

13. The irony of the cover-up for the paper, for Hazel and Wally, New York? The mayor?

14. The ironic humour of the ending with Hally and Hazel on a real trip and holiday? Comment on the portrayal of human nature, the satire on America, the ironic and even cynical tone?