THE PERILS OF PAULINE
US, 1947, 96 minutes Colour.
Betty Hutton, John Lund, Billy de Wolfe, William Demarest, Constance Collier, Frank Faylen.
Directed by George Marshall.
The Perils of Pauline is a Paramount feature of the '40s which takes its audience back to the days of the serials pre-World War One and the exploits of Pearl White. The screenplay is partly biographical, partly showbiz biography for the benefit of a '40s audience. However, the return to the theatre of the time, the transition to cinema and the film studios, the popularity of the serials are all highly enjoyable.
The role of Pearl White is perfect for Betty Hutton with her lively and exuberant clowning, sometimes a bit exhausting for the audience. John Lund is sufficiently serious and stolid as the stage actor who takes on Pearl and is then eclipsed by her success. Constance Collier enjoys her role as Julia Gibbs, the stage actress who turns to the screen (even with a pie in the face). She gives the full British melodramatic articulated style. Billy de Wolfe has one of his best roles and makes an excellent 'hiss the villain' character of the serials. Finally, William Demarest is exuberant as Mc Guire, the silent screen director. Some stars from the past as Chester Conklin and Snub Pollard also appear.
The film has a salute to Charles Goddard, who wrote the original Pearl White series. There is a pleasing score, especially a romantic theme by Frank Loesser. An enjoyable '40s romantic comedy with memories of the past.
1. The memories of the silent screen? Biography? Showbiz? Comedy? musical? The colour photography, the re-creation of period, theatres and film studios? The Casino de Paris? The echoes of World War One? The comic set-ups? The re-creation of the serial crises? The collage (and the slides telling people to be quiet, take babies out, remove hats etc.)?
2. The musical score, the romantic theme? The insertion of the songs: the Sewing Machine song, Pearl's audition with 'Rumble Rumble Rumble', Twinkle? The theme 'I Wish I Didn't Love You So? The Perils of Pauline song? And 'Poppa Don't Preach'
3. The title and the memory of the old film days: the early years of cinema, the end of theatre and burlesque? Audience participation, even fainting? The re-creation of the studios - the pie in the face sequence, McGuire's direction, Pearl taking Julia through the various sets, even with the lion? The idea for the serials? The derring-do - the locations with the horse and the train? The hot air balloon and the failure of the stunt? World War One and its being used? The beginning of the star system and the publicity stunts for the stars? The director arranging the marriage?
4. Betty Hutton's exuberance and clowning? Her portrait of Pearl White: in the sweat shop, the sewing, love for music, singing the song? Sticking up for people? The chance encounter with Julia? Coming to the theatre, the encounter with Michael Farrington and his disdain? Her jobs and the sewing? Her raucous line as the English maid and causing laughter? Her being the black servant? The South Sea Islander and the sneeze? Her leaving Farrington and telling him the truth? The singing audition? Julia's going to the films, her antagonism towards Mc Guire, rescuing Julia, giving the idea for the serials? Her success and enjoying of the stunts? The chance encounter with Timmy and his working with her? Tracking down Farrington at the fair? Offering, him the job? His wooden -performance, his exuberance? The hot air balloon stunt, the proposal? The planned wedding and his opting out? Going to war and his embarrassment? His success on the on stage and Pearl seeing him in the play? His tracking down Pearl, going to McGuire? Going to Paris, the sequence in the cab? In the theatre as she watched the serial? Her future and his?
5. Julia and the English dowager style? In the company, supporting Pearl, giving her hope? Performance? Telling Farrington off? The audition, going to the films and her reluctance, the pie in the face, bargaining, with McGuire? Acting as Pearl's adviser and manager? Supporting her? The finale and helping Michael?
6. Timmy and his work on the stage, support of Pearl? Leaving Farringtor? His getting a job, tracking Farrington down? His role as the villain in the films? Going to war? The return? Supporting Pearl? The finale and helping her in her illness?
7. Mc Guire and his rough style as a director, exploiting situations, self-centred, coward? Browbeaten by Julia? Supporting Pearl? Yelling at Michael? organising the wedding? The skit on the director? The silent stars?
8. Pearl and her success, the transition from the serials to the Casino de Paris? The finale and her fall? The doctor's decisions? Her wanting to meet Mike? Her performance in trying to send him away? Going to the cinema? The reconciliation?
9. Popular Hollywood ingredients, nicely done?
