THE ICE FOLLIES OF 1939

US, 1939, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Joan Crawford, James Stewart, Lew Ayres, Lewis Stone.
Directed by Reinhold Schunzel.

The Ice Follies of 1939 seems an extravagant name for this rather modest drama. Joan Crawford stars, rather at her most benign, with James Stewart starring as a former skater-become-entrepreneur. Lew Ayres is their best friend. Lewis Stone is an executive.

The film is the age-old Star is Born kind of story. When their skating act is cancelled, there is tension between Mary and Larry, though they marry. Mary then gets a contract and becomes a famous film star, leading to separations and tensions for Larry. However, with the help of the promoter, Larry gets the opportunity to design his show and to present a segment of a film (and this film goes into colour for it) of song and dance and skating.

It is something of a curiosity item in the careers of its stars.

1. A film of the 1930s? The Broadway Melodies and Ice Follies on screen? The skating? The finale in colour with the skating sequences and song and dance?

2. 1939, entertainment, ice follies, theatre, films? The audiences?

3. A star vehicle for James Stewart and Joan Crawford? Playing against type? Their characters, Mary, her devotion to Larry, willing to be fired from the skating show, thinking she was not good? The interview, her shrewdness with Doug Tolliver? Returning, auditioning, getting the contract? Her becoming a star? Her films, her being away from home? The effect on Larry? Larry, the James Stewart style, the background in skating, Eddie as his best friend? The marriage? Willing that Mary should become a star, finding it difficult in practice? The tensions? Her getting him the show? Doug and his support? The end and their watching the film – while Mary still wants to skate?

4. Eddie, his friend, his comic style, his going off to be an actor, the return, the friendship?

5. Doug Tolliver, the producer, films, the background of Hollywood versus theatre? The auditions? The promotion of Mary? Not wanting her to be married – changing his mind, Mary persuading him? Giving Larry the chance? And the happy ending?

6. An odd film for 1939 – considered one of the best of the Golden Years of Hollywood?