IRENE
US, 1940, 101 minutes, Black and white and Colour.
Anna Neagle, Ray Milland, Roland Young, Alan Marshall, May Robson, Billie Burke, Arthur Treacher, Marsha Hunt, Isabel Jewell, Stuart Robertson.
Directed by Herbert Wilcox.
Irene one of three films (including Sunny, No No Nannette) made by Anna Neagle and her husband, Herbert Wilcox, in the United States at the beginning of the 1940s. While the films were pleasant, the couple did not break into Hollywood and returned to the UK. Wilcox had directed Anna Neagle in over 20 films from the 1930s to the 1950s, many historical films where she played Queen Victoria, several times, Florence Nightingale, war heroine, Odette. They made a number of bright and very popular musical comedies with Michael Wilding in the 1940s.
In this film, from a Broadway musical by James Montgomery, she plays a young Irish woman who migrates to New York City, has a job in upholstery, is very forthright in her views. By chance, during a visit to a long island mansion, she comes to the attention of the son of the family, played by Australian Alan Marshall, but also to his guest, Don, played in his suave manner by Ray Milland. He offers her a job modelling dresses for the designer Mme Lucy. After being accosted by the manager, she walks out in high dudgeon, Don firing the manager and appointing an older genial man, played by Roland Young, who is to deliver Irene back.
Irene is very bold, selling a number of dresses, being asked to model the main designs by Mme Lucy, especially for a society ball – but her dress gets Irish stew all over it and she has to wear a dress from her actress mother, a blue gown – which leads into the most popular song from the play and film, Alice Blue Gown. And the film moves into colour for about 15 minutes in the middle of the film for the ball.
There are various mixups, her having two suitors, the old manager creating a false identity for her and make her part of society. Just when things seem to be awkward, the truth is out and she and Don are to be married.
The film is quite International with Anna Neagle, Ray Milland, Roland Young, British, with Alan Marshall and May Robson as Gran, Australian, and Arthur Treacher as the sometimes insufferable butler, also nose-up British.
1. Hollywood, 1940, the piece of Americana? From a Broadway musical to the screen?
2. An American production, RKO, but the British presence, stars and director, Australian presence with Alan Marshall on May Robson? International?
3. A Contemporary Fairytale, Simplicity, Wealth, a Capitalist Dream?
4. Black-and-white photography, Long Island, the apartment and migrants in New York, the mansions, the dress shops and display rooms, restaurants and diners? The Ball? Moving into colour, Costumes and Decor?
5. The Musical Score, the songs: Irene, Out on a Limb, Alice Blue Gown?
6. Anna Neagle, her career with Herbert Wilcox over so many decades and films? An Irish character, the visit for examining the upholstery, her direct way of speaking, meeting with Don, saying she was hungry, the food, discovering it belonged to Eleanor? Bob and his attraction? The butler and his superciliousness?
7. At home, the apartment, Gran, the family background, acting, coming from Ireland, her job with upholstery, her friends, the sister and brother at home? Her being offered a job by Don, Gran not approving?
8. Don, the reality that he was Madame Lucy? Friendship with Bob, the investment? Following Irene, the offer of the job, going to the interview, her being accosted, her leaving and her anger?
9. The manager, his being sacked by Don, his attack on Smith, Don inviting Smith to stay, to manage, use his ideas, win Irene back? Mr Smith and his visit and persuading her? Charming Gran?
10. Don and his influence on Irene’s career, Bob and his visiting? Irene modelling the dresses for his mother, being very forward, success? And the gown for the ball?
11. Smith, his idea for the ball, all the models wearing Madame Lucy dresses? Bob not liking it, hearing that Irene would be there? The night of the ball, her being late, assisted trying on the dress, the stew ruining it? The tears?
12. The transition to colour, Irene’s arrival, the Alice Blue Gown? Attracting everyone? High society, Don’s mother and her chatter, mistaking Irene for Irish aristocracy?
13. Don and his going to Bermuda, on the yacht, the message from Irene, his return?
14. The journalist and the model and his column and the reactions?
15. His confronting Smith, not liking what had happened to Irene, the false identity, her glamour, costumes, reputation, with society? Irene enjoying it? At the theatre, the Moviebone newsreel? Alice Blue Gown and the American dancing version? African –American performers, Don and the huff?
16. Confronting Irene, the truth about Madame Lucy?
17. Bob, proposal, the marriage, the preparations, the dresses? Bob and Eleanor, her disappointment? The wedding rehearsal, Irene not going? Don and his turning up, a beautiful dancing, not in love with Bob and thinking she was telling him? Bob and Eleanor at the church, the realisation about the truth?
18. And, the requisite happy ending?
