Suzy 1936

     This film is based on a novel written by Herbert Gorman.  The setting is just prior to and during WWI in 1914.  Suzy Trent is from America and she meets Terry Moore in London.  She’s trying to be an actress but she’s not a name in London so she’s having a difficult time with jobs.  She doesn’t mind being a chorus girl but she doesn’t like the extra attention that sometimes comes with the job.  She is thinking about going back to American but Terry asks her to marry him.  He’s working on an airplane stabilizer and they go to the factory where he works.  There is something shady going on and the owner comes into the factory with two other people.  Suzy leaves for Paris, she finds a job and she meets Andre Charville.  He’s a famous French flying ace and they get married. 

     Suzy jokes that she needs a rich husband to support her but she really does.  After her marriage to Andre, Suzy lives in Paris with Andre’s elderly father.  She becomes protective of Andre's father and she takes care of him.  She makes up letters from Andre that he didn't write because he hasn't been writing.  There are plot twists up until the end.  I think it's interesting that the makeup of the women in this time period features very thin drawn on eyebrows?  I think they are unattractive?  3* (This movie is OK)

93 min, Drama directed by George Fitzmaurice with Jean Harlow, Franchot Tone, Cary Grant, Lewis Stone, Benita hume, Reginald Mason, Inez Courtney, Greta Meyer, David Clyde Christian Rub, George Spelvin.

Note:  Imdb 6.5 out of 10, 66% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 6 reviews, Leonard Maltin 2* out of 4*, 4.56* out of 5* average user rating, Three Movie Buffs average 2* out of 4*.

Special Note:  Herbert Gorman was paid $15,000 for the rights to the novel.  In 2017 money, that would be $266,000.  The flying scenes were outtakes from Hell’s Angels of 1930 filmed by Howard Hughes.  Howard Hughes was injured when he crashed and three of the WWI ace pilots were killed.  Hughes leased the flying footage to other studios to offset the tremendous cost of filming.  The horserace is supposed to be the Epsom Derby of 1914 but the newsreel footage is of the Derby of 1934.  The clothing used for the women is not of 1910 but is from the mid-1930’s.