Chatterbox

A Good movie with a good cast. Anne Shirley is one of those forgotten actresses of the 1930's and people should take a second look at what she has done. The Chatterbox is a "B" movie but it still should be put on DVD so new generations can see these wonderful performances.

I do not want to write anything that would spoil someone's interest in wanting to see this movie. I would recommend this movie to movie goers who are not happy these days with what Hollywood is producing. The older movies are classics and be available to a hungry movie fan wanting good entertainment.

So check on the Internet and look up these wonderful movies and if it is not available make a request of either TCM to show it or find out which studio produced it and see if it will becoming out on DVD anytime soon.

Some big names in "Chatterbox" - Anne Shirley is Jenny, trying to get away from an impossible situation. Lucy is in here as a very blond "Lillian Temple", in one of her earlier, credited roles. Margaret Hamilton (Wizard of OZ !) is "Tippy", the kindly landlady. Erik Rhodes, who made those fun, silly, films with Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern, is here, speaking in his own, regular voice. I think this is the first time I have heard him speak without using a silly, out-landish accent. Rhodes is "Fisher", directing the group of actors in which Jenny so badly wants to act. What Jenny doesn't realize is that she is the comedic part of a show she has always taken seriously, since her mother was in it years ago. It's fun to see the big names in this one, but the story itself is pretty lame... like the episode (every episode) of "Threes Company" where things could have been cleared up SO much earlier if any one of ten people had said one simple thing. anyhoo. It's okay. Nothing too special. Directed by George Nichols... died quite young (42) after a car crash.

This is a nice little Anne Shirley gem, but also a fine showcase for Phillips Holmes, as well as a fine supporting cast.

Anne plays an orphaned country girl, whose late mother had been a stage actress, who bequeathed a volume of readings, long inseparable from Jenny (Anne).

Jenny stays on the farm with her widowed grandfather (Edward Ellis), stern but just to Jenny and his hired hand, Michael Arbuckle (George Offerman Jr.), who does something naughty, which Jenny discovers, and so they vow to keep their secrets from the grandfather. Her secret, of course, is that she wanders through the woods rehearsing monologue from the volume, at the expense of her chores.

But then in the woods, Jenny encounters the handsome Philip 'Phil' Greene Jr. (Phillips Holmes), an artist creating his canvas, whom she mistakes for an actor in Archie Fisher's (Erik Rhodes) theater troupe, which includes the spirited Lillian Temple (Lucille Ball). Jenny and Philip instantly like each other even though she rattles on while he's trying to concentrate, hence "Chatterbox."

When the grandfather suspects that Jenny is sneaking off to the theater, he threatens to lock her out if she doesn't return by curfew. Michael overhears the ultimatum and considers Jenny a threat, so when the grandfather decides against locking the door, Michael secretly pulls a fast one and prevents her return.

Jenny, realizing that Philip is heading back to the city, considers this her big chance after having no where else to turn. She stows away in his rumble seat, a fact he discovers after his automobile experiences a flat tire along the way.

When Philip transports Jenny to his boarding house so that he might figure what to do about her, his landlady (Margaret Hamilton) is taken by surprise. This is a refreshingly kindhearted role for Margaret, who has a chance to help to resolve several predicaments here.

One other problem facing Philip has his father's (Granville Bates) insisting that he carry on the family business while Philip prefers to create art.

Another problem is trying to find a spot for Jenny in Archie Fisher's (Erik Rhodes) stage company, which is under attack by temperamental actress Lillian Temple (Lucille Ball). Lucy plays the egotist, while Margaret Hamilton plays the kind soul.

The theater decides to give Jenny her break by casting her in a most unflattering role, which would make her appear quite foolish before the audience. When it does, she now has nowhere to turn.

So, it's up to Edward Ellis, Granville Bates, Margaret Hamilton and Phillips Holmes to try to think up some sort of solutions which may optimally benefit one and all.

Jenny Yates lives with her grandfather because her mother died some time ago. However, she holds some resentment towards her grandfather because he essentially tossed the mother out of the house after she left to try to become an actress. Now, many years later, Jenny has a chance to leave home to act in the same play that her mother starred in...and although her grandfather is gruff and grumpy about this, he's not about to disown her like he did his daughter...by Jenny doesn't know this. So, she takes a giant leap and joins a traveling company of actors...and finds out it's not all it's cracked up to be.

Apart from seeing one of the theater company members in black-face, this is a very good film...enjoyable and with a few fun moments. This is a good showcase for Miss Shirley...one of her better films of the 1930s.

CHATTERBOX is a combination of drama and comedy.. The film was less predictable than I thought. Jenny (Anne Shirley), a young girl from Vermont, wants to be an actress. Her mother was an actress and her most famous role was in the 1890's stage play "Virtue's Reward". Jenny is a bit otherwordly, living in a world of her own, the bygone world of the 1890's. She meets a young artist/painter Phil (Phillips Holmes). She is secretly in love with him. He appears to be not interested in her. Reluctantly he takes her to a theatrical company in New York where she can get a part in her favorite play "Virtue's Reward": This melodramatic play has now become a comedy, but she doesn't know that and she takes the part very seriously. Phil worries about what will happen when she finds out the truth about the whole thing.

This is a wonderful film from start to satisfying finish. Perfect acting by the entire cast. Young Anne Shirley gives a terrific performance. She's very intense and she makes even the comedy parts dramatic and honest. Her trustfulness and enthusiasm are poignant. The very talented Phillips Holmes (now undeservedly degraded to B-films) is also surprisingly good and totally convincing. A remarkable film. I am hoping for a DVD release for a better print quality!