L'inconnue du palace

In about 1980 I saw this film at the UCLA Film Archives in a series presenting Dorothy Arzner directed films. There was a guest speaker at the event who was a personal friend of Arzner's. I don't remember her name, but she was introduced as, among other things, the writer for the script of "Craig's Wife" (1936; starring Rosalind Russell).

She said she was on the set for some of the shooting of "Bride Wore Red," and described how Joan Crawford was completely uncooperative with the director. Originally it was written for Luise Rainer but for some reason she was unavailable. "So they got Joan Crawford who wasn't anything like her," and was not suited for the film in this woman's opinion. While she was on the set she witnessed how Dorothy Arzner would gently make suggestions as to how to play a scene, "...and Joan would scream, 'You'll destroy me! You'll destroy me!' and she would run up to L.B. Mayer and he would say, 'There, there Joan, play it your way." So she did, "...and frankly, the film bombed. But when you have a star that is entirely uncooperative, you can't blame the director." I hope I have quoted this woman accurately. That is what has stuck in my memory. I am a big Crawford fan, but her flaws were apparently spectacular. I just thought it would be interesting to record this bit of info.

I've never been a fan of Joan Crawford, so it's always a surprise to find a performance of hers that really wins me over. I liked her in Grand Hotel (as 'Flaemmchen,') and I liked her again, very much, as Anni, the cheap night-club singer masquerading as a lady. Often seen in hard and brittle roles, Crawford has a very different look in this film, and expresses a vulnerability that brings her character to life. (Billie Burke is also notable, in the small but juicy role of the acid-tongued Contessa. And Franchot Tone has never been more likable.)

The Bride Wore Red is certainly built according to studio formula, but it also embodies all the earnest craftsmanship that characterized the studio system. The film at times seems clichéd, but it fully redeems itself through genuine empathy for the characters. And through its very strong premise: a 'scarlet' woman driven by hunger for the good life, who is given a slim chance of joining the upper class - provided she's cold and deceitful enough.

Until the final act, I really felt that the film could have gone either way: warm-hearted romance or bitter tragedy. The delicate balancing act makes it hard to achieve a satisfying pay-off. But the ending does succeed, thanks to a couple of nicely orchestrated scenes, and to the talent and charisma of Ms Crawford. These do make us believe that Anni could only choose as she does.

I was a bit sorry the film didn't delve just a little deeper into the moral and social dimensions. Anni's real problem is not what she wants, but rather what she may have to give up in order to get it. That distinction is not made entirely clear, leaving the film a bit too reliant on the old cliché that 'wealth doesn't bring true happiness.' But there's more going on here. Anni's 'tragic flaw' is not the hunger itself, but her willingness to give up honesty, morality and even true love. This distinction becomes almost subliminal, but it's there, and gives the film a slightly sharper edge. Anni is a character we can identify with and possibly admire, even when she's doing something despicable.

If you're in the mood for a traditional, old-style Hollywood entertainment, you won't go wrong with The Bride Wore Red. This is one of the good ones, a film I'd gladly watch again any time.

The plot may not be a novel one, but the title was appetising and so were the cast. 'The Bride Wore Red' was seen as part of one of many completest quests (seeing as many films not yet seen of the person in question as possible), this one being for Joan Crawford. As well as Crawford, we have other talented performers in Franchot Tone, Robert Young, George Zucco and Billie Burke. All of whom are great when with good material and in the right roles.

Although 'The Bride Wore Red' is not among the best of all involved (all have also been far worse served) or one of the best of the genre, it is still well worth watching and has a lot of positive traits. It didn't deserve to be a flop. As far as Crawford's 30s films go, which were a mixed lot in quality, 'The Bride Wore Red' somewhere around solid middle, and anybody that loves romance and comedy individually and together are likely to (not guaranteed as not everybody has the same tastes for everything) find a lot to enjoy. The case with me.

Is 'The Bride Wore Red' perfect? No. The story, despite the premise actually being good, has few surprises and can be very silly with some suspension of disbelief needed at times later on. Also felt that the start was on the dull side but once the main plot kicks in properly there is a lot more energy.

Do agree that Anni's conflict with what she wants and what she has to give up could have gone into more detail, that could have been a fascinating angle and added so much to Anni's character and given her more heart.

Crawford, looking stunning, however gives it her all without over-acting to the point of overbalancing the rest of the cast or film. She doesn't phone it in either once the plot gets going, despite being on the cold side at the beginning. Tone has one of the more likeable characters and is charming and suave. Young has some of the more juicier lines and brings a nice edge and sophistication to them. Zucco is convincingly decadent and Burke is in an atypically shrews viper sort of role and plays it to the hilt.

Found the script to be amusingly droll and that it did sparkle. The story wasn't perfect but it had energy and charm and the chemistry between the cast was beautifully pitched, the three leads work more than convincingly together. 'The Bride Wore Red' looks great, especially Crawford's wardrobe and the luminous photography. Franz Waxman's score is sumptuous without being too loud or melodramatic. Dorothy Azner's direction is a bit bland and slow to begin with, but becomes more assured as the film goes along.

Summing up, nice enough if not mind-blowing. 7/10

Jaded club singer Anni Pavlovitch (Joan Crawford) runs into a count who devises a plan to give Anni an opportunity to swing with the swells for two weeks in a rustic Italian vacation spot in the mountains. Anni is totally seduced by the lifestyle and with time running out moves in on Maddelena Monti' s well heeled beau Rudi Pal ( Robert Young) to try an insinuate herself into the jet set lifestyle on a more permanent basis. The local postman Giullio (Franchot Tone) has also taken a shine to Anni offering her an unencumbered down to earth existence in contrast but cynical Anni is tired of the hardscrabble existence preferring pampered materialism instead.

Under the rare oddity of a female studio film director (Dorothy Arzner) Crawford is allowed to stretch with more than satisfying results as she struggles with the conflict of hooking up for love or money. Arzner not only gets some impressive long takes out of Crawford but also softens her standard studio brusqueness with a touching sensitivity as her dream of easy street evaporates before her eyes.

Arzner also gets fine performances out of upper crusts played by Young and a beautifully smug performance from Billie Burke without being condescending to such easy targets. The real surprise though is the sophisticated Franchot Tone as Giullio the country postman. Playing it neither broad or passionate Tone subversively bides his time with a dignity and patience that gives The Bride Wore Red a nice subtle edge and a more touching denouement.

I had high hopes for this one. The plot sounded good. Eccentric Count Armalia (George Zucco) believes that luck of birth is all that separates the rich from the poor. To prove his point, he sets up dive singer Anni (Joan Crawford) as a fake socialite to fool his rich friends. This works but snobbish Robert Young falls for her and wants to marry her. Anni sees the chance to get out of poverty by marrying a rich guy but, at the same time, she has started to fall for poor Franchot Tone. So it becomes a question of whether Anni will choose love or money. Glossy MGM soaper with a nice cast but somehow just misses the mark. It was nice seeing George Zucco in a different kind of role. Also Billie Burke is sort of evil, which is interesting. See it for the cast or out of curiosity. You might enjoy it more than me.