Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home to

This is a so-so documentary TV film made by TNT and Turner Pictures in 1990. Myrna Loy was still alive when this tribute film was made. It's surprising that it doesn't have any interviews or film clips with comments on the actress from among other actors or people in the film industry. These type of films usually have that, and I think it makes them much more interesting when cohorts and professional acquaintances weigh in on someone. Even when one knows that the producers are going to have "friendly" contributors and not enemies or negative comments.

So, this has many film snippets of Myrna Loy's career, and pretty good coverage and ranges of her work. But the dialog and narration is all done by one person, Kathleen Turner, as the host. She's just so-so in that task. It does include some later film clips of Loy's recognition and honors at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D. C. But there is very little about her background, family and childhood. After being born in Helena, Montana, she moved with her mother to Culver City, California, following her father's death. And, except for just mentioning that she had been married four times, the only other thing about her personal life was her civic service during World War II.

This was interesting, although Ms. Turner goofed and says that Loy took a five year break from Hollywood, and didn't make any films from 1941 to 1946. Loy made two films during 1941, then made "The Thin Man Goes Home" with William Powell in 1944, and then was back in Hollywood for keeps in 1946. During the war she served as assistant to the director of military and naval welfare for the Red Cross; and was a member of the U. S. Commission to UKNESCO.

This gives a good look at the range and types of films the Loy made, from her silent years through her much better sound years.

It's hard to understand why this documentary didn't includes at least a couple of film critics and/or historians for their input and comments, and perhaps a couple of actors who had worked with her in her later years.

For those who only know MYRNA LOY as the woman who played Nora Charles in "The Thin Man" films or Fredric March's wife in THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES ('46), this is a charming collection of her earlier film roles, sprinkled with clips from them and her more famous films later on.

All of it is hosted by Kathleen Turner in sprightly fashion with a good deal of warmth and affection for the star. Loy's early years as the Oriental vixen are amusing to watch, as well as the transfer to sophisticated comedy roles that made her famous at the MGM studio.

Among the best clips are those from "The Thin Man" series, with various close-ups that show Myrna Loy at her best.

What struck me, is how she seemed to age so suddenly after WWII, looking matronly and a bit wan when seen in documentary footage devoted to her contributions to the war effort.

But with this documentary, we'll always have the real Myrna on display.

Hosted by Kathleen Turner, "Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To" is a good, if not terribly informative, documentary about Loy, the qualities she brought to film, and her evolution from exotic, mysterious female roles to light comedy. There is a heavy amount of focus on her film partnership with William Powell and the 14 movies they made together, including, of course, "The Thin Man" series.

There is some biographical information provided and photos of the very young Loy, but the documentary clearly is concerned with her work as an actress. There are no interviews with friends, coworkers, or family, and nothing from the lady herself.

Lots of film clips are scattered throughout, with emphasis on the "Nice to Come Home To" - showing various scenes of this, including Frederic March's return from the war in "The Best Years of Our Lives," and coverage of the wonderful work Myrna Loy did for The Red Cross during World War II. She was as lovely inside as she was out, it seems.

Very enjoyable.

This film about Myrna Loy was narrated by Kathleen Turner and was chock full of film clips of the actress--something possible since it was done by Turner Entertainment--the folks who own the rights to her MGM and Warner Brothers films.

If you are looking for a biography of Myrna Loy, then perhaps this is not the film for you. It doesn't have much to say about her personal life other than four unhappy marriages as well as a few snippets about her childhood. Instead, the film focuses solely on her film career--especially her films with William Powell and, of these, especially the Thin Man films. This isn't a terrible thing but is a bit incomplete.

Hollywood Remembers: Myrna Loy - So Nice To Come Home To (1991)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Richard Schickel directs and Kathleen Turner narrates this documentary taking a look at the career of Myrna Loy. If you're looking for any great detail into the life of Loy then you're going to be disappointed as we really learn nothing. We don't learn about her childhood, her break into films or any personal stuff that she did with co-stars or other. Most people will see this as a major plus because all we get are clips from her movies. We get footage from films like DON JUAN, THE SHOW OF SHOWS, LOVE ME TONIGHT, THE MASK OF FU MANCHU, PENTHOUSE, MANHATTAN MELODRAMA, WIFE VS SECRETARY, THE THIN MAN series, TEST PILOT, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES and countless others. Again, if you're wanting a look into the life of Loy then you're going to be disappointed as this thing really doesn't slip into that with the exception of saying she had four failed marriages. Everything else is basically clips from her movies, which in 1991, when this documentary was released, would have been priceless. I'm sure in 1991 these clips were very much needed as many of these films weren't as widely available as they are today. In today's times with DVD and Turner Classic Movies, just seeing film clips over and over can get a bit tiresome because it would be better to just go and watch the movies themselves. If you're unfamiliar with Loy then this here will give you a good idea of what titles to get but that's about it.