American Madness (1932)

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sethb
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American Madness (1932)

Post by sethb » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:36 pm

Just watched this for the first time on TCM, and really enjoyed it! Kudos to TCM for getting a pristine print that was a joy to watch.

Walter Huston started off a little slow, but made up for it in the last two reels. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I thought he looked (and acted) a lot like Harrison Ford in a few scenes! This was early but definitely vintage Capra, who certainly had a way with this sort of material.

Hopefully, the release of this and a few other early Columbias (Ten Cents a Dance) will mean their release on DVD in the near future? SETH
Please don't call the occasional theatrical release of an old movie a "reissue." We do not say "The next time you go to the Louvre, you will see a re-issue of the Mona Lisa.” -- Cecil B. DeMille
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Jim Reid
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Post by Jim Reid » Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:52 pm

American Madness is already on DVD in this set.

http://www.amazon.com/Premiere-Collecti ... 333&sr=8-2
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John Inglesant
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Re: American Madness (1932)

Post by John Inglesant » Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:45 pm

sethb wrote:Maybe it's just my imagination, but I thought he looked (and acted) a lot like Harrison Ford in a few scenes!
Shucks, that was nothin'--compared to his demented imitation of Lon Chaney in Kongo; & while Walt was "doing" Lon,, Conrad Nagle was doing Lionel Barrymore! Maybe not the most bizarre Hollywood production I've seen, but the most bizarre with major players in it. Naturally, I loved it!
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sethb
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Post by sethb » Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:44 pm

Thanks, Jim, for the tip on "American Madness" --- glad to know that it's available. SETH
Please don't call the occasional theatrical release of an old movie a "reissue." We do not say "The next time you go to the Louvre, you will see a re-issue of the Mona Lisa.” -- Cecil B. DeMille
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Scoundrel
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Post by Scoundrel » Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:24 pm

"Shucks, that was nothin'--compared to his demented imitation of Lon Chaney in Kongo"


The original play opened in New York on 30 March 1926, with Walter Huston in the role of Flint.
(source: TCM website)

That's two years before WEST OF ZANZIBAR.
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George O'Brien
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Post by George O'Brien » Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:26 pm

"American Madness" also benefits from the presence of two very attractive, yet very different female leads: Constance Cummings as Pat O'Brien's love interest, and Kay Johnson as Walter Huston's wife.









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