DVDless Dvorak Films, Part 3: The Way to Love
Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 21
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The Way to Love was the first film Ann Dvorak made after returning from her lengthy and unauthorized European honeymoon with Leslie Fenton. Considering Warner Bros. had purchased Ann’s contract from Howard Hughes for a whopping $40,000 right before she took off, you’d think they would have put her back to work as soon as she returned in order to start making some of that money back. Instead they let her stew for awhile and finally loaned her out to Paramount for The Way to Love.
Like many Paramount features of the early 1930s, The Way to Love is an odd film starring Maurice Chevalier as a Parisian native who wants nothing more than to be a paid tour guide in the City of Lights. Ann Dvorak is a forlorn gypsy girl who Chevalier tries to rescue from an abusive ward.
Like I said, it’s odd but watchable and Ann’s character has a biting cynicism not seen in many of her characters so early on in her career. My print of this one is a VHS copy that stinks, so I would love to see an official release.
Likelihood of an Official DVD Release: Paramount films are not easy to come by and I doubt this is at the top of any release list, so a DVD is pretty unlikely.
i def do not “get” the deal with Chevalier! he’s usually just annoying. i’d watch this to see Ann tho.
Oh believe me, I don’t get him either! It’s worth it for Ann though (like most of her films).
This afternoon I received a DVD of this film, then used software to improve the clarity then watched the movie with utter fascination. No matter what I say, I’ll sound like a crazed love sick fan from the ‘30’s and ‘40’s – but; I absolutely love Ann Dvorak in this film. Maurice Chevalier is another matter (as usual) – but its 1933, the depression is hurting everyone badly now and people want escapism; and I guess this is Chevalier’s role. Ann does so great in her part that I just can’t say enough good things about her ability. This film is just another reason why I’m a diehard Ann Dvorak fan! I just love it!!!!
I will never get the Chevalier fascination, but I agree that it’s a great role for Ann, and an unusual one for her.