This Day In Ann Dvorak History: Ann Starts Shooting “G” Men
Year of Ann Dvorak: Day 63
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On March 4, 1935, Ann Dvorak reported for her first day of work on the Warner Bros. feature “G” Men, starring James Cagney. The role of Jean Morgan may not have been a big one for Ann, but “G” Men was a bigger budget production than most, if not all, of the films she had made the previous year. Plus, she was going to be acting opposite one of the studio’s biggest stars. This was the second and (unfortunately) last time Ann acted with Cagney, with whom she had shared the screen two years earlier in The Crowd Roars. The chemistry between them is undeniable, especially during her death scene, so it’s really a shame they didn’t do more together.
1935 had really been shaping up to be a banner year career-wise for Ann. In December, she had wrapped up Sweet Music opposite Rudy Vallee, for a ’35 release, and Bright Lights with Joe E. Brown and Dr. Socrates with Paul Muni were just around the corner. Maybe these weren’t the most notable titles on Warner Bros. release list for 1935, but they were largely a step-up from the mountain of quickie programmers the studio had cast her in from late 1933 through most of 1934. Yup, things were looking up for Ann…and then came the loan-out to 20th Century that infuriated her, mysterious illnesses, lengthy suspensions, and a lawsuit. But, you’ll be able to read all about it in a certain book due to come out in a few months. 😀
Ann is great in that film! and you are a shameless book tease! 😀
I am trying my hardest!
This is one of my favorite pictures. While I’m not all that much of a Cagney fan, both Ann and Margaret Lindsay are two of my favorites. During the 1930’s Depression people desperately wanted entertainment to take them away from their daily lives, at least for a little while; and they certainly received it in this movie. Cagney does his usual Cagney routine (always seemed the same, at least to me); but Ann provides the glitz and glamour that people needed in those times. And she does it in spades. I’m an old movie fan, and I would take some friendly ribbing from time to time by much younger people saying “I didn’t know what I was missingâ€. When one individual asked me what was so interesting in the older movies I sent him a clip of Ann dancing in the night club scene. This person was very impressed with the clip resulting in his commenting to everyone at the next group meeting that I attended, “You guys don’t know what you’re missing. They REALLY had real Glamour and excitement back in the ‘30’s compared to today!!†He subsequently sent a copy of the clip to the rest of the group and you can’t imagine all the comments I received. The best was from a single young business man who remarked “There’s someone I’ve been looking for all my life!†(of course we men are shallow as you know – but Ann was well worth the remark). To sum up all the comments in one word it would be “WOW!!!!â€
Ann Dvorak struck again…..
Even though Ann is not the main love interest, it’s the stronger of the two female roles and that nightclub number is indeed a highlight of her career along with her death scene.
i’m a big fan of Margaret Lindsay too, she’s in so many films, rarely the star but always a treat, always easy on the eyes and man could she talk fast!! i have a really nice vintage signed 5 x 7 of her on display in my humble abode *sigh*