For this post I wanted to focus on Jane Wyman's contributions to the screwball comedy genre. Most people know Jane for her serious films such as The Yearling, The Lost Weekend, Johnny Belinda (her only Oscar win), Stage Fright, and All That Heaven Allows. But Jane got her start in film early in her career with some great screwball comedies. During the mid 30's she had bit parts (both uncredited) in several comedies headlining Carole Lombard: My Man Godfrey and Fools For Scandals. She took over playing Torchy Blane, the wise-cracking reporter in 1939's Playing With Dynamite and she was off. Films during this period included Wide Open Faces (1938) with Joe E. Brown; the Brother Rat films with Ronald Reagan, Priscilla Lane and Eddie Albert; and Honeymoon For Three (1941) with Ann Sheridan. All these films provided Jane to work on her comedic skills and she would get better with each subsequent role.
with Ronald Reagan
with Jack Carson
with Kay Kyser
The Doughgirls: Eve Arden, Jane Wyman, Alexis Smith and Ann Sheridan
Check out this clip from Torchy Blane starring the first Torchy (Glenda Farrell) asking a slightly confused but funny Jane Wyman some questions. It's cool that Jane would later go on to play Torchy in one of the sequels.
2 comments:
Great clip. I have to admit that I really became a fan of Jane Wyman with her screwball roles. They have to be my favourites of hers even though she was mainly supporting.
I love seeing Wyman in comedies. Larceny, Inc. is a favourite of mine. You were right when you said she's underrated!
Post a Comment