Vintage shots from days gone by!

Ever notice how some of the best movies begin with a car? Brian Aherne's
old flivver breaks down, and all hell starts to break loose! That's how the
early-1938 comedy classic, "Merrily We Live" begins, following with a laugh
for each of its 95 screen minutes.

It's no secret that comedy movies were more popular than ever during the
long, dark years of the Great Depression. Rather reminiscent of the antics
of '34's "It Happened One Night" and '37's "Topper," as well as '38 film
stable mate, "Bringing Up Baby," "Merrily We Live" was one of the favorite
comedies that year, both among the public and the critics. Written with laser
wit, the movie captured five Academy Award nominations, plus a Best-Sup-
porting-Actress Oscar for Billie Burke (who would go on in a few months to
play Glinda, "the good witch," in "The Wizard of Oz" ). But, compared to the
other aforementioned films, "Merrily" today is rarely heard of and is, IMO, a
gem waiting to be rediscovered by modern generations!

A good many of the gags here are anchored by the scatterbrained
observations of Burke's matron character. Brilliantly cast, cleverly written,
crisply directed and tightly timed, the movie was a smash escapist comedy
in an era when the country craved anything to lift spirits. As well, the
chemistry of "Merrily We Live" is sometimes cited by film historians as
helping lay groundwork for future successful screen comedies, from
"Cheaper by the Dozen" to the likes of "I Love Lucy" and "Tammy and
the Bachelor." Every character -- from dingbat Emily to the stuffy butler --
is crafted to strut, and to wring laughs, before the camera. Just a capricious,
madcap screwball comedy that should be seen to be appreciated!




Billie Burke as dizzy society matron Emily Kilbourne, THANKS to flixter



What TIME magazine said: Merrily We Live (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) spins a yarn as
merry as it is unimportant about a delightfully diffuse matron (Billie Burke) whose hobby is
putting tramps back on their feet. When unshaven, wayfaring Author Brian Aherne wants to
use her telephone, her uplifting eye lights up. First thing Wayfarer Aherne knows he has
become the family's handsome, clean-shaven chauffeur; next thing he knows, the roving eye
of Daughter Constance Bennett has lit up, too, and he becomes the center of as stormy a
family ruckus as ever squalled. Before its capricious hour-and-a-half is over, Merrily We Live
whisks up a first-rate cast (Alan Mowbray, Clarence Kolb, Bonita Granville, Patsy Kelly),
deposits them in a neat row leading straight to its sure-fire climax.

And Variety: It's all in the acting and directing. Director Norman Z. McLeod has the knack
of building up gags until he has three or four racing each other to the big laugh. Most of the
fun comes from a fine performance by Billie Burke, who plays a scatterbrain wife and mother
in a family of irresponsibles.



Burke has a weakness for helping worthless humanity. Brian Aherne is welcomed to the fold.
It happens he isn't a tramp at all, but a writer who forgot to shave on the morning his flivver
broke down when he stops by to use the telephone. Once inside, he decides to stay. In his
calm and self-possessed manner he begins to bring some order out of the confusion in which
the Kilbourne family lives. This leads to a romance with the elder daughter (Constance
Bennett), and a timely word which clinches an important business deal for the head of the
house.​

 

"Its the end of the year"-----Thats why!!

 

"Well---I could hook the chain to your nuts"

 

Annette

 

nice, from one of the best westerns ever...

 

Chicago, Illinois, ca. 1907

 

Buster

 

He's proud of that tooth

 

Straight out of one of those "Cars" animated movies

 

Just joined the forum so here's my very first contribution.

Pic is from March 1966. Car was my dad's '40 sedan. My uncle "borrowed" it at a party for a beer run. Sadly they already had a lot of beer to start with. Story is he was hauling butt through town and went down an alleyway behind a store. The alleyway was a dead end with a brick wall at the end - he went right through it. Long story short, my uncle is now no longer with us. There's a bright side to that, he died a few months ago at a crusty old age and not as a result of hitting a brickwall . As far as the accident, like most drunk driving accidents go - he went through it very well. A few scratches but that was about it.

I do have another picture but need to get a battery and MicroSD for my scanner to scan it. My dad never got another '40 though he has been longing for one for quite a while.

 

Great pic and story! You have done well FNG... you have done well.

 

Thanks for the info, SouthUrn. So I guess that Flxible had the same kind of deal with Buick that Henney had with Packard.

 

"A little bondo will fix it"!!!!

 

Jimi,

That's a blow out and the thing is pretty well toast and sheet has and will happen in order that we all drive a car.

Pic is offshore Portugal ~~~ 1930's give or take...

 

Just a little creepy..........

 

My sentiments exactly!!!!

 

RE: 39010 - thought that was Vivien Leigh at first - dead ringer!

 

Colleen Townsend, selected "Miss Safety First" by the Southern California Timing Association, poses in a streamlined car, made from an airplane belly tank mounted on a Ford frame in Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 21, 1948. The car, built by Bill Burke, is powered by an inverted Mercury Motor, mounted in the tail, and has been clocked at better than 139 miles per hour. It will be featured in the First Annual Hot Rod Show here Jan. 23-25. (AP Photo)


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/50-a...-9?slop=1#belly-tank-hot-rod-44#ixzz1ka8yZ0MY