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Millie (film)

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Millie
Theatrical poster
Directed byJohn Francis Dillon
Written byCharles Kenyon
Ralph Morgan[1]
Produced byCharles R. Rogers
Harry Joe Brown (assoc.)[2]
StarringHelen Twelvetrees
CinematographyErnest Haller[3]
Edited byFred Allen[3]
Music byArthur Lange[1]
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release dates
  • February 6, 1931 (1931-02-06) (Premiere-New York City)[1]
  • February 8, 1931 (1931-02-08) (US)[1]
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Millie (1931) is a Pre-Code drama film directed by John Francis Dillon from a screenplay by Charles Kenyon and Ralph Morgan, based on a novel of the same name by Donald Henderson Clarke. The film was an independent production by Charles R. Rogers, distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, after their acquisition of Pathé Exchange. It starred Helen Twelvetrees in one of her best roles, with a supporting cast which included Lilyan Tashman, James Hall, Joan Blondell, John Halliday and Anita Louise.

Plot

Helen Twelvetrees (left) and Charlotte Walker in Millie

Millie (Helen Twelvetrees) is a naive young woman who marries a wealthy man from New York, Jack Maitland (James Hall). Three years later, unhappy in her marriage due to her husband's continued infidelity, she asks for and receives a divorce. Because of her pride, she does not want his money, however, she also does not want to remove her daughter from a comfortable lifestyle. She allows Jack and his mother (Charlotte Walker), to retain custody of Millie's daughter, Connie (Anita Louise). Focusing on her career, she rises through the hierarchy of the hotel where she is employed, shunning the attention of the rich banker, Jimmy Damier (John Halliday ), preferring the attentions of the reporter, Tommy Rock (Robert Ames), although, due to her prior sour relationship, refuses to marry. Eventually, Millie is promoted to the head of operations for the hotel. At the same time, Tommy is offered a lucrative position at the bank by Damier, as a favor to Millie. However, at the celebration party, Millie discovers that Tommy, just like Maitland, is cheating on her.

Betrayed a second time, Millie becomes very bitter. With her female cohorts, Helen and Angie (Lilyan Tashman and Joan Blondell, respectively), she becomes a woman who loves a good time, floating from man to man. This goes on for several years, until she hears that Damier has taken an interest in her teen-age daughter, Connie, who bears a striking resemblance to Millie. Millie warns Damier to leave her daughter alone, but, although he promises to stay away from Connie, he ignores Millie's warning, and takes Connie to a remote lodge to seduce her. Millie is tipped off, goes to the lodge with a gun, confronts Jimmy and kills him.

In the following murder trial, Millie tries to keep her daughter's name out of the press and claims not to remember why she shot Jimmy. She says that another woman ran out of the lodge after the shot but claims that she didn't see who the woman was and has no idea as to the other woman's identity. The prosecution thus claims that Millie's motive was jealousy of Jimmy's romantic relationship with this unknown other woman. Millie's friends, however, help to bring out the truth, and when the jury finds out that Millie's true motive was to protect her daughter from Jimmy's lascivious intentions, they acquit her. In the end, Millie is reunited with her daughter and her estranged husband's family.

Cast

(Cast as per AFI's database)[1]

Production

Donald Henderson Clarke finished his novel, Millie, during summer 1930.[4] The novel was first offered to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who passed on it due to its racy content.[5] In August of that year, it was reported that Charles R. Rogers had purchased the film rights to the novel, and had signed Charles Kenyon to adapt it into a screenplay, as well as selecting John Francis Dillon to direct.[6] Although Rogers had signed an agreement to distribute his independent films through RKO, it was reported that he would be overseeing the production on the Universal lot.[7] Even though he was incorrectly identified as "Rolph Murphy", Ralph Morgan was signed to collaborate with Kenyon on the screenplay adaptation in September.[8] Less than a week later, Helen Twelvetrees signed on for the titular role;[9] and it was reported that the screenplay adaptation had been completed.[5] Rogers would choose Ernest Haller to shoot the film and sign him for the project in the beginning of October.[10]

In January RKO announced the film would be released in February,[11] and it was released on February 8, 1931.[1]

Notes

The film was an independent production by Charles Rogers, but became the property of RKO when he agreed to become their production chief.[12]

The theme song, "Millie", had words and music by Nacio Herb Brown.[1]

In 1959, the film entered the public domain in the USA due to the copyright claimants failure to renew the copyright registration in the 28th year after publication.[13]

The film's tagline was "Torn From Her Arms ... Child Of Love A Woman Can Give But Once."[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Millie: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 9, 2014. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)
  2. ^ a b "Millie: Technical Details". theiapolis.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Millie, Credits". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  4. ^ Daly, Phil M. (April 17, 1930). "Along the Rialto". The Film Daily. p. 5.
  5. ^ a b "Rogers Chances "Millie"". Variety. September 24, 1930. p. 5.
  6. ^ "Hollywood Flashes". The Film Daily. August 30, 1930. p. 3.
  7. ^ "Don Clarke's Story To Be First Rogers Film". Motion Picture News. August 23, 1930. p. 26.
  8. ^ "Hollywood Activities". The Film Daily. September 21, 1930. p. 29.
  9. ^ "Hollywood Happenings". The Film Daily. September 24, 1930. p. 6.
  10. ^ Wilk, Ralph (October 12, 1930). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 4.
  11. ^ ""Cimarron" and "Millie" Releases". The Film Daily. January 22, 1931. p. 3.
  12. ^ Jewell, Richard B.; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House. p. 32. ISBN 0-517-546566.
  13. ^ Pierce, David (June 2007). "Forgotten Faces: Why Some of Our Cinema Heritage Is Part of the Public Domain". Film History: An International Journal. 19 (2): 125–43. doi:10.2979/FIL.2007.19.2.125. ISSN 0892-2160. OCLC 15122313. Retrieved 2012-01-05. See Note #60, pg. 143.
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