Gentle Reader, you’re likely bearing this time of pandemic and isolation with more patience than we.
Instead of being grateful that we – and everyone we know personally – remain virus-free, we tend to get a little grumpy about not being able to visit loved ones or go for a walk without feeling Guilty.
You’ve probably also noticed governments, while promising much-needed relief, are becoming Quite Bossy in ways that we in the West were once blissfully unaccustomed to.
Surely you have your ways of coping, whether it’s tackling long-delayed projects at home, or baking astounding new desserts. (If the latter, please let us know if you need a tester.)
We (yours truly) are still commuting to work, because we’re employed by an essential-services organization. Not that we are essential; we’re just lumped in with Those Who Are. So we like to pretend life doesn’t feel entirely different right now.
But it does.
A pandemic is a thief. It robs folks of freedom and livelihood, not to mention the lives it has taken.
It feels like it’s slowly choking all of us.
Yet, the other night, when we watched a 1930s screwball comedy, we realized how much we needed a bit of silliness for an escape.
Who hasn’t ever wanted to say this? Image: Tenor
Easy Living (1937) is a crazy screwball comedy, which is really saying something because a screwball comedy, by definition, is crazy.
Jean Arthur stars as an office worker who suddenly comes into possession of a sable fur coat worth $58,000 (approx. $1M US today).
Through a series of unfortunate – and fortunate – circumstances, the coat causes her to be fired, but it also presents spectacular opportunity. Because she is mistakenly thought to be the mistress of a middle-aged, married financier, our Jean is offered the penthouse suite in a luxury hotel in exchange for promoting the establishment to her “boyfriend”.
Meanwhile, she does meet a handsome young man (Ray Milland), who – unbeknownst to her – is the son of the aforementioned financier. Milland is trying to Make His Way in the world, without the aid of Dad’s moola, and he finds gainful employment as a busboy in an automat.
Now, we’re giving you a rather brief sketch of a film packed with personal ambitions, funny lines, and situations that would never happen in a billion years.
Which makes it utterly fabulous.
As we watched Easy Living, with its ridiculous premise and inevitable automat food fight, we truly appreciated, we think, how this film might have felt to Depression-era audiences. This enormously fluffy story envelopes you and helps you forget the world outside.
It proves you haven’t lost your sense of humour and reminds you it’s okay to laugh.
Sometimes, that is exactly what we need.
Easy Living was written by screwball wunderkind Preston Sturges, and it has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. You can watch a restored version here, for free.
Enjoy!
Easy Living: starring Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold, Ray Milland. Directed by Mitchell Leisen. Written by Preston Sturges. Paramount Studios, 1937, B&W, 88 mins.
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You can always rely on a classic screwball comedy to lighten the mood. I haven’t seen Easy Living, but it sounds like it ticks all the boxes for me.
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I hope you get the chance to see it. Also: I think Michelle Pfeiffer would have been fab in a remake.
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Oh I agree. I generally don’t care for remakes, but I’d have made an exception for Michelle!
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I’ll agree with the idea of screwball comedies (and comedies in general) being much needed at this point. I’ve been learning to enjoy a lot of different film genres the last few years, but with the world so serious at the moment, I know I’m turning more to comfort movies than usual (which, for me, means a lot of the old classic musicals and comedies). I haven’t seen Easy Living yet either, but I won’t deny it’s been on my list of movies I’d like to see ever since it got announced (and released) on Blu-ray last year!
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What?! Easy Living is on Blu-ray?! How did I miss this?
What are some of the comfort films you’re enjoying these days?
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Well, it was released last year by Kino Lorber Studio Classics. Would have grabbed it myself (at this point, anytime I see “screwball comedy” attached to any movie from that era, it’s a must-see for me), but not enough funds and too many other titles I wanted more coming out at that time.
As for comfort movies, right now I’m enjoying going through the Abbott and Costello filmography (mostly because I was given the recent Shout Factory Blu-ray box set, but I enjoy them, just the same), along with some Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd silents.
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Ah, good choices!
Lately, I’ve been watching more Alec Guiness films. I finally watched Our Man in Havana last night, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Terrific cast.
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Indeed, silliness is the antidote to the poison around us.
Why is it I have a sudden craving for guinea hen? I’ve never had a guinea hen! Failing gourmet food, I would love to join you at the automat.
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Haha! I’ll save you a place at the automat – and maybe Ray Milland will treat us to free beef pie!
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I love this assessment of the film as : “a crazy screwball comedy, which is really saying something because a screwball comedy, by definition, is crazy.” SO TRUE! This film is so over the top that it hasn’t always been my favorite. But I think you’ve really nailed something about its timing here. Over-the-top silliness is EXACTLY what we need right now. I could use a tour of that absurd hotel room (and Milland’s and Arthur’s befuddled responses to it) about now…..
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Oh yeah, that hotel suite! That bathtub! All those phones! I’ve always thought the combination of everything was way too much, but the last time I watched this film I thought, “I want to experience that bathtub.”
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I saw this one years ago, and it is indeed a gem. Jean Arthur starred in a number of screwball comedies and was perfect for the part in all of them
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Jean Arthur was always fabulous, wasn’t she? They say she wasn’t always the easiest to work with, but look at the results!
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That just goes to show that you can’t judge a star’s temperament by what you see on the screen. Barbara Stanwyck, for instance, was wonderful in screwball comedies (such as The Lady Eve), but was said to be the consummate professional, always prepared, on time, and easy to work with.
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Thank you for sharing this. This is why I’ve always gravitated towards comedies. Real life provides enough drama and suspense as it is.
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You said it. Comedies don’t solve the world’s problems, but they do give you some of what you need to get back to the trenches, as it were.
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You know, I’m not sure if I’ve seen this one. But any movie with a food fight in an automat is all right with me!
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Not sure how I missed your comment, but I agree. Who doesn’t like to live vicariously through a food fight?
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Exactly what’s needed 🙂
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I always liked comedies, but it wasn’t until lately I realized how necessary they are. Like you said, they’re exactly what’s needed.
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I lightly touched on this same idea recently at my blog, only with Mel Brooks instead of Jean Arthur, but yeah, it definitely feels good to laugh right now.
That dog is important to the story, right?
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I’m going to drop by and catch up on your thoughts about Mel B.
As for the dog, he’s not crucial, but he’s awfully cute.
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I believe I may take you up on that offer and watch Easy Living. It has been a long time. Great film. Cheers.
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I hope you get the chance to see it, and I hope you and yours are keeping safe.
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You’re right–silly, funny things are the best distraction during hard times, hence the rise of the musical in the 40s as well. Ken and I have been watching a lot of silly fun things in the past few weeks so I’ll have to look up this one!
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I hope you get the chance to see it. It’s way over the top and it’s glorious.
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I’ve never seen this one, Ruth, but you can bet your bottom dollar I will really soon! I certainly love to laugh and especially during times like these. I’m up there on the ceiling with Uncle Albert (Ed Wynn) in Mary Poppins 🙂 Thanks for the lead and lovely read!
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Haha! I’d forgotten about Uncle Albert on the ceiling. Time to see that film again!
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Absolutely. Makes me think of Sullivan’s Travels.
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Yes, me too! I keep thinking about that film…
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Laughter is indeed one of the best medicines! 🙂 Especially when it comes to silly, screwball movies 🙂
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Haha! You know it. This film is a tonic.
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EASY LIVING is a great film to watch if you just want to have fun. I’ve noticed recently that more and more of my movie friends are turning to silly movies like ANIMAL HOUSE and STRIPES and this one. When things are stressful, it’s nice to put your worries away for 90 minutes.
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Ain’t it, though? Like you said, it’s nice to forget, even if for a short time.
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Easy Living, the title, is everything we aspire for right now, isn’t it?
For me, a way to cope is watching long-postponed TV sitcoms and also the Silent Comedy Watch Party live with Ben Model and Steve Massa on Sundays. It’s so good that old movies and shows are there to make us laugh.
Stay safe! Kisses!
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I love your coping ideas. They sound like the perfect remedy. 🙂
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I’d loved to have met Preston Sturges. The 30s and 40s were incredible for screwball comedies. They really don’t make them like they used to.
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Agreed. Wouldn’t it have been great o pick Preston Sturgess’s brain? It would’ve been something to see him at work.
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Hey wonderful being yes silly movies are great!
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Thanks! Silly moves are necessary, aren’t they? Now more than ever. 🙂
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Very true
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Dear Ruth,
How right you are! Funny and crazy comedies, especially from the 1930s, are a perfect antidote to the pandemic and the woes it causes. This is a lovely little review. It tells me just enough about “Easy Living” to make me really want to see it!
By the way, I nominated you for The Sunshine Blogger Award: https://pureentertainmentpreservationsociety.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/the-sunshine-blogger-award-from-sally-silverscreen/. In this post, I also invited you to participate in my monthly guest series, What the Code Means to Me. I look forward to hearing from you!
Yours Hopefully,
Tiffany Brannan
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Thanks for stopping by, Tiffany. I hope you get the chance to see Easy Living. It’s a fun, quirky film.
Thanks for nominating me! That is very kind of you. I’ll drop by your site soon. 🙂
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This is such a great idea, for such a strange time! Will definitely be checking out some of your recommendations.
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Wonderful! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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I am not a movie person but I agree with you and will definitely put some of your recommendations on my watch list 😊
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oh how I adored it – and finding your glorious spot on the interweb again after checking out archived teamgloria.com posts with your lovely comments – hurrah! (p.s. this film was bloody brilliant – and that plunge bath! d i v i n e.)
be well in these most terrible of times, wherever you are in the world.
teamgloria (sophia) xxx
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So nice to hear from you! Thanks for your nice words, and I hope all is well with you. Be safe. 🙂
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