Thursday, October 18, 2012

A Film to Watch for...on TCM Next Week


























Actress Jeanne Eagels, one of the great legends of early 20th century American theater, became the toast of the New York stage by the time she was 30. She most famously originated the role of Sadie Thompson on Broadway in John Colton's Rain (based on a Somerset Maugham short story); the play ultimately ran for a record-setting 648 performances. Eagels appeared in only a handful films during her career, most of them silents. The two sound films she did make were both produced in 1929, and she received a Best Actress nod for her performance in the first, a film adaptation of Somerset Maugham's The Letter. But Eagels' contention for an Academy Award occurred posthumously, for she had passed away, at age 39, in October 1929.


The acclaimed Bette Davis/William Wyler re-make of The Letter (1940) has been seen far more widely than the earlier Eagels/Jean de Limur version, but on October 24, Turner Classic Movies will air the 1929 original. New York Times film critic Dave Kehr has described Eagels' acting style as "radically innovative," and next Wednesday morning TCM viewers will have a chance to find out why.

Jeanne Eagels and Herbert Marshall in The Letter (1929)

Jeanne Eagels was born Eugenia Eagles in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1890. She left school to go to work while still a child and joined the Dubinsky Brothers traveling theater company as a dancer sometime between the age of 12 and 15. There she would eventually take lead roles in popular dramas such as "Camille, " "Romeo and Juliet" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Eagels later joined another touring company and made her way to New York where she hoped to develop her career. Though she was, for a time, a 'Ziegfeld Girl,' her primary focus was to build a theatrical reputation on the 'legitimate stage.' She was cast in a variety of small roles and, at some point, apparently developed a distinctly British accent off-stage. It was while she was vacationing in Paris that American actor Julian Etinge noticed and admired her, though they did not meet at that time. As it turned out, Etinge and Eagels would soon co-star in "The Crinoline Girl" (1914).

Portrait of Jeanne Eagels, 1918
In early 1916, Eagels earned her first Broadway credit with a featured role in "The Great Pursuit," which ran for just 29 performances. It was in 1917 that her star truly began to rise over The Great White Way with co-starring roles in three plays opposite George Arliss: "The Professor's Love Story," "Disraeli," and "Hamilton."  She went on to appear opposite George Abbott in David Belasco's hit, "Daddies," from 1918 - 1919. Eagels was so popular in her 1920 starring role in "The Wonderful Thing" that her entrances were greeted with such enthusiastic applause she had to wait for the house to quiet before she could go on. She opened in "Rain" in 1922 and it ran on Broadway and on tour over the next four years. She turned down many roles following the play's enormous success (including the role of Roxie Hart in the 1926 production of "Chicago"), but returned to Broadway in 1926 for George Cukor's production of "Her Cardboard Lover" with Leslie Howard.

Before going on tour with "Her Cardboard Lover," Eagels took time out to star in MGM's silent production of the Monta Bell-directed "Man, Woman and Sin" (1927) opposite silent screen idol John Gilbert. Bell would produce and write the dialogue for her talking debut in The Letter two years later.

At the height of her stage career Eagels, who had health issues along with a fondness for alcohol, became notably unreliable. When, in 1928, she failed to appear for scheduled performances of "Her Cardboard Lover" in Milwaukee and St. Louis, the show's producers requested that Actor's Equity ban her from appearing on stage with other Equity members. An 18 month ban ensued. During that time she appeared on the vaudeville circuit performing scenes from "Rain."  She was also free to make films - for which stage actors with trained voices were now in great demand. Following her high-voltage performance in "The Letter," Eagels starred opposite Fredric March in Jealousy (1929). This film was also re-made much later with Bette Davis in the starring role - as Deception in 1946. Eagels' next film was to have been The Laughing Lady (1929), but she dropped out of the project and her role went to Ruth Chatterton

Jeanne Eagels, 1921

While in New York in September 1929, Jeanne Eagels underwent successful in-patient surgery for ulcers on her eyes.  A few weeks later, apparently fully recovered, she suddenly fell ill. She was taken to a private hospital where, as she waited to be seen by a doctor, she went into convulsions and died.  Three different coroner's reports followed and all agreed that her demise was caused by an overdose - but each named a different substance. One report pointed to alcohol, another blamed chloral hydrate and a third attributed her death to heroin.

Jeanne Eagels was admired as an actress by many in her day. Bette Davis was reportedly a fan and Louis B. Mayer, taken with Eagels' performance, purportedly deemed The Letter required viewing for actors under contract to MGM at the time. But Eagels' turbulent life off-screen also inspired. "The Shooting Star," a Broadway play of 1933 starring Francine Lattimore was based on her life. The storyline for Dangerous (1935), the film in which Bette Davis portrayed a declining Broadway star (and for which she won her first Oscar), reflected elements of Eagels' own decline. And, in 1957, Kim Novak starred in the biopic Jeanne Eagels, a film that played fast and loose with the facts of Eagels' life story.
 
~ 

The Letter (1929) starring Jeanne Eagels, Reginald Owen and Herbert Marshall airs on TCM Wednesday, October 24 at 8:45 am Eastern/4:45 am Pacific. A few hours later, at 11 am Eastern/8 am Pacific, TCM will air the Lewis Milestone-directed version of Rain (1932) starring Joan Crawford.

Jeanne Eagels as Leslie Crosbie in The Letter (1929)
Sources:
Internet Broadway DataBase
Jeanne Eagels website

26 comments:

  1. Eve, thanks for spotlighting this film, one I've been curious about for a long time but never thought I'd be able to see. I didn't know Monta Bell was associated with it. I've seen a couple of pictures he directed that I thought were excellent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. R.D. - The only Monta Bell picture I was familiar with before delving into Jeanne Eagels' background is "Downstairs," one of John Gilbert's sound films. I thought it was very well done (and Gilbert was very good in it).

      Delete
  2. I was SO excited to see this film on the schedule! I set my DVR to record it immediately. I love the Davis version, but I've been dying to see this one for ages.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brandie - There are some good films on TCM's Oct., schedule, but this is the one that really caught my attention when I saw it listed.

      Delete
  3. My DVR is set. I, too, am extremely excited to see this. Thanks for an excellent post on a very compelling actress.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. FlickChick - I've read really contradictory reviews of Eagels' performance in "The Letter." She won raves when the film was released (and Academy Award consideration) but reviews today seem less consistent.

      Delete
  4. Eagels is brilliant in this movie. Her performance is different from Davis', and the film also made changes from the original play - although it's definitely pre-Code in its atmosphere and presentation. I can see why Davis admired her - they shared a similar passion in their acting and commitment to truth in their art.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GOM - I've only seen a video clip of the final scene and thought her performance was riveting. It has been said that Bette Davis' in "Of Human Bondage" was reminiscent of Eagels in the raw emotional power she brought to her performance.

      Delete
  5. Thanks so much for alerting us that TCM is showing The Letter. I've waited for years to see it, and now it looks like it's finally going to happen. I also enjoyed reading your insightful profile of this troubled actress. I look forward to comparing her performance to Davis' in the remake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kim - I've been hoping to see this version of "The Letter" for a while, too. I wish there was more detailed (and reliable) information available on Jeanne Eagels' life and career. Much myth surrounds her - would love to see a new, well-researched bio.

      Delete
  6. Thanks Lady Eve for the tip on this film broadcasting on TCM. Jeanne Eagels was lionized in her day and we will see why. Alas, she was also an early casualty, as with Marilyn Miller and many more to follow, of the roller-coaster life of a major star with feet of clay.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christian - Yes, Jeanne Eagels surely is one of the early - and enduring - examples of the dark side of celebrity in the 20th century.

      Delete
  7. I'm so excited to get to see "The Letter" with Eagels. I am such a fan of that era of Broadway, and always wanted to see this movie! She was striking looking, wasn't she? I am going to record AND watch live when it comes on ... don't want to take any chances on missing it. Interesting that Herbert Marshall was in both versions of "The Letter", which happens to be my favorite Bette Davis movie. Thanks for the tip, Eve. Marvelous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Becky - I was listening to an interview with Michael Feinstein on NPR the other day. An audio clip was included of Fred and Adele Astaire singing (their friend) George Gershwin's "Fascinatin' Rhythm" from around 1926. Feinstein said it was his favorite version of the tune because he thought it beautifully reflected the energy and the spirit of the era. It was a real treat and I'm sure you'd have loved it.

      "The Letter" is my favorite Bette Davis, too.

      Delete
    2. I would LOVE to have heard that. I often check out books from the library, gigantic ones, that have photos and stories about early era Broadway, and I enjoy them so much. It's funny that The Letter is my favorite Bette Davis. It isn't really a typical Bette performance, is it? She is just superb.

      BTW, I forgot to mention that the movie description of The Letter reads like a bodice-ripper novel ... "He wasn't a man anymore -- he was a beast!" Hotter than hot!

      Delete
    3. I'm sure you can find that interview online, it was on NPR's "Fresh Air" this week - Wednesday, I think. It is excellent - Michael Feinstein was Ira Gershwin's archivist and friend during the last six years of the lyricist's life. Absolutely fascinating memories and anecdotes and musical interludes.

      Delete
  8. I'm really looking forward to seeing this version of the classic film, "The Letter'". One of my favorite Bette Davis films.

    I also enjoyed learning more about Jeanne Eagels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dawn - From the comments in response to this post, it seems this first film adaptation of "The Letter" has been much-anticipated. I have to wonder if Bette Davis, who played Leslie Crosbie as a very controlled woman whose emotions are contained beneath the surface, and William Wyler made a point of creating a character as different as possible from Jeanne Eagels' interpretation.

      Delete
  9. The Kim Novak bio pic, with Jeff Chandler, was terrible IMHO. One of Novak's worst acting performances and as you mention, the filmmakers played loose with the facts. Back to the real Eagels, I got this set on my DVR. Having never seen Eagels perform in any film this will be a real treat. I love the movie poster at the top and may "steal" to post on my 24Frames facebook page if you don't mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John - You are so right, the Kim Novak/Jeff Chandler biopic is just awful. To the point of unwatchable. Jeff Chandler was in so many forgettable movies that whenever I see his name in the credits now I think "nevermind."

      Feel free to "steal" the movie poster, I "lifted" it from somewhere myself.

      Delete
  10. What a fascinating post, Eve, I didn't know much at all about Jeanne Eagels before reading this. I'd really like to see this and compare with the Bette Davis version. Very little chance of this being shown in the UK, but it is also out on Warner Archive DVD so I may be tempted in future ... anyway, I will be very interested to hear what you all think of it. Herbert Marshall looks so young in that picture!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy - The contemporary reviews I've seen so far on this version of "The Letter" were written at the time of its DVD release about a year ago. The DVD may -hopefully - be available in GB via library or Netflix UK by now.

      Interesting, isn't it, that Herbert Marshall played the lover in the first version and the cuckold in the second...

      Delete
    2. Eve, great point about Marshall there. He's an actor I find increasingly interesting, and his playing of the two roles is another reason to compare the two. Sadly Warner Archive DVDs are not available for rental in the UK, but can be purchased on import and the prices are not too bad nowadays.

      Delete
  11. I just finished viewing the classic film, The Letter(1929). I thought the film was very good, and I do think it was very much worth seeing, but.. it does not have the wonderful chemotherapy and lighting as the 1940's version. Although.. The scene where Jeanne's character travels to the East Indies town, to buy back her letter, is beautiful and full of suspense. Jeanne's performance was good, but.. she spoke in a rushed and some what jerky manner. I was very surprised at the ending.. If I were to pick between the two versions the 1940's version is my favorite. Thank you for the heads up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your early review, Dawn. I recorded but haven't seen the film yet. I will say that Bette & Wyler's version of "The Letter" would be extremely hard to beat - but I'm very interested to see Eagels' interpretation and what is essentially a filmed version of the '20s stage play.

      Delete
  12. A final comment: I watched this version of "The Letter" last night. This film is an early talky which is no doubt why it seems nothing so much as a filmed stage play (whereas William Wyler's 1940 adaptation is truly cinematic). As for Jeanne Eagels...she is very interesting and unusual - but also stagey. She made only two "talkies" and didn't live long enough to prove whether or not she would have, in time, become a great film actress.

    If nothing else, this film has historical value. It is also interesting to contrast the 1929 version with the 1940 in terms of the relative speed with which advances were made, artistically as well as technically, once sound arrived.

    ReplyDelete