The Midnight Lady (1932) CLAUDIA DELL

welcome to movie class by pizza flicks please stay tuned for today's program but first some tasty tidbits from your host she was born in san antonio texas a ziegfeld girl in new york dance with the prince of wales in london and in 1930 made her debut in hollywood the star of a lavish technicolor musical but as the mid-40s rolled by she was all but forgotten until two decades later when betty davis noted in her autobiography this former starlet climbed to the top of the hollywood sign and in despair plunged to her death from the first letter of the very word that crushed her could this really be the end of the lovely and talented claudia dell at age 16 she made her broadway debut in gay parade august 1925 it was in this production claudia put a twinkle in the eye of the great florence zigfield and was cast in the ziegfeld follies of 1927. the next year she played rosita in mr z's musical rosalie in late january of 1928 claudia was one of eight showgirls involved in a scientific experiment the girls were hooked up to lie detectors as they watch the love scene between john gilbert and greta garbo the experiment determined brunettes are more emotional than blondes in the summer of 1929 she was cast as a lead for the london production of mary mary but during a week of warm-up shows in the provinces she was dropped from the roll quote due to international complications claudia drew her full salary for two weeks and toured the uk where she tripped the light fantastic with the future king of england the dashing prince edward viii but as history would tell us his heart was destined for another home sick she returned to the states and moved to los angeles where her family had relocated in february of 1930 claudia was offered a contract with warner brothers pictures with a lead in their up-and-coming technicolor musical sweet kitty bel airs more musical comedies followed but this was the height of the great depression and lean years for the hollywood studios by december claudia along with many other musical stars were dropped by warner brothers our talented texans still drew offers from other major studios the stolen jewels was a star-studded comedy short distributed by paramount produced to raise funds for a lung disease and sponsored by chesterfield cigarettes only in hollywood by the end of 1932 claudia had begun working for the usual suspects of poverty row the under-capitalized and low-budget studios mostly located on or around gower street in hollywood legend has it harry kahn was so taken by her beauty that the columbia pictures logo was designed in her image whether claudia held the torch for the studio is still open for debate but there is no question she held the globes for worldwide pictures in 1934 claudia starred in two hour gang shorts as the mother of spanky but the year's bright spot was sesabe de mills cleopatra cast as octavia the wife of mark anthony and then in 1935 there was the 12-part cliffhanger the lost city as we can see claudia may have been the inspiration for star wars princess leah another highlight was algiers from 1938 with a small role opposite the most beautiful woman in the world in 1940 there was a comedy novelty source for the gander and notable for a small early role by alan ladd at age 35 she made her last screen appearance in charlie chan's black magic from 1944 a once promising hollywood career over claudia faded into obscurity until almost two decades later when betty davis published her autobiography claudia dell plunged to her death from the first letter of the very word that crushed her which i'm glad to report was false she was alive and well and working as a director for the powers modeling agency in beverly hills she left us in 1977 age 68 claudia dell gone but not [Music] forgotten and now for today's feature presentation the midnight lady from chesterfield pictures released may 15 1932. sarah padden is cast in the lead as a woman who now runs a successful speakeasy but years earlier was forced to leave her husband and children by an interfering mother-in-law played by lucy beaumont our star of the day claudia dell plays the daughter and believes her mother is dead she dates a respectable lawyer but on the sly our naughty girl rendezvous with a notorious ladies man theodore bomb else throw in a jealous lover named mona and we have a love quadrangle a crime of passion and a genuine pre-code hollywood melodrama with a touch of madame x [Music] so [Music] so what do you mean but after that blind all right well i noticed you spent all your time with the failure [Music] good evening hello so you're all dialed up tonight yeah i've been to the opera that was bad that's all very fast friends [Music] i both fought you aren't leaving for someone yeah everybody going no there's one crowd of soaks in there yet where's negan she's in her office she was asking for you a minute ago come in well late again pleasure before business huh well my friends from chicago insisted on the opera and nightclubs i'm like a postman on my day off i go for a long walk can you imagine no i can never mind you priceless here's your order oh no scotch this is better than the last stuff we can that guy goldberg we got standing mctavish making it for us now it's good well if it isn't boyfriend you're going to lose a customer put me down for six cases champagne that last stop you sent me was nothing but celery tonic and cider now listen don't waste your breath i put away more champagne than you'll ever sell but this stuff is good i know better it doesn't taste the same coming up as it does going down does my stuff have to work both ways come on i buy your drink i only use it for a rub down but with you darling no don't get sentimental i'm old enough to be your mother well it'd be so turn and you no you're a sack to stand for it bird i'm telling you yeah she's sure making a fool out of you say why don't you assert yourself sure tell her what's what i'll lay off she's all right she's all right did you ever see such enough she uses you for a grease rag and you love it i told you to let up on her or say we're trying to put you wise to yourself and you start riding it well i don't like the way you talk and i don't like the way you're listening go ahead and tell him ralph tell him what if you want to know she's out with byron crosby tonight and you know that guy's reputation shut up i know who she's out with all right be an idiot sure go ahead but if she keeps on cruising around with that oily-haired artist she's gonna be just the kind of a guy that he is what do you think this is the prize ring come on you're [ __ ] up take your dirty don't you dare touch me come on let's get out of here now now now calm down calm down where is now calm down do you want the reporters to hear about this all right feeling better yes sir says i hit that guy i'm afraid not huh i'm a contrary sort of vice versa it were [Music] don't you think you've had enough the way i feel i can't get enough what's your name right just call me bert my name is neither i don't know i know what stop it oh that guy cracks about gene gene gene who austin gene austin she's a swell girl even she is giving me to run around he dissed me united while this byron crosby color is because i asked her not to you know go on real i know anything good about him why don't you marry him have it over with i would like that but her boss says no and grandma says no she says no her brother says yes say she's a peach you'd like it why don't you bring around sometime say that's a good idea next time we're downtown i'll bring her around that's a very good idea i went downtown i'll bring her around what what is this um i'm in a tail spinner let me take him upstairs where are we going oh it's all right now upstairs oh oh okay this is swell right over here it's just like a public library over here [Music] you'll be more comfortable ah now lie down too wide lie down you'll feel better oh lie down no huh sort of uh hug me tight huh yeah so [Music] thank you please go virus must die yes it's after eight o'clock and if dad knew you were here to have a fist come here no i will come here to me good morning how do you do and uh good morning good morning shall i call you oh no no i'll call you no i had a lovely evening thank you thank you goodbye goodbye hello bro this is a fine time for you to be getting in don't do that well you need to take my head off about it it's lucky for you dad overslept this morning good that means you're not gonna stitch on me well i never have have i but that gives me the right to watch after you just the same don't you hear you talk you think i didn't have a brain in my head well sometimes i think you haven't what right have you kissed that crosby fellow anyway i suppose you never kissed a girl what that's different oh i see i'm to do you say not to do as you do oh i just hate to see you making a fool of yourself oh what's in a kiss plenty sometimes besides you're giving birth a run around bert needs a shot of highlights hurts a swell fellow and you treat him like a doormat he comes grandma and dead good morning son good morning father how did you sleep grandmother i didn't oh that's for bad i'm sorry you don't look it did you hear gene come in last night yes sir i did well i didn't well i did about one o'clock where is she then she isn't in our room well she uh she went to play tennis with whom well she didn't say that father but she did say she'd be back in time for breakfast ah harvey you'll have to take that girl in hand she isn't home enough to shake a sticker i'll speak to her yes that's all the buddha will do one word from us and she does this she pleases boy does that hit the spot oh i know just how you feel you've been there eh a couple of times maybe three you know you're an awfully good sport you think so uh huh if you turned me loose last night i'd probably be in the tabloid this morning [Music] then jean's family would break the engagement right right jean's family well thank heaven i'm not marrying them sort of made a fool of myself last night didn't i don't we all good morning good morning good morning daddy dear good morning how's it go grandma who said i'd lumbago will haven't you i'll have to meet at you parker yes who did you play tennis with let's see uh grace dodo and barry why your bed wasn't slept in last night i made it up myself what's happening to you that you're so industrious all of a sudden say what is this an inquisition can i make up my own bed without going through a third degree team keep your voice down gee oh i forgot grandma you never remember oh lord we thank you for this food and pray with all our hearts that thy kindness and loving mercies will bless the day bringing harmony peace and happiness into our troubled hustle amen what do you mean trouble household was that a crack at me harvey hold your tongue gene oh calm down everybody you're bothering my indigestion keep out that's no way to talk to your grandmother gene well make her let me alone your grandmother thinks you stabbed entirely too late and too much grandpa grandma thinks i'll cut it out sister i won't all the time it's what grandma thinks can anyone around here think but her be quiet gene i won't have you talking that way you grow more and more like your mother thank heaven for it if she had enough funk to walk on a lot of mid victorian ideas more power to him control yourself well i'm tired of being jumped on all the time no wonder i never stay at home harvey are you going to let her talk to me that way gee you're not to talk to your grandmother that way all right i won't talk to grandma that way what's the matter nothing i'm just thinking of a couple of kids whose mother walked out on them when they were babies it didn't have been much of a mother well at the time she thought she was justified i don't see any justification anything like that she couldn't have loved them where she did she had a good reason too much mother-in-law oh it was like that and as a fortune teller says tall dark men came along with a lot of understanding and sympathy naturally and she fell from in a big way and eloped with him oh might have been anybody you're thinking about the children aren't you yes i was she's thought about them too for years i wonder why she doesn't go to she's a notorious woman she wouldn't be proud of her as far as they're concerned she died 15 years ago has she ever seen or the cat can look at the king i'm going to give you a little advice you say your jean likes to play she certainly does why don't you play around with her i'll bet you take her to lectures and concerts instead of dances and shows [Laughter] how did you know guess it studying men has been part of my life did you ever go to speakeasies yes she goes to speak easy's would you no well if she insists on doing it wouldn't it be better if she went with you so that's an idea bring her around sometime you're all right gosh i'm doing caught in an hour o w i conlang seniors trying an important case and if i'm late he'll fire are you a lawyer well i i'm studying to be well if ever i'm in trouble will you defend me for the bitter end here ladies to the bitter end darling at last well here i am where's everybody they've gone don't lie you didn't ask anyone else to come aren't you glad no i'm mad and i'm going oh please darling i simply had to i wanted to see you will the presence of others blind you to my charms i wanted to see you alone i had a hundred it would be like this then why did you come to see if my hunch was right do that again byron and i am leaving afraid yes if you want to know it of me no but myself thank you you win t oh if i must lemon or rum i have the rum without the tea what do you have for chasing white for a good rum anyone well well well what's all this the great divine you know all the answers don't you oh i wrote them i rather like you my i'm flattered in fact i adore you now what am i supposed to do break down i wish you would i thought you were going to sketch me there seems to be no alternative you know a few answers yourself don't you i've read your book not bad byron not bad what do you want me to do just be your own charming self that funny i thought artists were smoking had their models stand on platforms and awkward positions i have a new technique there's nothing new about your technique byron well we let that go want to see what i've done i'd love to oh that's not beautiful enough always on the defensive aren't you yes but i'm with you find me hello once you get back in town i'm not in town i'm still in atlantic city i thought you said i was the only one byron who's there when no one you're lying to me i can tell by the way you talk i'm on a don't be like no oh no surely yes and don't be that way mona say what the devil makes you so suspicious i tell you i am alone yes i'll be a good girl and stay there for a few days we're all right but remember i'll be checking up on you all right check up on me goodbye we're going to now what would you like to have a drink tolerance yes high ball please two eyeballs joe goodbye need to sing john let's say george mississippi how do you do how do you do what you sit down thanks i will bert's been telling me all about you my boyfriend fell overboard last night didn't he [Music] try your drink i recommend it surely not bad not good but not bad it's good i like it excuse me a moment i'll be right you two are quite chummy aren't you she's a good egg sort of a cupid if you know what i mean no i don't okay let it go all right i think i'm gonna put you in a private room fine this is the race you've ever listened to more privately oh neither victor open up uh some of my special champagne for them you know well that's very nice neither but uh why the celebration it's my birthday oh come on won't you join us yes you're looking very charming this evening yourself vladimir though mona i should hear you say that in atlantic city suppose we go up to my apartment what do you say we tell you are up there surely let's go [Music] i hope you don't mind slamming if you say oh not at all at home but find a cigarette on the table all right thank you put your wrap on the bed thank you why it's amazing what can be done with these old brown stone houses the basement is speaking to the first for a restaurant on a second floor at home has empowered and no thanks i'll use my own so you really think it's home like oh yes much more so than my home too much family there are problems sometimes but i've seen you someplace before no i don't think so oh dear i've caught my ring again let me help you careful now yeah i've almost got it oh thank you oh what an odd ring isn't it i found it in an old box in the attic and you've waited all these years how'd you know i'd want it a long time only little girls and boys play in the attic you know don't you love it on rainy day oh i'll say bubs and i used to have more fun rummaging in trunks and things but yes my brother oh if he were here now he'd blow me up for using too much lipstick brothers don't like that oh but don's really a peach he just tries to boss me all the time older but as handsome as a picture how long have you known bert oh none long does he thought sons like last night awesome why no i've never seen him that way before he seemed to have an extra special reason last night well i do keep him guessing but he's not good most men do well i thought you'd never get your noses powdered after you're married young man you will find out what waiting years after we're married being an hour late is on time for gene right now i think it's a gay partner hello ask him to wait i'll be right down pardon me just a minute please i'll be right back i'll send you up a couple of smiths oh thank you she's a funny one isn't she she's a good egg you like it everyone does it's the funniest thing what all the feeling you get sometimes when you meet a person like you'd met them before you're funny too are you just finding that out sometimes you're so different you don't seem like the same person now mr zilch now quit stalling mrs burp and give me a kick promise you won't tell anyone not a soul thank you all right harvey just look at that look at it what's all this that's what i should like to know that's what we should find out where did it come from in this box of flowers for cheese that's artist byron crosby harvey gene is getting away from us completely and unless you take her in hand she'll follow right in her mother's footsteps don't talk like that mother hey there may i borrow your car i got four flats and i'm clean out of gasoline well now what's the matter you're sister well harvey what are you going to do about it sit there like a wooden indian let me have that done your sister [Applause] gene gene you hear me yes daddy i'll be with you in just a minute your sister your granddaughter happy what is this another inquisition well what have i done now what have you to say for yourself daughter looks like i'm on a spot is that all you've got to say to yourself well if i said i didn't pose for this you wouldn't believe it i would not but the use i believe you sis thanks don well dad am i in the doghouse with you i'm listening gene what have you to say to yourself i didn't pose for that and i was just beginning to like you two how do you explain that i don't you wouldn't understand if i did harvard you hear her well gene i'm waiting well byron's guessed my head and the rest he did from imagination just for a gag hmm i know it sounds pretty thin down but it's the truth whether they believe it or not if you say it's the truth i believe you when i was young girls didn't visit men in their apartments when you were young girls wanted to do exactly as they do now only they lack the nerves harvey you going to let her talk to me like that be careful what you say gene so i'm fed up well one thing is certain this crosby is no fit person for you to associate with i forbid you to see him again oh you meddling budget harvey keep a civil tongue in your head young lady hello did you get it i'll say i did oh tickle pink okay see you tonight i'm busy who was that that was saint peter wanting to know what size halo you wore when you were a girl hopping gene austin you're to be ashamed of yourself well make her let up on me just like your mother willful head strong if you'll make another crack about my mother i'll tell you some things about yourself there's some letters in the attic that you should have burned be quiet now remember you're not to see this fellow crappy again do you understand i heard your dad come here [Music] in the evening hello jean hello anita i want you to know mr crawford hello baron hello nieto oh you know each other you know everybody don't you you going to join us no i've been to the theater for the rotten show and i'm sleepy i wish you would all now tourist companies we as a crowd see you later okay let's get out of here what do you say let's not say we did herman you want booth number two yes that's iron listen stick close and hear everything mr crosby has to say to that girl you understand yeah you mean but they say yeah yes everything and for once in your life get on your toes do it yeah so what do you say gamma says little girl shouldn't go to man's apartment the old so and so but we happen to be living in a modern age my dear oh that's no lime barbie barbie oh i think that's cute from now on i'm gonna call you barbie shall we go grandma says no oh shoot grandma oh that's an idea let me come in well i stuck with that table and sometimes i hear some things and sometimes nothing have they gone oh sure they went for yeah well for a long time he would argue with her how long some studio was an event getting taxi yeah right away thank you down be comfortable all right cigarette no thing drink no i've had enough now isn't this more comfortable here but i'm so sleepy now is that nice fiery i know exactly what you're going to say so don't say it oh i got the fruit all over your mouth did you excuse me mom will you dear we're going to get some cigarettes and take this off it's incriminating you know all right so thank you [Music] uh fine okay the taxi driver testifies that he deposited you at crosby studios 149. is that right that would be about right who admitted you he was he expecting you no what did he say nothing he simply admitted yes what did you say i told him i wanted my money what money the money he owed me for what his account at my place is it true that you operate a speakeasy i suppose you might call it that how long have you known byron crosby several years intimately he was a good customer your honor i insist that the witness answer that question you must answer the question i wasn't particularly friendly with him yet you went to his apartment yes did you have words with him that night yes did he ask you to leave yes what did you do i refused to leave without my money she had a chance a jury will convict her sure her own testimony is doing that have you seen this gun before yes is it yours no whose is it then i don't know was anyone with crosby when you arrived he was alone did you threaten him i told him i wanted my money that isn't answering the question did you threaten him yes with this gun were you ever in love with byron crosby what do you mean by that nothing does that imply that you were on intimate terms with the deceased could be interpreted that way i suppose you must answer the question what was the question again where you are on intimate terms with the deceased yes where you in his apartment from the time you arrived until crosby's friends walked in yes three people saw you with this gun in your hands standing by crosby's body is that correct yes your honor the state race gentlemen have you arrived at a verdict we have your honor we find the defendant guilty of manslaughter jury out 24 hours it returns verdict on seventh planet appeal held on lightly it says here seven they were out long enough well they had to weigh the evidence mother but no one actually saw her doing dad pedal stakes a blind man could have seen she was guilty from the start certainly the evidence was incontrovertible it was obvious thanks not a flaw image you're quite right harvey she was a low person she's not a low person you can thank your lucky stars that your name wasn't great you have no right to condemn a person you've never seen no but i know all about her that's enough for me she's notorious that's not so gene be careful don't hear you talk one would think you knew her i do know her father she knows how i saw this yes i know her and if you want to know something else i've been in her place in her apartment and i can tell you this if i were guilty of something i'd a thousand times rather have her on the jury then it doesn't like you you're just a suspicious narrow-minded old woman intolerant of anyone's fault but your own i think you've gone just sit there and let her talk to me like that go to your room were you ever known to take the part of your children you forget yourself young lady i wish i could forget myself lately number four down there thank you right does often ask me to come with me he's asked about you every time i've been here when you think of spending so much time in a place like this oh bit it's awful well you wouldn't call it a holiday she asked me to bring her didn't you gene of course i did i wanted to come for a long time i hope that you might i'm fond of you two youngsters i hardly know what to say don't try to say anything dear just tell me about yourselves are you on the wagon yes i have been ever since gene asked me to she is too i'm glad of that did you get the candy and magazines we sent yes i enjoyed them too especially the candy oh i'm so glad you know i made the candy myself i thought it was homemade well i like that you never made any candy for me fudge making for sweethearts went out when i was a girl oh time's up when are you two going to get married that's what i'd like to find out how about a dean why wait we have to wait a little while i hope you'll come again sometime anita so cigarette no thanks so what's the matter sit down i want to tell you something leader is innocent what makes you think so i don't think so i know so how do you know because i was in byron's apartment the night he was killed i need to arrive just as i was leaving oh please don't touch me sit down and listen i didn't have the nerve to tell the truth they would have sent me away just like they did her i was afraid i wanted to talk but i couldn't i kept quiet gene gene did i didn't do it i know you didn't i haven't been fair with you i played around with byron yes i know but that was all you believe me don't you of course i believe you then the vanity case is the only thing that makes you think mona might have been there yes and the fact that when he talked to her over the phone she was terribly angry have you met her yes the same day i met him she shot daggered at him when he was dancing with me she might have left that case there some other time yes but if she were there that night and missed it after she left she hasn't forgotten it that's right may i see it right i threw it away what i was so frightened you threw it well that shoots that idea but i remember it perfectly yeah lucille has one just like it yeah look gene here's our plan you'll have to go and see it i want to see miss sebastian please who shall i say miss gene austin just sit down please thank you how do you do miss austin i see you don't remember me where am i oh to be sure how stupid of me you're one of bad friends he pluribus unum that means one of many oh well of course uh byron was rather liberal with his affection you and i ought to know byron meant nothing to me my dear won't you sit down thank you smoke no thanks i suppose you're wondering why i'm here aren't you well i must admit i am rather puzzled i have something that belongs to you to me yes something i thought you ought to have in your possession hey where on earth did you get this in byron's apartment the night he was murdered you were environment department the night he died yes i was and the police never find it out there are a lot of things the police don't know are you trying to insinuate that i was there i'm not insinuating anything but i'm not a fool either i don't want to be dragged into this any more than you do well i was in atlantic city the whole week the day before byron dropped out your vanity was not on the couch and that night it was why you don't be a fool we both have something to hide and i thought we'd get together that's all i don't know what you're talking about all right i've done my part you sure you made no mistake youngster well you figure it out within three hours after gene saw she's leaving for europe that looks fishy to me taking a long chance i think i only promised to question her if she tried to leave she's nothing to conceal she's nothing to be afraid of oh maybe that's right well there she is i beg your pardon you want to sebastian yes i'm sorry you'll have to come along with us who are you i wear from the district attorney's office this is an outrage it's orders and i'm sorry you'll have to come along but homeless by sailing that don't mean anything to me come on this is the most preposterous thing i've ever heard of miss austin has just told me a very unusual story and in the interest of justice you should not object to answering my question all right fire away i'll still have time to catch my vote you told ms austin you were in the city the night byron crosby met his death i was in atlantic city you checked out of your hotel that evening at 11 o'clock is that a crime atlantic city is 130 miles from new york yes but less than two hours by plane we have evidence that you did return by plane all right then i did it would be well for you to realize the seriousness of your situation what do you mean by that am i suspected of killing byron crosby there are circumstances in connection with your relations with byron crosby which require explanation that's ridiculous byron and i were madly in love that's all right i don't doubt you sit down again can you account for your movements after you arrived in the city of course i can i went home completely [ __ ] out and then went to bed what time was that about of course two your maid said it was two o'clock oh i see my maid's worried to be credited more than mine i'm merely quoting what she's sworn to how far is your apartment from crosby about uh 15 minutes ride your maid's testimony is correct that 15 minutes would have made it possible for you to have been in byron crosby's apartment at the time of his death have it your way your attitude is not helpful well what do you want me to do break down and say i killed him not unless you did well i didn't is this your gun no i've never seen it before that's rather strange we've traced the serial number and the record says that you bought it that's a lie and i see you a moment suddenly uh where'd you get this gun byron gave it to me ah then it is your gun all right then i did kill him i'm glad he gets off my mind you're under arrest for the murder of byron crosby oh boy i'm scared oh no you're not these are your friends you're home again can you stay right behind me sure i will all right let's go [Music] [Music] wow [Music] [Music] come on have a drink we got real champagne this time none of that [Music] i heard someone say it was a son but i don't think so oh forget it don't cry honey i've lived my life you have yours before you you had everything you lose i had everything to gain got my scalp in your eyes later you're gene's mother aren't you our mother died 15 years ago all right if you want it that way i don't know what you're talking about could i kiss you sure well you stay here with her and i go down see the crowd i'll be back in a minute [Music] you

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Id: MsU0pIx-_7E

Length: 72min 33sec (4353 seconds)

Published: Sat Jan 30 2021