Mannequin *** (1937, Joan Crawford, Spencer Tracy, Alan Curtis, Ralph Morgan, Mary Philips) – Classic Movie Review 6798

Director Frank Borzage’s 1937 drama Mannequin is the only pairing of Joan Crawford and Spencer Tracy, which is a great shame because they are so good together.

Crawford is comfortably cast in her tailor-made regular role as a New York showgirl, Jessie Cassidy, who rises to become the wife of a shipping millionaire, John Hennessey (Tracy).

Joan Crawford is at her best in Mannequin (1937).

Crawford is at her best here, perhaps gearing herself up to withstand the competition from habitual scene-stealer Tracy. MGM backs them up with the usual immaculate character actors, script and production. Lawrence Hazard writes the screenplay, based on the story Marry for Money by Katherine Brush.

Alan Curtis is particularly good in co-starring support in his credited film star début as Crawford’s first husband Eddie Miller, a useless conman. The con is that Eddie is plotting to get Jessie to divorce him, marry Hennessey, divorce Hennessey, take his money, and then remarry Eddie.

There was one Oscar nomination – for Best Original Song for ‘Always and Always’ (music by Edward Ward, lyrics by Chet Forrest and Bob Wright).

Also in the cast are Ralph Morgan, Mary Philips, Elizabeth Risdon, Leo Gorcey, George Chandler, Bert Roach, Paul Fix, Marie Blake, Matt McHugh, Helen Troy, Phillip Terry, Gwen Lee, Donald Kirk, Virginia Blair and Jimmy Conlin.

Mannequin is directed by Frank Borzage, runs 95 minutes, is an MGM release, is written by Lawrence Hazard, is shot in black and white by George J Folsey, is produced by Joseph L Mankiewicz, is scored by Edward Ward and is designed by Paul Groesse.

Alan Curtis (1909–1953).

Alan Curtis (1909–1953) had already made 17 films in 1936-37 in minor roles. He notched up 56 movies before his death following surgery, aged 43. They include Phantom Lady, Hitler’s Madman (1943) and High Sierra.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6798

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Joan Crawford is top left among the Movie Queens by Graeme Jukes.