You and Me **** (1938, Sylvia Sidney, George Raft, Harry Carey Sr, Barton MacLane) – Classic Movie Review 11,122

Director Fritz Lang’s 1938 black and white film noir crime romance You and Me stars Sylvia Sidney and George Raft, along with Harry Carey Sr, Barton MacLane, Warren Hymer, Roscoe Karns, George E Stone and Robert Cummings. It is written by Virginia Van Upp and Jack Moffitt, based on an original story by Norman Krasna.

Harry Carey Sr plays Mr Morris, the kindly owner of a department store staffs the place with ex-cons to give them a second chance in life. Two of them, Joe Dennis and Helen Roberts (George Raft and Sylvia Sidney), fall in love but, alas, they are not allowed to marry as she is still on parole. But then Mickey (Barton MacLane), one of the ex-convicts Mr Morris hires, recruits two of his fellow ex-convicts to join his plan to rob the store.

The simple, offbeat piece is amiable, entertaining and often highly effective.

Fritz Lang (1890–1976).

In a tricky balancing act, attempting something different, Fritz Lang directs very competently and the players get the tone just right. The nine songs by Kurt Weill (music) and Sam Coslow (lyrics) (especially Song of the Cash Register, The Right Guy for Me, Knocking Song) are a big attraction, and also the title song, which is by Frederick Hollander.

Story writer Krasna wanted to direct but original stars George Raft and Carole Lombard would not agree. Raft was suspended and by the time he was reassigned, Sylvia Sydney had replaced Lombard. Sydney, who had starred in Viennese director Fritz Lang’s first two American films (Fury, You Only Live Once), then successfully lobbied Paramount to have Lang replace Richard Wallace as director.

Also in the cast are Adrian Morris, Roger Gray, Cecil Cunningham, Vera Gordon, Egon Brecher, Willard Robertson, Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams [Guinn Williams], Bernadene Hayes, Joyce Compton, Carol Paige, Sam Ash, William B Davidson, Hal K Dawson, Richard Denning, Jimmie Dundee, Fern Emmett, Julia Faye, Greta Granstedt, Arthur Hoyt, John Hubbard, Joyce Mathews, Jack Mulhall, Edward Pawley, Jack Pennick, Harry Tenbrook, Archie Twitchell, Phil Warren, and Ruth Rogers.

You and Me is directed by Fritz Lang, runs 94 minutes, is made and released by Paramount, is written by Virginia Van Upp (screenplay) and Jack Moffitt (uncredited), is shot in black and white by Charles Lang, is produced by Fritz Lang, is scored by Kurt Weill, John Leipold (composer additional music, uncredited), F Franke Harling (composer additional music, uncredited) and Leo Shuken (composer additional music, uncredited), and designed by Hans Dreier and Ernst Fegté.

It is shot at Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,122

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