Twentieth Century

The title of this paragon of 30's screwball comedy refers to the Chicago-New York train, upon which the entirety of the original play was set. The MacArthur/Hecht screenplay updates the story a little, providing an insight as to why the loony characters are shouting quite so much.

Matinee idol supreme John Barrymore is first billed as Broadway impresario Oscar Jaffe, an eccentric image of the theatrical luvvy, living his life in a permanent melodrama. Jaffe has to be dramatic in every word and action, striding about, gesturing wildly and 'closing the iron door' repeatedly on Walter Connolly and Roscoe Rams, his long-suffering aides. Jaffe's latest protegee is lingerie model Mildred Plotka, (Carole Lombard, Queen of Screwball) and his attempts to groom this bemused shop girl for mega-stardom are the start of the mayhem (and the shouting).

But when Mildred - now known as Lily Garland - really does make it big, Jaffe discovers that she can shout, throw abuse and generally over-react just as well as he can, and their relationship degenerates into one of volcanic fights followed by cringing make-ups.  When Lily gets so aggravated by his mock suicides and 'Iron Door' that she leaves him, Jaffe discovers that without her, his care; over, until they meet on the Twentieth Century, as Jaffe is running from the police and bankruptcy. The rest of the focuses on Jaffe's efforts to inveigle his way back into Lily's affections, in the faint hope that she will work for him again.

The film was well received by the critics, though its success was hampered by that all-time great screwball It Happened One Night being released the same year. Barrymore had been a major star for years, but Lombard was elevated to the dizzy heights with this film, and she was not to get a better role until To Be Or Not To Be, her last film before her death in an air crash. The supporting cast does remarkably well considering the screen is dominated by the forceful personalities of the two leads; Etienne Girardot is particularly noteworthy as the escaped lunatic signing large cheques and posting stickers warning of the armageddon.

Review by Mark Radice
Taken from EUFS Programme 1993-94