Just occasionally, back in the golden age of Hollywood, studios got so desperate that they tried to squeeze a couple of totally different storylines into one movie. My favourite example is They Met In Bombay' with Clark Gable and Peter Lorre. His Brother's Wife' never attains those heights of lunacy but it tries pretty hard !!
Movie no.1: Stanwyck is the girl from the wrong side of the tracks who falls for a wealthy playboy (Robert Taylor) with large gambling debts. The romance is broken up by his snobby brother but Stanwyck assumes the debts, going to work as hostess' for a slimy club owner. Oh, yes and she also marries the brother (but that's not really important !)
Movie no.2: Stanwyck and the wealthy playboy (also a top research scientist !!) go deep into the South American jungle to cure a plague which is decimating the local villagers. The situation is hopeless, the playboy (sorry, top scientist) is losing his nerve and there's only one thing left for the self-sacrificing Stanwyck to do!
If this all sounds ridiculous, that's because it is.
Stanwyck tries a little too hard in this one, battling bravely against the lifeless script, dialogue and supporting cast. Director W S Van Dyke was happier with the light comedy of the Thin Man' movies than this kind of absurd melodrama.
Luckily for Stanwyck fame and fortune beckoned only a year later with Stella Dallas.'
This picture does have a certain curiosity value but really it's for fans only.
Movie no.1: Stanwyck is the girl from the wrong side of the tracks who falls for a wealthy playboy (Robert Taylor) with large gambling debts. The romance is broken up by his snobby brother but Stanwyck assumes the debts, going to work as hostess' for a slimy club owner. Oh, yes and she also marries the brother (but that's not really important !)
Movie no.2: Stanwyck and the wealthy playboy (also a top research scientist !!) go deep into the South American jungle to cure a plague which is decimating the local villagers. The situation is hopeless, the playboy (sorry, top scientist) is losing his nerve and there's only one thing left for the self-sacrificing Stanwyck to do!
If this all sounds ridiculous, that's because it is.
Stanwyck tries a little too hard in this one, battling bravely against the lifeless script, dialogue and supporting cast. Director W S Van Dyke was happier with the light comedy of the Thin Man' movies than this kind of absurd melodrama.
Luckily for Stanwyck fame and fortune beckoned only a year later with Stella Dallas.'
This picture does have a certain curiosity value but really it's for fans only.