A deep dive into Hollywood's early years
Barbara Stanwyck was not only one of classic Hollywood’s most prolific actresses, but also one of its most versatile. Throughout the 1940s and 50s she starred in a number of noir pictures and, despite the heavy conventions of the genre, turned in remarkably different performances in each. In this post I’ll be looking at three of her noir films from the 1940s, and how they demonstrate her unique and chameleon-like talent for the genre.
This post is part of the Noirathon
Directed by Rouben Mamoulian, Golden Boy is a romantic melodrama set in the cutthroat world of boxing, starring Adolphe Menjou as manager Tom Moody, Barbara Stanwyck as his girlfriend Lorna, and William Holden as talented young violinist Joe Bonaparte, who decides to become a boxer.
This post is part of the 4th Golden Boy Blogathon: A William Holden Celebration, hosted by The Wonderful World of Cinema, The Flapper Dame, and Love Letters to Old Hollywood.
Directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Baby Face is a pre-code drama following the misadventures of Lily Powers as she uses her feminine wiles to improve her social standing.