New Books in Film Twentieth Century
Feb 2, 2026
A breathless look at a 1934 screwball comedy that hurtles like a runaway train. John Barrymore's audacious, nonstop stagey performance steals attention. Carole Lombard's pushback and star-making arc get spotlighted. They unpack theatrical types, frantic staging, and a finale that flips from revelation back to chaos.
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Screenplay And Performance Power The Film
- 20th Century showcases Ben Hecht's electric screenplay and Howard Hawks' screwball momentum.
- John Barrymore's unleashed, Shakespearean energy transforms the film into a nonstop comedic tour de force.
Barrymore's Mythic Reveal
- John Barrymore makes a dramatic, delayed entrance that the hosts compare to a 'Darth Vader' reveal.
- The billboard tease and the physical reveal crank up his mythic theatrical presence on screen.
The Director As God And Source Of Chaos
- Oscar Jaffee functions as the archetypal control-freak director whose theatrical commands generate comedy.
- His hammy, omnipotent directing style both creates stars and sows the seeds of his loss of control.
