The Perfect Specimen
| The Perfect Specimen | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Curtiz |
| Written by | Norman Reilly Raine Lawrence Riley Brewster Morse Fritz Falkenstein Story: Samuel Hopkins Adams |
| Starring | Errol Flynn Joan Blondell |
| Cinematography | Charles Rosher |
| Edited by | Terry O. Morse |
| Music by | Heinz Roemheld |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $505,000[1] |
| Box office | $1,281,000[1] |
The Perfect Specimen is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn and Joan Blondell. The picture is based on a novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams.
It was Flynn's first comedy.[2]
Plot
[edit | edit source]Gerald Wicks, the heir to a large fortune, has never been outside the gates of his childhood estate. He goes on an adventure with newspaper reporter Mona Carter and they fall in love.
Cast
[edit | edit source]- Errol Flynn as Gerald Beresford Wicks
- Joan Blondell as Mona Carter
- Hugh Herbert as Killigrew Shaw
- Edward Everett Horton as Mr. Gratten
- Dick Foran as Jink Carter
- Beverly Roberts as Alicia
- May Robson as Mrs. Leona Wicks
- Allen Jenkins as Pinky
- Dennie Moore as Clarabelle
- Hugh O'Connell as Hotel clerk
- James Burke as Snodgrass
- Granville Bates as Hooker
Original novel
[edit | edit source]| Author | Samuel Hopkins |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Publisher | New York Liveright Publishing Corporation |
Publication date | 1936 |
| Pages | 224 |
The book was based on a novel. The New York Times called it "a trifling little number. It reads like one of those old fashioned farce comedies... hammock reading for a hot afternoon."[3]
Production
[edit | edit source]The film was Flynn's first comedy starring role and the movie always seems to have been considered a vehicle for him.[4] He made it after holidaying in Europe.[5]
Warners originally sought Carole Lombard or Miriam Hopkins to play against Errol Flynn[6] and for a while it seemed Hopkins was set to co-star. However she turned down the role and Warners decided to look at players assigned to their contract roster. The two leading contenders were Olivia de Havilland and Joan Blondell;[7] it was thought the former was ideal if the role was played in a "romantic" way but the latter should be preferred it they wanted someone "pepful and sparkling".[8] Blondell was cast and filming started in May 1937.
Marie Wilson was meant to play a small role but was assigned to The Great Garrick instead.[9] Dennie Moore replaced Jane Wyman.[10]
Joan Blondell fell ill during filming but recovered.[11]
Reception
[edit | edit source]The New York Times called the film a "light and unaffecting romantic comedy."[12]
May Robson's performance was highly praised in particular.[13]
Box Office
[edit | edit source]According to Warner Bros records the film earned $786,000 domestically and $495,000 foreign.[1]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 18 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ PERFECT SPECIMEN By Samuel Hopkins 224 pp. New York Liveright Publishing Corporation. $2.
- ^ Tony Thomas, Rudy Behlmer * Clifford McCarty, The Films of Errol Flynn, Citadel Press, 1969 p 58-59
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External links
[edit | edit source]- The Perfect Specimen at the TCM Movie Database
- The Perfect Specimen at IMDbLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- The Perfect Specimen on Lux Radio Theater: January 2, 1939.