Tonight or Never

In Sunset Boulevard, Gloria Swanson said, we had faces then.

Well she sure did! Those eyes! Her expressions! In Tonight or Never, she plays an opera diva lacking the one thing that will make her a superstar - feelings! Since it's 1931 you can interpret that as sexual fulfillment.

As a former opera singer myself, I got a kick out of the opening. It takes place in Venice, and we get to hear a soprano with a voice like Minnie Mouse sing the end of Tosca and go flat on the high note. I am forever stunned at what film considered a Tosca voice. I mean, Jeannette McDonald was another one.

Our diva here, Nella Vago, falls for Melvyn Douglas, in his debut, who is living with a former opera diva, supposedly his "aunt."

The film is talky, with lots of innuendo and a seduction scene that can only be described as old-fashioned. Which since it's 1931, it was.

Swanson's wardrobe is to die for. Douglas is very elegant.

We don't have much of the young Gloria in talkies. And, since it's Douglas' debut, and Boris Karloff isn't playing a monster, I recommend it.