El primer amor

CHANGE OF HEART is a disappointing, by the numbers drama despite a good cast headed by Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Ginger Rogers, and James Dunn. The foursome is shown on college graduation day as they plan to go as a group to New York to make their fortunes, Janet as a writer, Charlie in big business, Ginger as a stage actress, and James as a radio crooner. They room together in apartment but after several months in the Big Apple fail to make any headway. Curiously, none of the group has ever really dated although Janet is in love with Charlie who is in love with Ginger who is in love with James who is in love with Janet. It strains credibility than no one other James (gently rebuffed by Janet) has tried to make something of it.

Ginger is successful in crashing social circles and is pursued by a millionaire and for awhile leaves the little clique. James achieves his dream of being a radio star in a ludricious plot twist by confronting a radio producer and demanding to be heard (which we hear about but don't see, it would have been too ridiculous as an actual scene). When Ginger announces her engagement to the millionaire, lovesick Charlie is suddenly at death's door with a vague sickness that leaves him bedridden and in need of Janet's constant attention and nursing. Charlie pulls through, announces he is in love with Janet now, she confesses her long crush on him and they become engaged. Meanwhile, fickle Ginger breaks off with the money man, writes Charlie a mush note confessing her love and while Charlie goes through with the marriage to Janet, he and Ginger start seeing each other for "lunch".

It's disappointing to see this likable cast in this silly soap opera which consistently lacks credibililty. Janet and Charlie, of course, are one of the great screen teams yet it's absurd that he could suddenly fall in love with her after years of thinking of her as just a pal. The movie refuses to accept the possibility that his new affection is due to gratitude and sensitivity for all she did for him during his illness but the viewer won't be so unrealistic.

Gaynor, Farrell, and Dunn were all in their late twenties playing young people just out of college and while it's acceptable for actors in that age range to play such, trouble is Dunn, basically a character actor, has no youthfulness in his persona and seems a decade older than his real age. Ginger Rogers, newly a "name" thanks to her first picture with Fred Astaire, does well in an atypical role as a blonde bombshell (though several of her early roles were also flirts) but her character lacks credibility as someone whose supposed to be a close friend yet also a potential homewrecker. She goes through three beaus in a film set in about a year's time and while there is a promise she will settle down with her first choice, can there be any doubt this gal will soon encounter man number four? And don't get me started on the insane subplot of Janet working at a charity shop with elderly Beryl Mercier which discreetly works as a means to find homes for orphaned babies, Mercier and Gaynor convincing the wealthy people who donate their old clothes that what they really want are kids of their own!

Of note is the (very) fleeting appearance of Shirley Temple as the gang is on the plane to New York. Shirley is an extra in a scene that runs barely ten seconds, has no lines and is only seen in profile for a moment and then just the back of her head. Apparently filmed before but released after STAND UP AND CHEER, the film that was Shirley's big break, the producers of CHANGE OF HEART manage to give her end-credit billing for this, probably one of the tiniest parts ever in a movie to receive screen credit outside of films that billed a supporting actor who actually wasn't in the final cut of a film!

This short film had significance in more ways than one. It was the last pairing of that romantic duo from silent days, Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. It was one of the last films from Fox Studios before it merged with 20th Century. It was one of the last films before the Production Code (which would kick in about two months later). And it might have been the first appearance (and a real quick one) of Shirley Temple.

This movie also had some great scenes of New York City in the mid 1930's, that kind of made me wish for a time machine.

As for the story, it was good, a love quadrangle of sorts, with four college friends hitting the big city after graduation: Kate (Janet), Chris (Charles), Madge (Ginger Rogers) and Mac (James Dunn). Kate's in love with Chris, Chris is in love with Madge, Madge flirts with both guys but prefers Chris while Mac seems to take nothing seriously but makes a play for Kate.

They all have hopes, dreams, ambitions, and only Kate knows her own heart from the start, the others have to learn from their mistakes.

Fun as well as touching, and worth checking out.

Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, James Dunn, and Ginger Rogers all experience a "Change of Heart" in this 1934 film about college graduates moving to New York City to "make it." It's the last of 12 pairings of Gaynor and Farrell.

I love old films because of what they tell us about the past - you could read it in a history book, but somehow, it's not the same. It took FIFTEEN HOURS to fly coast to coast in 1934. And I complain that it takes five now. Outrageous. If you look really fast when they're on the plane, you'll see Shirley Temple getting a paper airplane. Those curls are unmistakable.

Gaynor is in love with Farrell, Farrell is in love with Rogers, Dunn is in love with Gaynor. Rogers is a golddigger and takes off early on to be with rich and important people who can further her acting career. You can guess all of the rest.

Rogers is beautiful and vivacious in her role, Gaynor is sweet and likable, Dunn is charming and cuddly, and Farrell is mysterious and handsome. It's really a lovely movie with an attractive cast that captures the excitement of young people starting out in the big city.

For most people Ginger Rogers is most remembered from this cast, of course, as one of the biggest stars of the Golden Age. But in the early 1930s it was Janet Gaynor who was the superstar, one of the biggest box office draws of the 1920s, unfairly forgotten today because her greatest work was in silent film. Her partnership with Farrell had been a great success but by this time their popularity had faded and this was the last. Gaynor wanted better roles and she wanted to move away from the ingenue characters which she knew were behind her, but her studio continued to put her in the same typecast role with the same typecast and faded partner. Rogers was to suffer a similar problem a few years later, when she had become a much bigger star than *her faded and typecasted partner, but the studio kept putting box office poison Fred Astaire in her movies because, as Pandro Berman said, they didn't have anything else for him and it was a waste of time and money teaming him with anybody else.

Both Gaynor and Rogers had outgrown Farrell and Astaire and everyone from the public to the studio executives knew it but they struggled to find suitable roles. Rogers through force of will, luck, and a stronger, more mature film industry, was able to break out of her typecasting with a series of amazing films. Gaynor, an earlier star and a superb actress, did not have the same luck with roles and retired at just 33.

While it wasn't a box office success, 'Change of Heart' is perfectly watchable if rather forgettable. But 'Change of Heart' was a big break for Rogers, playing across from one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Just like 'Upperworld' where Ginger completely outperforms and outshines Mary Astor, it is very easy to imagine her luring Charles Farrell away in 'Change of Heart.' The two actresses became great friends during this movie, Gaynor teaching Rogers acting tricks and Rogers teaching Gaynor how to draw and paint. Janet became a very fine artist in later life and was a frequent visitor at Ginger's home for many years,

Merion C. Cooper had seen Ginger's potential, brought her in to RKO, and set her course to stardom, so that by May 1934, Rogers movies were playing everywhere - Finishing School, Upperworld, Twenty Million Sweethearts, and Change of Heart, all four were playing in theatres at the same time. RKO had run a shrewd marketing campaign, timing her films to roll out that summer and the public and critical responses were very strong. Ginger's memory was that her career wasn't going as well as she wanted at this time, but in fact as Variety reported, Ginger got a new contract while 'Change of Heart' was playing in May of 1934, and her salary was tripled. She got another raise a few months later when she signed up for 'Gay Divorcee.' That is an all-time essential movie, of course, but it was the marketing blitz and hard work of the previous eighteen months that made the public love her.

'Change of Heart' is Ginger's last film before she went supernova with 'Gay Divorcee,' and it is the last supporting role of Ginger's career.

I thought this was a sweet and sincere movie, capturing a sense of New York in the 1930s. Both Janet Gaynor and Charlie Farrell are perfect as the innocent lovers, and Ginger Rogers nails the role of the egotistical yet classy "friend." I did think the last scene was a bit abrupt, but otherwise, a well-done movie. For those who enjoy heart-warming light romances, this is a treat.

Along with Janet Gaynor, Charlie Farrell and Ginger Rogers, the cast is filled with stellar talent, not the least of which is Shirley Temple in the airplane scene. Beryl Mercer, Jane Darwell, James Dunn and Mischa Auer all do laudable jobs, although Dunn's role is unevenly scripted.

I found the close-ups in this movie to be very well done. The shaving scene with Farrell and Gaynor is a classic--full of sentiment yet composed. Also, the scene between the doctor and Gaynor, with the camera just catching Gaynor from the back of her head, was masterful.

It's a joy to watch understatement so beautifully played!