Frankie and Johnnie

Ideal players are unfortunately wasted in Republic's low-budget, low-octane drama. Helen Morgan, that tragic chantoosie, would seem ideally cast as Frankie, but the tired script gives her nothing to do except look a bit trampy, which she does very well. Likewise, slick, superficial Chester Morris embodies the two-timing Johnny of the song perfectly... or he would if he had any worthwhile dialogue. In her last Film Lilyan Tashman is wasted as Nellie Bly. Once or twice, the movie seems about to capture the simplicity of a tawdry ballad, but never quite gets there. A pity all around.

For a low budget feature from Republic Studio, of all places, this one is filled with riches. The camerawork is innovative and atmospheric, the songs and musical score pleasing and lushly orchestrated, and the performances are first rate right down the line.

As Frankie, Helen Morgan is given one of the few opportunities in her movie career to really act; she is believable and poignant and sings her two numbers in her inimitably heartbreaking style. Chester Morris manages to show Johnnie's unsavory nature while allowing us to see why both Frankie and Nellie Bly are smitten with him. And as Nellie, Lilyan Tashman delivers a shrewd, calculating portrayal that is one of her best....and she never gave a bad performance in her life. Best of all, for me, is Florence Reed as Lou, the saloon proprietress/madame. A respected stage actor, Reed made very few film appearances, and here she is brilliant, watching over the machinations of the other characters with a cynical, world weary eye. Filmed at the Biograph Studio in the Bronx, this is a curio definitely worth watching.

"Frankie and Johnnie" is a film that sat on the shelf for two years. This is a VERY bad sign...and it usually means that the studio has zero faith in the movie.

The plot of the film is much like the song "Frankie and Johnnie". It begins with the bar girl with a heart of gold, Frankie, taking pity and helping poor Johnnie. Over time, they become lovers but Frankie doesn't realize that Johnnie is NOT the nice guy he seems to be...and two-times her with her arch enemy, Nellie...with a tragic and predictable finale.

So is it any good? Not especially. The story is a foregone conclusion...and the melodrama is laid on thick. And, most importantly, it's pretty dull stuff.



By the way, the two leading ladies in this film had amazingly short lives. Helen Morgan (Frankie) died at 41 from Cirrhosis and Nellie (Lilyan Tashman) died from cancer at 37! So sad.

Frankie and Johnnie brilliantly captures the sleazy atmosphere of Riverboat life in St. Louis, 1870. The art direction, cinematography, and costuming must be applauded especially taking into consideration that Republic was certainly not MGM.

The dialog and the direction keep things moving to it's final twist. (I was shocked!! Maybe others wouldn't be.)

For those who are of the politically correct brand, you guys will not like the fried chicken eating wedding sequence with Frankie's comment being, "They (black people) are so simple... so happy... they are not afraid of themselves." I guess one could look at it as a backhanded complement. But even I, who is far from buying into political correctness, had to squirm in my seat. I suppose it is that scene that will keep this otherwise nice film from getting a DVD release. What a shame we are so squeamish. (I'm not, but some are.) But the film takes place in 1870, it was made in 1934. People actually thought like that back then. It proves we've come along way with a long way to go perhaps, but what a measuring stick it is.

Then there's Chester Morris as Johnnie who should have been a big A list star. This film proves what a great actor he was. He could teach a thing or three to the people passing for actors today.

If for no other reason, this movie is worth watching for the legendary singer/actress Helen Morgan in a rare starring role, the other being her incredible tour-de-force in Applause (1929). She may have not have been my first choice for this part, but she does manage to pull it off and she puts her own spin on it. She does have great depth as an actress. It's shame she didn't do more leads. Unfortunately, she only sings two songs, but they are two good ones.

All in all, it's a really good and different type of movie. Highly recommended if you are a fan either of the stars or just want to see a good story well told by good filmmakers and actors and are sick and tired of the garbage coming out of Hollywood here in 2008.