Cary Grant will probably be remembered well into the future for three films that he made. "Arsenic and Old Lace" is a comedy, crime and thriller of 1944. "An Affair to Remember" is a drama, light comedy and love story of 1957. And, "North by Northwest" of 1959 is the Alfred Hitchcock action, adventure and mystery film that is likely to remain on the IMDb top 250 list for decades to come.
Before, between and after those films Grant made many more movies - most of them big box office successes. Aside from the three most familiar films, he made a slew of comedy-romances. When we hear the name, Cary Grant, most movie buffs are likely to think first of "My Favorite Wife" of 1940, or "The Awful Truth" of 1937, or another one of his hilarious comedy-romances. Yet, besides "North by Northwest," Grant made a dozen other mystery-crime-thrillers. Most were very good.
"Big Brown Eyes" of 1936 is one of those films, but a somewhat lesser one. The acting is very good by all of the cast, and the plot is very good. But this film suffers from a disjointed screenplay, weak direction, and poor film editing.
Grant plays a police detective sergeant, Danny Barr. Joan Bennett is his sweetheart, Eve Fallon, who works as a manicurist. She leaves her job to work for a newspaper and tries to help Danny solve a jewel robbery. Walter Pidgeon is Richard Morey, an insurance investigator and adjuster. He runs a secret, crooked operation on the side. Among the rest of the supporting cast are Lloyd Nolan as Russ Cortig, Joe Sawyer as Jack Sully, and Edwin Maxwell as the editor.
This is an interesting and fun film that most should enjoy. With better writing, direction and overall care in the making, "Big Brown Eyes" could have been a much better film.
Danny and Eve have a scene with back and forth dialog that reminds one of the famous routine of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello - "Who's on First?"
Eve, "Where are you going?" Dan, "I don't know yet. I haven't made up my mind." Eve, "Can I go with you?" Dan, "Where?" Eve, "Where you're going." Dan, "Well, I just told ya. I don't know where I'm going." Eve, "Well, when do you leave?" Dan, "I don't know that either." Eve, "Well, why can't you take me along?" Dan, "Where?" Eve, "That's what I'm asking you." Dan, "I'm asking you that." Eve, "Say, who's going - you or me?" Dan, "Where?" Eve, "I don't know. I'm not going - you are." Dan, "Well look, what time is it?" Eve, "What time does your train leave?" Dan, "How do you know I'm going by train? I might be going by boat." Eve, "What kind of a boat?" Dan, "I don't know. I haven't seen it yet."
Here are a couple more favorite lines from this film.
Eve Fallon, "I knew it was you. I know the feel of your fingerprints." Benny Battle, "Ouch! Never say fingerprints when I'm around. It gives me a sickly feeling."
Bennie, "Don't they know? And me, as honest as the day is long." Eve Fallon, "Yeah, but how about the nights?"
Before, between and after those films Grant made many more movies - most of them big box office successes. Aside from the three most familiar films, he made a slew of comedy-romances. When we hear the name, Cary Grant, most movie buffs are likely to think first of "My Favorite Wife" of 1940, or "The Awful Truth" of 1937, or another one of his hilarious comedy-romances. Yet, besides "North by Northwest," Grant made a dozen other mystery-crime-thrillers. Most were very good.
"Big Brown Eyes" of 1936 is one of those films, but a somewhat lesser one. The acting is very good by all of the cast, and the plot is very good. But this film suffers from a disjointed screenplay, weak direction, and poor film editing.
Grant plays a police detective sergeant, Danny Barr. Joan Bennett is his sweetheart, Eve Fallon, who works as a manicurist. She leaves her job to work for a newspaper and tries to help Danny solve a jewel robbery. Walter Pidgeon is Richard Morey, an insurance investigator and adjuster. He runs a secret, crooked operation on the side. Among the rest of the supporting cast are Lloyd Nolan as Russ Cortig, Joe Sawyer as Jack Sully, and Edwin Maxwell as the editor.
This is an interesting and fun film that most should enjoy. With better writing, direction and overall care in the making, "Big Brown Eyes" could have been a much better film.
Danny and Eve have a scene with back and forth dialog that reminds one of the famous routine of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello - "Who's on First?"
Eve, "Where are you going?" Dan, "I don't know yet. I haven't made up my mind." Eve, "Can I go with you?" Dan, "Where?" Eve, "Where you're going." Dan, "Well, I just told ya. I don't know where I'm going." Eve, "Well, when do you leave?" Dan, "I don't know that either." Eve, "Well, why can't you take me along?" Dan, "Where?" Eve, "That's what I'm asking you." Dan, "I'm asking you that." Eve, "Say, who's going - you or me?" Dan, "Where?" Eve, "I don't know. I'm not going - you are." Dan, "Well look, what time is it?" Eve, "What time does your train leave?" Dan, "How do you know I'm going by train? I might be going by boat." Eve, "What kind of a boat?" Dan, "I don't know. I haven't seen it yet."
Here are a couple more favorite lines from this film.
Eve Fallon, "I knew it was you. I know the feel of your fingerprints." Benny Battle, "Ouch! Never say fingerprints when I'm around. It gives me a sickly feeling."
Bennie, "Don't they know? And me, as honest as the day is long." Eve Fallon, "Yeah, but how about the nights?"