IMDb > Dramatic School (1938)

Dramatic School (1938) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   103 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Robert B. Sinclair
Writers:
Hans Székely (play) and
Zoltan Egyed (play) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Dramatic School on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 December 1938 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
What price fame for innocent beauties seeking careers in the theatre's spotlight! more
Plot:
Aspiring actress Louise Muban attends the prestigious Paris School of Drama during the day and works... more | add synopsis
User Comments:
Dramatic Finish more (7 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Luise Rainer ... Louise Mauban

Paulette Goddard ... Nana
Alan Marshal ... Marquis Andre D'Abbencourt

Lana Turner ... Mado
Genevieve Tobin ... Gina Bertier
John Hubbard ... Fleury (as Anthony Allan)
Henry Stephenson ... Pasquel, Sr.
Gale Sondergaard ... Madame Therese Charlot
Melville Cooper ... Boulin
Erik Rhodes ... Georges Mounier
Virginia Grey ... Simone
Ann Rutherford ... Yvonne
Hans Conried ... Ramy
Rand Brooks ... Pasquel Jr.
Jean Chatburn ... Mimi
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
80 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #4859) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
MGM had planned for Greer Garson to make her film debut in the film, but shortly before shooting began, Garson injured her back and the role was recast with Luise Rainer. more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
Dramatic Finish, 12 January 2009
6/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

Dramatic School is a kind of French version of Morning Glory with Luise Rainer as a continental version of Katharine Hepburn's Eva Lovelace. Luise sacrifices all for a career, going to the prestigious Paris School of Drama and working the night shift at a factory to make ends meet. She doesn't want fellow students like Paulette Goddard, Lana Turner, Virginia Grey, and Ann Rutherford to know what she's doing so she makes up stories about a more interesting life Luise wishes she were leading.

One day during class when a very strict acting coach Gale Sondergaard is giving a lesson she passes out and then tells the whopper of all time about going out with a well known man about Paris town in Alan Marshal. That sets off a nice chain of events that culminates in an ending typical of all backstage stories, I need not spell it out for you.

This was the last film Luise Rainer did under her MGM contract, it was dissolved by mutual consent between Luise and Louis B. Mayer. What Luise wanted and might have gotten at another studio were roles that were more challenging for her talent. She wanted what Greta Garbo had over at MGM and for Mayer there was only room for one Garbo on the lot. If Irving Thalberg had lived things might have been different, but who can say. In any event she and the rest of the cast acquit themselves admirably.

If anyone stands out though, for me it's Gale Sondergaard. She has a great part as a great actress who also teaches and is jealous of all the young ones coming through the school, especially Rainer. The acting profession is especially unkind to older women and Sondergaard channels a lot of resentment into her part.

Dramatic School was not a bad film for Luise to leave MGM on. It's not Camille or Ninotchka, but L.B. Mayer made it clear only one actress gets those parts on his lot.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (7 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Dramatic School (1938)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Before Sunrise Till We Meet Again Gone with the Wind These Three The Bad and the Beautiful
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.