To be most enjoyed, "I Live My Life" is one of those movies from the far past that needs to be considered for its time. Many in modern audiences may just see some of the humor of a couple squabbling. And, others may see it as close to screwball comedy. Indeed, my first viewing of it on DVD had me thinking along those lines. But, then I wondered how the people of its day viewed this film. Because amidst all the feuding of the romantic leads, there was obvious satire of the rich of the time. And, after all, this film came out smack dab in the middle of the Great Depression.
So, I did some checking, and watched the film again. It wasn't a great hit, but it did respectively well, finishing the year in the top 50 at the box office, and with an October release. And, there's no doubt that this is a satire, and a really scathing one at that. The punches aren't pulled, and the comedy and humor isn't in subtle references, but quite open and deliberate. Considering that this was MGM, and with the star caliber of the cast, especially the leads, there's little doubt in my mind that this film was an intentional reversal of the standard Hollywood comedies of the day. There were many and they were quite good, very funny, and timeless in their favorable enjoyment by audiences even these many decades later.
Those were the comedy romances with various plots about a young woman or man meeting the right person in the big city, or the rich daughter running away from home. People living through the hardship of the times could set their worries aside and dream or imagine themselves in such situations, or enjoy seeing others having a glamourous life. Those films didn't look down on those who were well to do, but instead offered glimmers of hope for better times and prosperity that perhaps, one day, those in the audience might also enjoy.
Well, "I Live My Life" is a clear departure from any such picture of a well-to-do life that one can enjoy. Instead, it's a clear picture of spoiled people, with no responsibilities, cares or sense of reality of life. The portrayal is clearly overboard and exaggerated, not only in the dialog of Joan Crawford's Kay Bentley, but in the conversations of the people in her circle - those at her party. And, in all of these instances, Brian Aherne's Terry O'Neill is constantly berating and pointing out the meaninglessness of the life of the idle rich. It is the exaggeration and in-your-face confrontations between the two leads that brings out much of the humor, so that people could still laugh. It needed the opposite of someone like O'Neill for Kay Bentley to fall for. Because, had she not met and fallen for him, what humor could be seen in her life as it was, with her social circle and family?
An extra plus in the film, also contributing to the humor, are the roles of two wonderful supporting actors who specialized in comedy as butlers - Eric Blore and Arthur Treacher. The rest of the cast are all very good. I wonder if many others saw the character of the Doctor, as suspicious. While he's supposed to be an advisor to Bentley, he seems to be working against G. P. much of the time. Oh, and catching G. P.'s name is funny when Mrs. Gage (Jessie Ralph) calls him by name, "Gregoricus."
Here are some lines from this prolific and witty screenplay. See the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page for much more humorous dialog.
Kay Bentley, "Well, I'm not really a visitor." Terry O'Neill, "Oh, a native, perhaps?" Kay, "No, wrong again. I'm from that yacht over there." Terry, "Oh, well I beg your pardon. Of course, being off a yacht understandably entitles you to the keys of the city."
Kay Bentley, to the yacht captain, "Mr. Bentley doesn't know Naxos from Jersey City."
Terry O'Neill, "They thought I was hopelessly batty." Kay Bentley, "So do I." Terry, "And, so do I. But crazy or not, here I am, and I am happy."
Kay Bentley, "You know, I think I like archaeology." Terry O'Neill, "Do you know anything about it?" Kay, "I can learn."
Professor, "You'll have to take care of him, Betty. What he doesn't know about women would fill the archeological files of the British Museum."
G. P. Bentley, "I don't know one statue from another, except some of them have arms and some haven't."
Gene Piper, "Nice crowd." Terry O'Neill, "Uh, yes. A lot of people here." Piper, "Oh, not many. Most of 'em have left." Terry, "Oh, is that so?" Piper, "Yes... most of them have gone home." Terry, "Heh... still a lot left, though." Piper, "Uh, not many."
Terry O'Neill, "Your lapels are too long. Where did you have that suit made?" Gene, "My London tailor made this." Terry, "Oh, and where were you at the time?"
Terry O'Neill, "There are millions of people in this country who, if they had one pony, they'd eat it." Man at Kay's party (Arthur Stuart Hull), "I beg your pardon." Terry, "Oh, that's all right."
Terry O'Neill, "You know, you're probably not an unusual type. I just saw a whole room full of people like you. And I guess there must be thousands more in the world. Selfish, thoughtless, spoiled, worthless people without a thought to the world around them.
Kay Bentley, "He's a very nice young man, isn't he?" Grove, "Exceedingly nice, Miss Kay." Kay, "And I'm an exceedingly nasty young woman... Go ahead, say it out loud, Grove." Grove, "Yes, Miss Kay."
Kay Bentley, "You're a sweet soul." G. P. Bentley, "Yes, well, it took you over 20 years to find out what I've known all my life."
Kay Bentley, " Oh, Terry we need her." Terry O'Neill, "For what? To frighten our children?"
So, I did some checking, and watched the film again. It wasn't a great hit, but it did respectively well, finishing the year in the top 50 at the box office, and with an October release. And, there's no doubt that this is a satire, and a really scathing one at that. The punches aren't pulled, and the comedy and humor isn't in subtle references, but quite open and deliberate. Considering that this was MGM, and with the star caliber of the cast, especially the leads, there's little doubt in my mind that this film was an intentional reversal of the standard Hollywood comedies of the day. There were many and they were quite good, very funny, and timeless in their favorable enjoyment by audiences even these many decades later.
Those were the comedy romances with various plots about a young woman or man meeting the right person in the big city, or the rich daughter running away from home. People living through the hardship of the times could set their worries aside and dream or imagine themselves in such situations, or enjoy seeing others having a glamourous life. Those films didn't look down on those who were well to do, but instead offered glimmers of hope for better times and prosperity that perhaps, one day, those in the audience might also enjoy.
Well, "I Live My Life" is a clear departure from any such picture of a well-to-do life that one can enjoy. Instead, it's a clear picture of spoiled people, with no responsibilities, cares or sense of reality of life. The portrayal is clearly overboard and exaggerated, not only in the dialog of Joan Crawford's Kay Bentley, but in the conversations of the people in her circle - those at her party. And, in all of these instances, Brian Aherne's Terry O'Neill is constantly berating and pointing out the meaninglessness of the life of the idle rich. It is the exaggeration and in-your-face confrontations between the two leads that brings out much of the humor, so that people could still laugh. It needed the opposite of someone like O'Neill for Kay Bentley to fall for. Because, had she not met and fallen for him, what humor could be seen in her life as it was, with her social circle and family?
An extra plus in the film, also contributing to the humor, are the roles of two wonderful supporting actors who specialized in comedy as butlers - Eric Blore and Arthur Treacher. The rest of the cast are all very good. I wonder if many others saw the character of the Doctor, as suspicious. While he's supposed to be an advisor to Bentley, he seems to be working against G. P. much of the time. Oh, and catching G. P.'s name is funny when Mrs. Gage (Jessie Ralph) calls him by name, "Gregoricus."
Here are some lines from this prolific and witty screenplay. See the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page for much more humorous dialog.
Kay Bentley, "Well, I'm not really a visitor." Terry O'Neill, "Oh, a native, perhaps?" Kay, "No, wrong again. I'm from that yacht over there." Terry, "Oh, well I beg your pardon. Of course, being off a yacht understandably entitles you to the keys of the city."
Kay Bentley, to the yacht captain, "Mr. Bentley doesn't know Naxos from Jersey City."
Terry O'Neill, "They thought I was hopelessly batty." Kay Bentley, "So do I." Terry, "And, so do I. But crazy or not, here I am, and I am happy."
Kay Bentley, "You know, I think I like archaeology." Terry O'Neill, "Do you know anything about it?" Kay, "I can learn."
Professor, "You'll have to take care of him, Betty. What he doesn't know about women would fill the archeological files of the British Museum."
G. P. Bentley, "I don't know one statue from another, except some of them have arms and some haven't."
Gene Piper, "Nice crowd." Terry O'Neill, "Uh, yes. A lot of people here." Piper, "Oh, not many. Most of 'em have left." Terry, "Oh, is that so?" Piper, "Yes... most of them have gone home." Terry, "Heh... still a lot left, though." Piper, "Uh, not many."
Terry O'Neill, "Your lapels are too long. Where did you have that suit made?" Gene, "My London tailor made this." Terry, "Oh, and where were you at the time?"
Terry O'Neill, "There are millions of people in this country who, if they had one pony, they'd eat it." Man at Kay's party (Arthur Stuart Hull), "I beg your pardon." Terry, "Oh, that's all right."
Terry O'Neill, "You know, you're probably not an unusual type. I just saw a whole room full of people like you. And I guess there must be thousands more in the world. Selfish, thoughtless, spoiled, worthless people without a thought to the world around them.
Kay Bentley, "He's a very nice young man, isn't he?" Grove, "Exceedingly nice, Miss Kay." Kay, "And I'm an exceedingly nasty young woman... Go ahead, say it out loud, Grove." Grove, "Yes, Miss Kay."
Kay Bentley, "You're a sweet soul." G. P. Bentley, "Yes, well, it took you over 20 years to find out what I've known all my life."
Kay Bentley, " Oh, Terry we need her." Terry O'Neill, "For what? To frighten our children?"