Body and Soul (1931)

Andress, Watson and Johnson are with a Royal Air Force squadron in France. When Watson is killed in combat, Andrews tries to return the letters Watson received from a girl called "Pom-Pom."... See full summary »

Director:

Alfred Santell

Writers:

Jules Furthman, Elliott White Springs (story "Big Eyes and Little Mouth")

Stars:

Charles Farrell, Elissa Landi, Humphrey Bogart

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Farrell	...	Mal Andrews
Elissa Landi	...	Carla
Humphrey Bogart	...	Jim Watson
Myrna Loy	...	Alice Lester
Don Dillaway	...	Tap Johnson
Crauford Kent	...	Major Burke
Pat Somerset	...	Major Knowls
Ian Maclaren	...	General Trafford-Jones
David Cavendish	...	Lieutenant Meggs (as Dennis D'Auburn)
Douglas Dray	...	Zane
Harold Kinney	...	Young
Bruce Warren	...	Sam Douglas

Storyline

Andress, Watson and Johnson are with a Royal Air Force squadron in France. When Watson is killed in combat, Andrews tries to return the letters Watson received from a girl called "Pom-Pom." There are two possibilities: one is Watson's widow, the other is a German spy.

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Plot Keywords:

royal air force | aviator | airplane | world war one | based on play | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Anima e corpo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Farrell and Humphrey Bogart did not get along during the filming of this. After the two weeks of filming Bogart "invited" the 6'6" Farrell outside to settle things. Farrell asked if he even knew how to fight and Bogart replied "I can lick you." They then talked things out so well they took a vacation on Farrell's boat and became good friends.

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Goofs

The wine list shows champagnes with vintages from the mid-1920s.

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Connections

Alternate-language version of Cuerpo y alma (1931)

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Soundtracks

The Dark Town Strutters Ball
(uncredited)
Written by Shelton Brooks

User Reviews

Poorly Aged in Slightly Wooden Performances

BODY AND SOUL is, like many another ancient talky, not terribly interesting to the modern viewer. Although it tries to say something meaningful about how war forces us to take a carpe diem attitude towards things, its meanings are inserted into a melodramatic plot with few skilled actors. Elissa Landi is very good in her down-to-earth and lady-like attitude towards the boys-will-be-boys standards of the fliers. Yet, dealing, as she must, with Charles Farrell, whose line reading is always overwrought, she seems a bit snide at moments. As the rest of the industry caught up with her, this sort of role would be taken typically by Irene Dunne. The opening up of the original play offers us some good camera-work by Glen MacWilliams, but that isn't enough to make this worth revisiting.

The primary reason to see this is to take a look at Humphrey Bogart, so young and good looking, that he is unrecognizable. Because his death in battle sets the plot in motion, he doesn't get much to do, but he certainly is up to doing it. Myrna Loy is present, still in her exotic villainess phase. Alas, the costume design is not particularly flattering to her, another clear sign that she is a bad 'un.