'Up Pops' two more Glassner originals
Posted by
vp19 on 2013.01.03 at 13:20
Current mood:
productive
The Lester Glassner collection, which has yielded all sorts of wonderful Carole Lombard reprint photos in recent months, is now unveiling a number of vintage pics, including the one above of Carole and Norman Foster from 1931's "Up Pops The Devil." To be honest, I cropped the above to focus on the image; here's what the picture actually looks like:
It's a lobby card with a line from the film; the seller states the smudges at the top is moisture damage. It measures 8" x 10 1/8", and what the seller calls its "low grade" condition is probably why you can buy it straight up for a relatively cheap $29.95, or make an offer if you prefer. Get all the information at http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAROLE-LOMB
The other Glassner original comes from Carole's first Columbia film the following year, "Virtue" (which is receiving fine reviews as part of Columbia's pre-Code DVD collection issued by Turner Classic Movies). Once again, we'll show it twice -- first, the image; second, the item in its entirety:
The seller describes "Virtue" thus:
"Lombard plays a smart-talking streetwalker (note the uniform of the trade she's wearing in the photo) who decides to turn a new leaf with a new unsuspecting man until he finds out her sordid history and all sorts of shenanigans break loose."
Is her character wearing a streetwalker outfit, or is that simply something she wears around the house now that's she's settled into alleged domestic bliss? I'm not sure. What is known is that accompanying Carole in the photo is Pat O'Brien and Mayo Methot.
Watching "Taxi!" -- the Warners film Lombard turned down, replaced as leading lady by Loretta Young -- last night, one was struck by the many similarities between it and "Virtue," which was released some months later. While Young is no prostitute, the male lead (James Cagney) is an Irish cab driver, and a murder figures into the plot. It's known Carole rued rejecting the film; might screenwriter Robert Riskin (who was having an affair with Lombard at the time) and Harry Cohn have tried to make up for it by creating a faux "Taxi!"?
There haven't been very many stills that have emerged from "Virtue," so anything that comes up is welcome -- and valuable. As a result of not only that, but the better condition than the earlier photo, this will cost you $79.95 for a straight purchase, though you also have the option of making an offer. Find out more by visiting http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAROLE-LOMB
Meanwhile, we eagerly await to see more treasures from the Glassner estate.
