Freckles (1935 film)

Freckles

Theatrical poster for film
Directed by Edward Killy
William Hamilton
Charles Kerr (associate)
Produced by Pandro S. Berman
William Sistrom (associate)
Screenplay by Dorothy Yost
Story by Mary Mayes (adaptation)
Based on the novel, Freckles
by Gene Stratton-Porter
Starring Tom Brown
Virginia Weidler
Music by Alberto Colombo
Cinematography Robert de Grasse
Edited by Desmond Marquette
Production
company
Release dates
  • October 4, 1935 (1935-10-04) (US)[1]
Running time
 69 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Freckles is a 1935 American drama film directed by Edward Killy and William Hamilton from a screenplay written by Dorothy Yost, adapted by Mary Mayes from Gene Stratton-Porter's 1904 novel of the same name. Two earlier adaptations of Stratton-Porter's novel had been produced, the first by Paramount in 1917, and the second in 1928 by FBO, both were also titled Freckles. This 1935 version was released by RKO Radio Pictures (which had been formed by the merger of FBO and KAO) on October 4, and stars Tom Brown, Virginia Weidler, and Carol Stone.

Plot

Freckles, a young man and orphan, shows up at a lumber camp, where the local schoolteacher, Mary Arden, takes a shine to him and convinces the lumber company's owner, McLean, to hire Freckles as a guard. While working there, Freckles begins a relationship with Mary, while Laurie-Lou Duncan, a precocious young girl also befriends Freckles and helps him learn more about the forest and the plants it contains. Laurie-Lou has a pet bear cub, and one day when the cub is in danger of being injured by a tree about to be felled by the lumberjacks, she attempts to untie it, but the tree begins to fall before she can finish. Seeing her danger, Freckles rushes to her, and pulls her out of the way of the falling tree. The bear cub, Cubby, is injured, but survives his injuries.

Laurie-Lou also meets Jack Carter, a felon, who is hiding out in a cabin in the woods with several friends of his, who happen to be bank robbers. Carter gets on Laurie-Lou good side by carving wooden soldiers for her. Wanting him to make a figure she is missing from her set, she hides in his car to follow him to his home, hoping to convince him to make it for her. However, once there, she is held captive by Carter's felon friends.

When she doesn't return, Freckles tracks her to Carter's cabin, where he too is captured. However, he surprises his captors by escaping, although he is wounded by a gunshot during his exit. He does not abandon Laurie-Lou, instead returning to the room where she is being held, and barring the door. As the felons attempt to break in, she shows him where a gun and ammo are kept. Unfamiliar with the weapon, he fumbles to load it as the bank robbers get close to gaining entry. Just in time, he loads the weapon, surprising the criminals and holding them at bay. He is becoming weak from loss of blood when Arden arrives with the police, having learned of their location from Laurie-Lee's mother. The criminals are captured, and Freckles and Arden agree to marry.

Cast List

(cast list as per AFI database)[1]

Production

RKO announced in July 1934 that Freckles would be one of eight classic works on their production schedule for 1934–35,[2] production was set for later that year in December.[3] At the time, the novel was one of the best-selling books of all time.[4] In February 1935, it was reported that Jess Smith had been assigned to adapt Gene Stratton-Porter's book into a screenplay.[5] It was one of two of Stratton-Porter's works scheduled for production by RKO that season, the other being Laddie.[6] In the middle of February, Anne Shirley was announced as being attached to the picture.[7] In April 1935, John Robertson had been attached to the project as the director, while Pandro S. Berman was announced as the producer.[8][9] Virginia Weidler was added to the cast in May 1935.[10] In early July it was revealed that Carol Stone would be part of the cast, and that production would begin on July 8.[11] In mid-July Robertson was replaced by a directing team consisting of Edward Killy and William Hamilton. The two had worked on several films together, with Killy as the assistant director and Hamilton as the editor.[12] The following week it was announced that Tom Brown would star opposite Stone,[13] followed the next day by the addition of Addison Richards to the acting crew.[14] At about the same time, it was announced in the trade papers that the film was scheduled for release on August 23.[15] The cast was further filled out the following week with the addition Lumsden Hare, James Bush, and Richard Alexander.[16] By the end of July the film was in production on location outside of Sonora, California,[17] and Dorothy Peterson was added to the cast.[18] At the beginning of August, Louis Natheaux and Wade Boteler had been added to the cast as two of the bank robbers.[19] In the first week in August, the release date was pushed back to September 27.[20] The film had completed shooting by August 10,[21] and had begun the editing process.[22] Although the film was reported as completed by the middle of August, well in time for its scheduled September opening,[23] on September 28 the premier date was pushed further back to October 4.[24] The Chicago Legion of Decency graded the film class A, declaring it suitable for all audiences.[25]

Reception

Harrison's Reports found the film enjoyable, calling it a good family film. They highlighted the performance of Virginia Weidler, who they called the film's "real attraction". They also found Tom Brown's performance appealing.[26] The Film Daily called the picture a "pleasing sentimental romance," although they found it a bit slow for most of the picture, finally picking up its pace towards the end. They found the direction of the dual helmsmen good, and particularly lauded the camera work of Robert de Grasse.[27] Motion Picture Daily felt the film was a "human and believable production," and delighted in Weidler's performance. They said that she won "laugh after laugh with a quiet, natural comedy." They applauded Yost's adaptation, and felt the supporting cast did admirably.[28] A "drama not lacking in comedy and photographed in an atmosphere of rustic locales ... a simple and understandable story that is concerned chiefly with human emotions, the picture is one for the entire family," is how the film was described by the Motion Picture Herald. The magazine particularly praised the performance of Brown, and also felt that Weidler's acting was "of the highest order."[29]

References

  1. 1 2 "Freckles: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ "25 Classic Works Set for 1934-35". The Film Daily. July 23, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ "RKO Studio Starting 9 Films in December". The Film Daily. November 21, 1934. p. 13. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Best Selling Books of All Time". Motion Picture Herald. July 7, 1934. p. 9. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (February 2, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 7. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Modern Novels, Plays High in Radio List". Motion Picture Daily. June 20, 1934. p. 10. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (February 13, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 12. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (April 23, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 6. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Contract Rush on In Talent Lineup". Motion Picture Daily. April 25, 1935. p. 4. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (May 24, 1935). "A "Little" from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 5. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  11. ↑ "RKO Rushing 10 Films in Work This Month". The Film Daily. July 6, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  12. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (July 12, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ "RKO Studio Starting Six in Next 10 Days". The Film Daily. July 17, 1935. p. 4. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  14. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (July 18, 1935). "A Little from "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  15. ↑ "The Release Chart: RKO Radio Pictures". Motion Picture Herald. July 13, 1935. p. 99. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  16. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (July 24, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 7. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (July 29, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  18. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (July 31, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  19. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (August 8, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 10. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  20. ↑ "The Release Chart: RKO Radio Pictures". Motion Picture Herald. September 3, 1935. p. 91. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  21. ↑ Wilk, Ralph (August 10, 1935). "A Little from Hollywood "Lots"". The Film Daily. p. 4. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  22. ↑ "The Cutting Room: Freckles". Motion Picture Herald. August 10, 1935. p. 69. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  23. ↑ Shapiro, Victor M. (August 17, 1935). "The Hollywood Scene". Motion Picture Herald. p. 43. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  24. ↑ "The Release Chart: RKO Radio Pictures". Motion Picture Herald. September 28, 1935. p. 365. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Classification of Pictures". Harrison's Reports. October 5, 1935. p. 160. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  26. ↑ ""Freckles" with Tom Brown, Virginia Weidler and Carol Stone". Harrison's Reports. September 28, 1935. p. 155. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Reviews of the New Films: "Freckles"". The Film Daily. September 20, 1935. p. 9. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Motion Picture Daily's Hollywood Preview: "Freckles"". Motion Picture Daily. September 11, 1935. p. 16. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Showmen's Review: Freckles". Motion Picture Herald. October 5, 1935. p. 45. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
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