1. Happy Wife is a drama about a once wealthy family struggling through the Great Depression. Having an overall dark yet sleek tone, this movie focuses heavily on the role of the wife/mother figure, known as Lucille James. While the economy crash took a heavy toll on her husband, Raymond's, income, it's up to Lucille to try to hold the household together and properly raise her two children. Struggling to make ends meet, while still trying to maintain their lavish lifestyle and public image, Lucille is forced to get an undesirable "job." Little does she know, this new career path (which may involve becoming an prostitute) may be more than she can handle. With her family now in danger, Lucille has to fight for their safety. I think an audience in 1935 can definitely relate to the financial struggles of this time, but would also be interested in seeing a bit of "movie-magic" added to the mix. Since this film shows the downfall of a rather luxurious family, average people may find it interesting to see how the "other half lives" (or at least deals with financial problems for the first time in their lives). This movie does a great job of humanizing everyone. Many times people judge others for how much, or little, they have. In a time when America as a whole is struggling, people care less about possession and more about the quality of people in their lives. This movie is meant to get the viewer's thinking.
2. Losing your fortune seems to be an American's worst nightmare, so, I decided that deeming this movie a "drama" would fit well. Prostitution is also seen as a very harsh and desperate way of making money. It typically portrays someone who has hit rock bottom. This film should have its audience both on the edge of their seats and in tears. If that's not drama, I don't know what is.
3. I chose to have Paramount Pictures make this film. I thought it would be a good fit due to the amount of freedom that the directors were given. Not anyone could just make Happy Wife. It's a very complicated and artistic movie, especially with its controversial plot line. Not many studios could get away with such.
4. This film was directed by Cary Grant. Known for his European style Paramount movies, I thought he would be prefect for this. Having grown up with an institutionalized mother, Grant would know how to portray a family with a very absent mother character. He knows how to handle drama, despite his appreciation of comedies.The lead role, Lucille James, is played by Miriam Hopkins. She was very liked in the Paramount world for her versatility between roles and was very pretty, so is the perfect subject for leading a secretive double life.
The lead male role, Raymond, went to Herbert Marshall. He was often times the husband figure in Paramount movies. He also plays a very good elegant character, which fits the role. He was also a World War 1 veteran who lost a leg, which got him some major sympathy points. Especially when he plays the poor husband who lost all his fortune and is now being lied to by his wife.Of course, we had the Westmore family in charge of everyone's makeup. They really are the kings of the make up industry these day, in the 1930's. They don't only do monster makeup well, they made our cast absolutely beautiful. A family who should appear very wealthy and luxurious should have some very nice looking faces as well.
Since the 1930s was the sound era's coming of age, we decided to add in a musical number. While this goes against the typical norm, we thought it would be a nice change to the movie industry. In Lucille's lowest moment of the movie, she breaks out in a dramatic solo, singing beautifully but also in agony. I think it makes the audience feel for her even more so.
This movie also focuses on the cinematography aspect as well. You see, the biggest challenge of making this movie was showing riskay scenes without actually showing anything bad, per say. Because of this, we had to get creative. We used many close up scenes of our character's faces, to really show their emotions and not their bodies as much.
5. Hays Code definitely put many restrictions on this movie. The plot line itself was almost rejected for being too sexual. However, after pulling some strings and asking for some personal favors, we were able to rewrite the original plot line to make the movie more appropriate. We were able to show that breaking the law, aka the prostitution aspect of the movie, was not good or acceptable by any means. In fact, we actually show the negative consequences of breaking the law. In addition, we make the audience think about their lives, but in a beneficial way. After watching this film, audiences should think less of their materials and more about the people they love.
6. This really is a break-through film of the movie industry. It is unlike any film of its time. While still following the Hays Code (for the most part) this movie was able to express its creativity freely. It is a relatable drama that grabs its audience's attention and won't let go. It's a movie that definitely makes you think.
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