{"id":864,"date":"2015-06-25T22:36:57","date_gmt":"2015-06-25T22:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sepiastories.wordpress.com\/?p=761"},"modified":"2015-06-25T22:36:57","modified_gmt":"2015-06-25T22:36:57","slug":"clara-bow-getting-ready-for-dinner-with-the-boss-scene-from-it-and-scene-blogathon-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/?p=864","title":{"rendered":"Clara Bow Getting Ready for Dinner “with the boss” scene from It – And…Scene! Blogathon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"It<\/a><\/p>\n

In 1926, Clara Bow was already becoming a solid commodity in motion pictures. The irrepressible redhead had showed her range in a few dramas early on, but after her roles as naughty but nice Cynthia in The Plastic Age<\/em> or the gold-digging manicurist Alvira in Mantrap<\/em>, she had found her niche. She was the sexy, devil-may-care flapper who was the envy of every woman and the dream girl of every man.<\/p>\n

When the writer Elinor Glyn (infamous for penning a tryst on a tiger-skin rug in Three Weeks) came to Hollywood, and Clara was selected as the lead for It<\/em>, her career would never be the same.<\/p>\n

\"Elinor_Glyn_02\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Divine Ms. Glyn<\/em><\/p>\n

Upon meeting Clara for the first time, Glyn supposedly took Clara’s face in her hands and said, “You are my muse!” And crazy as it sounds, maybe she was. But it also may have been the other way around.<\/p>\n

After It<\/em>, Clara, who’d previously been billed as the Brooklyn Bonfire,\u00a0 became The It Girl<\/strong><\/em>. And the 1920s ignited.<\/p>\n

Audiences probably responded so positively because, other than the fun story and appealing cast, Clara was playing herself– salt of the earth, poor Brooklyn girl Betty Lou Spence. Not only that, but she was helping out her friend and co-worker, Molly (Priscilla Bonner) after the birth of Molly’s baby. She’s letting them stay with her until Molly can go back to work.<\/p>\n

Now, I’m the least maternal person I know. I honestly don’t like kids– the crying and whining and carrying on sets my teeth on edge. But this baby (who Clara affectionately calls Toodles) is utterly adorable. They don’t make babies any cuter. Blonde, plump, and cherubic, and she bounces up and down, happy to see Clara.<\/p>\n

\"Toodles\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Okay, how freaking CUTE is this kid?<\/em><\/p>\n

I saw Wings<\/em> years ago, and I enjoyed it, but this was the movie that cemented my love for Clara. Because she’s the main attraction here. And this scene is why.<\/p>\n

You see, Betty Lou has a crush on her department store owner boss, Cyrus Waltham (Antonio Moreno). Actually, he’s the real boss’s son, left in charge while Waltham, Senior is out of town. Betty thinks Cyrus is the cat’s pajamas. “Sweet Santa Claus, give me him!” she says, upon first seeing him.<\/p>\n

She tries to get Cyrus’ attention, but is unsuccessful at first. However, Cyrus’s pal Monty (William Austin) is currently reading It<\/em>, and he’s convinced Betty has it. He invites Clara to dinner, but she says “only if we go to the Ritz.” She overheard Cyrus telling Monty that he was going there.<\/p>\n

Excitedly, she heads into her little flat, out of breath, and full of starry-eyed dreams of Cyrus.<\/p>\n

Her interaction with Toodles the baby here is completely natural and so perfectly Clara. She makes faces, picks up the little nipper and holds her while Molly warms a bottle. Her eyes and eyebrows are a perfect concertina of expressions that are completely believable and expressive.<\/p>\n

\"NothingtoWear\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Crap! What can I wear to the Ritz?<\/em>“<\/p>\n

Realizing she’ll have to have a better frock than what she has, she decides to perform major surgery on the dress she wore to work, enlisting Molly’s help.<\/p>\n

\"JustaLittleTrim\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“A stitch in time saves nine, right?”<\/em><\/p>\n

Ensuring her scissors are nice and sharp, she slices it right through the center of the bodice, then has Molly keep going with it, completely removing the massive lace collar. In her inimitable Clara way, she goofs around, wearing the lace collar as a hat, and wincing in pain when Molly accidentally jabs her with the scissors.<\/p>\n

\"Black<\/a><\/p>\n

“Hey Molly, a little to the right”<\/em><\/p>\n

After a look away at Clara’s competition, snooty Adela Van Norman (Jacqueline Gadsden), we’re back just in time for an application of talc (in a black dress? Shah, right…), and the Betty Lou pulls the (presumably now basted) frock back over her head.<\/p>\n

\"ShowertoShower\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Hand me that Shower to Shower, willya?”<\/em><\/p>\n

She gives us a glimpse of well turned ankle, then drapes a sheer scarf over her head, adding instant glamour. then, she attaches some flowers to the waist of her dress (they did that back then. In my granny Smith’s wedding picture from 1919, they did the same thing).<\/p>\n

\"VeraWang\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Vera Wang, eat your heart out!<\/em> “<\/p>\n

With the addition of the sheer scarf over her already state-of-the-art bob, Betty Lou comes off like a carefree millionairess, and purrs at the camera, lowering those eyelids and convincing anyone and everyone that she really does have It. Monty is already convinced, but Cyrus takes a bit longer to see. After a misunderstanding involving Molly’s baby, things are finally resolved at a yacht party. We see Clara play a ukulele, Clara frolic, and Clara be Clara basically.<\/p>\n

Of course she gets the guy (and leaves poor Adela in the dust), but we all knew that would happen anyway. She has It<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Clara&Antonio\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Hey, Cyrus, let me impress you with my mad ukulele skillz”<\/em><\/p>\n

Wanna watch for yourself? NeilAvon at youtube has kindly posted the scene for your enjoyment: Watch the Dressing for Dinner scene…<\/a><\/p>\n

And go check out the other And…Scene!” Blogathon entries (read more here at Sister Celluloid’s blog<\/a>). Good stuff…<\/p>\n

The Movie Rat \u00a0 \u00a0 The repeated scene in\u00a0Persona<\/em><\/p>\n

Cinephilia \u00a0 \u00a0 The scene after Harry\u2019s wedding in\u00a0It\u2019s a Wonderful Life<\/em><\/p>\n

Le Mot du Cinephiliaque \u00a0 \u00a0 The first scene where Jeff snoops on his neighbors in\u00a0Rear Window<\/em><\/p>\n

Cary Grant Won\u2019t Eat You \u00a0 \u00a0 The courtroom scene in\u00a0I\u2019m No Angel<\/em><\/p>\n

MovieFanFare \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The Maharaja scene from\u00a0Three Little Pirates<\/em><\/p>\n

Another Old Movie Blog \u00a0 \u00a0 Favorite scene in\u00a0Katie Did It<\/em><\/p>\n

Vienna\u2019s Classic Hollywood \u00a0 \u00a0 The \u201cMaida revealed\u201d scene in\u00a0In Name Only<\/em><\/p>\n

Old Hollywood Films \u00a0 \u00a0 The filibuster scene in\u00a0Mr. Smith Goes to Washington<\/em><\/p>\n

Nitrate Glow \u00a0 \u00a0 The \u201cdescent into the lair\u201d scene in the 1925 version of\u00a0Phantom of the Opera<\/em><\/p>\n

Girls Do Film \u00a0 \u00a0 The \u201cbumpy night\u201d scene in All About Eve<\/i><\/p>\n

Movies Silently \u00a0 \u00a0 The fight scene in Tol\u2019able David<\/em><\/p>\n

Movie Movie Blog Blog \u00a0 \u00a0 The Looking for Trouble <\/em>scene in\u00a0The French Line<\/em><\/p>\n

Second Sight Cinema \u00a0 \u00a0 The stoop scene in The More the Merrier<\/em><\/p>\n

Caftan Woman \u00a0 \u00a0 Favorite scene in\u00a0The Searchers<\/em><\/p>\n

BNoirDetour \u00a0 \u00a0 The Put the Blame on Mame <\/i>scene in\u00a0Gilda<\/em><\/p>\n

Gina Dalfonzo \u00a0 \u00a0 The drunk scene in\u00a0The Philadelphia Story<\/em><\/p>\n

Phyllis Loves Classic Movies \u00a0 \u00a0 The \u201chouse plan\u201d scene in\u00a0Blandings Builds His Dream House<\/em><\/p>\n

Vivien Leigh Legend \u00a0 \u00a0 The opening scene in\u00a0Gone With the Wind<\/em><\/p>\n

Critica Retro \u00a0 \u00a0 The funhouse scene in\u00a0The Lady from Shanghai<\/em><\/p>\n

Wolffian Classic Movies Digest \u00a0 \u00a0 The shower scene in\u00a0Psycho<\/em><\/p>\n

Back to Golden Days \u00a0 \u00a0 The gin rummy scene in\u00a0Born Yesterday<\/em><\/p>\n

Writer\u2019s Rest \u00a0 \u00a0 The porch scene in\u00a0It\u2019s a Gift<\/em><\/p>\n

Wide Screen World \u00a0 \u00a0 The \u201cBarton gets suspicious\u201d scene in\u00a0Double Indemnity<\/em><\/p>\n

The Wonderful World of Cinema \u00a0 \u00a0 The opening scene in\u00a0To Be or Not to Be<\/em><\/p>\n

Back to the Viewer \u00a0 \u00a0 The grapefruit scene in\u00a0Public Enemy<\/em><\/p>\n

Defiant Success \u00a0 \u00a0 The party scene in\u00a0Seconds<\/em><\/p>\n

The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood \u00a0 \u00a0 The final scene in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir<\/i><\/p>\n

Sister Celluloid \u00a0 \u00a0 The love scene in\u00a0D.O.A.\u00a0<\/em>(yes, there is one!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 1926, Clara Bow was already becoming a solid commodity in motion pictures. The irrepressible redhead had showed her range in a few dramas early on, but after her roles as naughty but nice Cynthia in The Plastic Age or the gold-digging manicurist Alvira in Mantrap, she had found her niche. She was the sexy, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6vISe-dW","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=864"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lainigiles.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}