Puppy from a Fan

I was looking for another article on Franchot and came across this funny little piece of news from 1941:

Franchot Tone was walking down Hollywood Boulevard, when a group of children asked for his autograph. He complied, and one of the little boys gave him a tiny puppy. Franchot explained that he had no place to keep a dog. But the kid looked so hurt that Franchot took the puppy, anyhow. As the children disappeared, Franchot heard one of them remark, "Gee, now we've got only five more to get rid of." Since then, Franchot has been phoning all his friends, but he admits that, to date, he isn't as good a salesman as the kid.

Source: "In Movieland." Statesville Daily Record. March 7, 1941.

2017 at a Glance

Dancing Lady, 1933.

With 2018 quickly approaching, I compiled all of my 2017 exploration of Franchot in this link-filled post. I like to see what I've posted each year and revisit articles, quotes, and summaries that I've forgotten. Unfortunately, I didn't post as frequently in 2017 as I did in previous years, but I feel that I truly learned a great deal about Franchot this year—especially in regard to his theater career, his last decade, and his relationship with Barbara Payton.

I also added quite a bit of items to my Franchot memorabilia collection this year. I'm incredibly proud of my collection, but I do feel I got a tad obsessed with owning all the Franchot I could. It was a stressful year for me at times and I comforted myself with Franchot photograph purchases. In the last several months, I've realized that as comforting as a beautiful, original Franchot photograph is to me, I've been neglecting the pure joy that comes from watching his filmed work and having my nose stuck in obscure books searching for references to him. I think I've regained that balance of collecting and researching these past 2 months and plan to maintain it 2018.

I wish you all the best in 2018 and hope you'll continue on this journey of Finding Franchot with me!

Plays
Hope for the Best-1945
The Time of Your Life-1955 and 1958
Mandingo-1961
Beyond Desire-1967

Television
Witchcraft: Doll in Brambles-1950's
Ticket to Tahiti-1958
Bitter Heritage-1958
Alfred Hitchcock Hour-Final Performance-1965

Movies
One New York Night-1935
Three Loves Has Nancy-1938
Star Spangled Rhythm-1942
I Love Trouble-1948

Missed Opportunities
Gone with the Wind-1939
The Country Girl (play)

Personal Life
Reflections from Friendships/Coworkers: Janet Blair, Jean Dalrymple, Arthur Penn
Love Affairs: Barbara Payton: The Beginning, The Altercation, Marriage-Muir-and Malfunction, Franchot on Joan's Beauty and more, Franchot on Joan's Humor and more
Gatineau Treasure
Irving Thalberg's Support
A Theater of His Own
Pamp and the Yearbook

Magazine Articles and Interviews
Franchot Talks to TV Guide
Franchot Talks about Uncle Vanya
A Wealthy, but Sensitive Comrade
Franchot Thaws
Franchot Tells on Himself
The Winning Mr. Tone

Blogathons
I held the first ever Franchot Tone Blogathon in April 2017!
I also participated in the following blogathons:
The John Garfield Blogathon
The Bette Davis Blogathon
The Judy Garland Blogathon

Photos
I did photo posts here here and here.

My Take
Playing Against Type: Discovering Franchot's Characters
"He's No Gable!": Musings on Frequent Internet Mumblings
Reflecting on Franchot this September

Social Media
Don't forget you can also follow along with my Franchot fanaticism on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!

Fansite
My Finding Franchot fansite, a companion to this blog, is at www.findingfranchot.com.

Thanks for everything and Happy New Year!

The 3rd Annual Franchot Tone Holiday Gift Guide is Here!

Each year I choose a selection of Franchot-related items that will make great gifts for you or that special Franchot fan in your life. This year I have six suggestions, but please make sure to check out other great Franchot goodies that made it onto my previous holiday gift guides: 2015 and 2016.

Stage Mother DVD
This 1933 drama was just recently released on DVD by Warner Archive and is on my own wishlist this year. Although his character arrives late in the film and his part is not large, Franchot gives a great performance and is pivotal to the plot. Stage Mother is a gripping precode about a young woman (Maureen O'Sullivan) who wants to live an ordinary life  and escape the ill effects of her domineering mother (Alice Brady).

Find it at WBShop

Wall Art of Joan and Franchot in Dancing Lady
Art.com offers this shot of Franchot and Joan in a steamy moment in Dancing Lady. It comes in multiple sizes, frames, and mounts. I like this shot a lot, because they both look gorgeous and it's my favorite scene of theirs in that film.

Find it at Art.com

Wall Art of Franchot
Art.com also offers this square portrait of Franchot in multiple sizes and styles. When I buy FT photos, I usually stick to original 8x10s. But this particular shot from a favorite series of mine never pops up in original form and the thought of sizing it to my liking is very appealing.

Find it at Art.com

Nice Girl? DVD
I've been watching an old recorded copy of Nice Girl? forever. I noticed that Amazon now has Nice Girl? released on DVD through the Universal Vault Series.  I'm not sure how long it's been available, but I know it wasn't there a year or so ago. It's a fun comedy starring Deanna Durbin, Robert Stack, and Franchot Tone. I'm hoping Universal will release my favorite Durbin-Tone collaboration His Butler's Sister now!

Find it at Amazon

Franchot Tone-related Sheet Music
I've featured "Did I Remember" from Suzy on the Gift Guide image, but there are many pieces of sheet music available that are tie-ins to Franchot's work. Play them on the piano or, since they usually have nice photographic covers, frame them! Here are some that are on eBay right now:
"Learn How to Lose" from The King Steps Out
"Love at Last" from Nice Girl?
"When You're in Love" from The Girl Downstairs
"Stars In My Eyes" from The King Steps Out
"When You're Away" from His Butler's Sister
"Madly in Love" from The King Steps Out
"A Love Song of Long Ago" from They Gave Him a Gun

Find it on eBay

Five Graves to Cairo DVD
Franchot Tone starring in a Billy Wilder spy drama along with Anne Baxter and Erich von Stroheim? Yes, please! This 1943 film is a great addition to any DVD collection, whether the owner is a Franchot fan or not.

Find it at TCMShop

I wish you all a very happy holiday season!

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with or sponsored by any of the companies mentioned above (or anyone for that matter.) I also do not own the prints featured from art.com so I cannot attest to their quality first-hand.

A Candid Apology

To any faithful readers out there in the world, I apologize that this blog has not been regularly updated this summer. Due to personal/professional scheduling reasons, I did not have the time I so desperately wanted to research Mr. Tone in June and July. Now that August is around the corner, I should be able to return to my previous habit of posting at least once per week and after quite a hiatus, have already signed up to participate in a blogathon (always a fun way to discover classic film enthusiasts and their blogs) this September.

I'm currently working on a post for later this week, but wanted to go ahead and share something today. Enjoy this assortment of clipping candids and check back this weekend for a real post!



Franchot with the Stooges



Backstage on the set of The Gentle People



With Joan



Franchot and Deanna on the set of Nice Girl



Franchot dining with Virginia Bruce

Franchot with Jean Wallace



With Martha Raye

Happy Birthday, Franchot!

Today is Franchot's birthday! I don't really have a huge post planned to celebrate today, but couldn't let his birthday pass without something here on the blog. I can talk about Franchot all day long (my poor husband can attest to this!), but on his birthday, I always feel more reflective, nostalgic, and frankly, at a loss for words on how to describe how much this actor means to me. I try to keep this blog heavily focused on sharing facts, the words of those who knew Franchot best, and the thoughts and statements of the man himself. But today, on his birthday, I feel a bit emotional and all I can think to share is that I am eternally grateful that this man was born and that he left behind a massive and diverse body of work.

Announcing the Franchot Tone Blogathon!

I am so excited to announce that I'll be hosting the first ever Franchot Tone Blogathon! Since this blog began, I've enjoyed celebrating actors I admire through blogathons hosted by fantastic classic film blogs. Now, it's Franchot's turn! In honor of the second anniversary of the Finding Franchot blog, I will be hosting a Franchot Tone Blogathon from April 21 through April 23, 2017.

How to Join:

1. Choose a film, tv show, or radio show featuring Franchot Tone that you enjoy and write about it! My hope is that everyone will write about a piece of Franchot's work that you really love and that you feel is an important part of his legacy. For example, I'm writing about Three Loves Has Nancy because it's a film that shows off Franchot's comedic skills and the first film in which Franchot caught my eye. Without that fateful viewing of Three Loves Has Nancy years ago, this little Franchot Tone blog wouldn't exist. If you need to refresh your memory, here's a list of Franchot's filmography. If you don't want to limit it to just one performance, you are welcome to highlight your favorite moments found in multiple films or get creative with how you approach the topic. Duplicate topics are allowed.

2. To celebrate the second anniversary of Finding Franchot, I'm hosting the blogathon as a celebration on the weekend of April 21 through April 23. Just publish your post in that time frame and leave a link on the post I'll have up that weekend.

3. Comment here the Franchot work you are planning to cover and I'll add you to the roster.

3. Choose a banner below and display it on your blog with a link back to this post.

Also, thank you to Le over at Critica Retro for first encouraging me to host a Franchot blogathon with a comment left on this site!

Roster:

Finding Franchot - Three Loves Has Nancy (1938) and Playing Against Type

Old Hollywood Films - Five Graves to Cairo (1943)

Phyllis Loves Classic Movies - Coming around to Franchot Tone

Critica Retro - Dancing Lady (1933)

 

Back to Golden Days - Three Comrades (1938)

 

Mike's Take on the Movies - Twilight Zone, Hitchcock, and Suspense

 

Musings of a Classic Film Addict - Phantom Lady (1943)

 

Flapper Dame - Franchot Tone & Joan Crawford

 

Linda Lear - The Bride Wore Red (1937)

 

Charlene's (Mostly) Classic Movie Reviews - Dangerous (1935)

 

In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood - Franchot & Joan

 

Classic Movie Treasures - Her Husband's Affairs (1947)

 

 

2016 Franchot Tone Holiday Gift Guide

It's time for the 2nd Annual Franchot Tone Holiday Gift Guide!

This year's picks for that Franchot fan in your life (or, let's be honest, yourself!) are pictured above and include:

• Vintage tobacco card - Like many film stars, Franchot was featured on quite a few collectible tobacco cards in the 1930's and 40's. Some cards show portraits of Franchot while others show him with costars (for example, Jean Harlow.) Fortunately, you can find one at an affordable price on eBay. (I've only paid between $2 and $5 each for mine, but the ones with Harlow and Crawford list for much more.)
• Three Comrades DVD - This 1938 drama is one of Franchot's finest performances. It's a must-see! Margaret Sullavan, Robert Taylor, and Robert Young costar in this moving film.
• Love on the Run DVD - Although definitely a Crawford-Gable film, Franchot more than holds his own and is laugh-out-loud funny as the second lead.
• New reprint poster - I stumbled across this new poster print of Franchot at www.art.com. It's a great photo of him and available in multiple sizes!
• Unguarded Hour DVD - The lesser known of Franchot and Loretta Young's two films, Unguarded Hour is a clever, glamorous, and sophisticated mystery.
• Vintage magazine - Original magazines, like the one featuring Franchot and Deanna Durbin on the cover, can be found on eBay. Depending on condition, prices typically range anywhere from $4 to $40.

To see what made the list for last year's gift guide, click here.

Note: Hopefully you know this by now, but I am not affiliated with Amazon, eBay, or Art.com and not compensated in any way for anything I post on this site. These are simply great Franchot items and the annual gift guide is a bit of holiday fun.

The Franchot Fan Questionnaire

My birthday falls just a few days after Franchot's, so here's a little personal Franchot-related info about me.

• First FT movie I ever watched: Either Bombshell or The Girl From Missouri. I can't remember which one, but it was definitely a Harlow film when I was younger.
• First FT movie that made me stand up and take notice: Three Loves Has Nancy. Although I saw many of the Harlow/Crawford movies when I was younger, I didn't really pay attention to Franchot until I saw Three Loves Has Nancy and fell in love with his performance. (I can't believe I was so clueless about Franchot for so long!)
• Last FT movie that I watched: The King Steps Out
• Favorite FT movies: There's no way I can pick just one or even a couple. Here are my favorites broken down by years...
• 1933-1935: Midnight Mary, The Girl From Missouri, Gentlemen Are Born, Lives of a Bengal Lancer, Dangerous
• 1936-1939: The Unguarded Hour, They Gave Him A Gun, Man-Proof, Between Two Women, The Bride Wore Red, Three Loves Has Nancy, Fast and Furious
• 1940-1949: His Butler's Sister, Dark Waters, Honeymoon
• 1950-1968: Uncle Vanya, Advise & Consent
• Least favorite FT movie: Without Honor
• Number of FT movies I've seen: 59
• Number of FT movies I've not seen: 7
• FT-related items I'm constantly in search of: candid and/or color photos, interviews and quotes, theater memorabilia.
• Favorite FT film speeches: 
• Defending his name in the final scenes of Mutiny on the Bounty
• Defending Loretta Young in court in Midnight Mary
• Asking to be released from a war he doesn't agree with in The Hour Before Dawn
• Confronting Ben Cartwright in the final scene of the "Denver McKee" episode of Bonanza
• Discussing the effects of aging in Uncle Vanya
• Favorite FT Quote:

"If I ever had an image, it was the playboy, the white tie and tails, the elegant fellow with the good tailor. That was my image for the mass movie audience. But not for the theater audience. They saw me as an actor. Now my television image is the character actor. And then they see my old movies on the late show and I'm the rich playboy again." (TV Guide, 1966)

• Favorite FT photos at the moment:

 

 

 

On Pizza and Grape Juice

In 1966, Franchot starred in a production of The Bird, the Bear, and the Actress at the Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut. Janet Roach, a local reporter for the New Day newspaper, interviewed Franchot. In the first part of the article, Franchot talks about the play and how happy he is to be performing in it. The last half of the article takes an odd, but delightful turn. It focuses on Franchot's frustration for vending machines and his dedicated supply of grape juice. Here's an excerpt from the article:

Tone deems "one New London pizza house well worth visiting more than once.

'Just give me plain mozzarella,' says Tone, banishing with the flip of a hand any suggestion of more exotic variations.

The pizza place is just one of Tone's answers to the camping-out atmosphere pervading the three-week work session at the former Palmer Mansion.

'I'm an old hand at this. I could talk for hours about the tricks, but nobody asks me.' The actor reached for a chilled container of grape juice as he spoke. 'For instance, most people would carry a bottle opener for this sort of thing. But after a while I discovered a room key will do just as well.'

The grape juice itself is the product of many frustrated trips to theatre soft drink machines.

'There's nothing more frustrating,' Tone said, 'You run all the way down the stairs with a dime clutched between your fingers. You put it in the slot and it goes all the way to the bottom and lands in the coin return.'

That experience prompted the resourceful actor to invest in a small cooler and some plastic glasses which he carries in his car.

'I have to phone down for the ice and go shopping for the juice,' Tone says, but the effort answers the challenge of camping out."

I love how serious Franchot is about his grape juice. It's an amusing little exchange, but it also illustrates the everyday, regular guy in Franchot. His life was not all champagne and tuxedo tails as some commentators would have you believe. He was a working actor on the road, learning lines and fighting soda machines, and eating a slice of pizza at a local joint.  Franchot says he could talk for hours about his tricks as an "old hand" in the theater business, but mentions that no one ever asks him. How I wish they would have asked him! At this stage in his life, he seemed willing to share his opinions on a variety of subjects and I would love to be able to hear them.

Source: Roach, Janet. "Perfectionist Franchot Tone 'Sacrifices' Own Shirt for Play." The Day. New London, Connecticut. August 5, 1966. Page 12.

Publicity Photo Déjà vu

I was browsing Deanna Durbin photos online when my eye was drawn to a small thumbnail. Just based on the pose and not looking at the faces at all, I thought it was a close-up version of a Because of Him publicity photo I'd seen before. Then, I realized, "Wait, that man has a mustache!" and "Deanna wasn't a blonde in that film!" The publicity photo I was seeing was actually for Lady on a Train, a 1945 film starring Deanna Durbin and David Bruce. It looks so much like the Because of Him publicity photo Deanna would pose for just one year later.

 

In both photos, Deanna is wearing a short-sleeve black dress with a sheerness at the top. Below her to the left in both photographs is her male costar in a nice suit looking "captured" by Deanna. Deanna has a fistful of his hair in her hands ("his" being David Bruce in 1945 and Franchot in 1946). I know that many costumes, poses, and filmed footage were recycled and reused in Hollywood, but I was still surprised that they would take such a similar publicity photo within one year of the first one.

Deanna and David Bruce in a Lady on a Train publicity photo, 1945
Source: www.doctormacro.com

The pose reused with Deanna and Franchot in a Because of Him publicity photo, 1946
Source: www.tcm.com

  

Lady on a Train is a 1945 crime-based comedy starring Deanna, David, and Ralph Bellamy. Deanna's character witnesses a murder from her train window and seeks the help of a mystery author.

Because of Him is a 1946 romantic comedy starring Deanna, Franchot, and Charles Laughton. In this film, Deanna's character is a waitress who schemes her way into an acting role opposite her thespian idol.

Tribute Video!

I finally finished my Franchot Tone: A Life in Film tribute video and I'm so happy with the way it turned out! It captures Franchot in many moods through over 30 years of film and television footage.

It is now on Youtube at this link: https://youtu.be/cnSbTLJ5i5w or you can just watch it here.

Top Twelve Tux Moments

Happy New Year's Eve! In honor of the new year, I'm counting down Franchot's Top Twelve Tux Moments in his film and television appearances.

12. Placing a high stakes bet in Twilight Zone: The Silence, 1961.

11. Supporting the relationship between a frail Margaret Sullavan and friend Robert Taylor in Three Comrades, 1938.

10. Mysteriously lingering in a doorway in Phantom Lady, 1944.

9. Giving Jean Harlow quite a performance in Bombshell, 1933.

8. Dodging a lion in his hotel room in Fast and Furious, 1939.

7. Longingly looking at Joan Crawford in Sadie McKee, 1934.

6. Walking toward a singing Deanna Durbin in His Butler's Sister, 1943.

5. Facing Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery in No More Ladies, 1935.

4. Defending himself under scrutiny in The Unguarded Hour, 1936.

3. Falling in love with Constance Bennett all over again in Moulin Rouge, 1934.

2. Entertaining Joan Crawford in Dancing Lady, 1933.

1. Gazing at Loretta Young in Midnight Mary, 1933.

Franchot wears many a tux in many a film, so it was a bit of a challenge to pick my top 12. Wishing you a safe and happy New Year's Eve and all the best in 2016!

A Franchot Tone Holiday Gift Guide

Have a Franchot Tone fan in your life or want to treat yourself to a new Franchot DVD this holiday season? Here are my picks for the movies that should be wrapped under your tree!

 

• Wish you had been able to see Franchot in a live play? Buy the 1957 film Uncle Vanya. The film is staged like the play in which Franchot performed multiple times and was dear to his heart.

• Enjoy a little music with your comedy? Try Because of Him, a 1946 musical comedy teaming Franchot with the delightful Deanna Durbin and Tone's chum Charles Laughton.

• Eager to see Franchot in a darker role? Look for Phantom Lady, a 1944 film noir with Franchot in a deliciously devious part.

• Want to see footage that captures some of that Crawford-Tone magic? You must watch The Bride Wore Red, a 1937 romantic comedy starring Franchot as a sweet postman and Joan as his complicated dreamgirl.

• Looking for more of a period piece? Look no further than Quality Street which was written by J.M. Barrie and costars Franchot with a young Katharine Hepburn.

• Intrigued by political drama and scandal? Advise & Consent is the way to go! This 1962 film directed by Otto Preminger stars an older Franchot as the U.S. President.

• Hoping for a mixture of war, romantic, and gangster drama in one film? You'll love 1937's They Gave Him a Gun starring Franchot, Spencer Tracy, and Gladys George.

• Ready to laugh out loud at a fast-paced, quick-quipped comedy? Fast and Furious, a 1939 comedy pairing Franchot with Ann Sothern is charming. Bonus: The DVD comes with two other films in the Joel and Garda Sloane series. (The other films in the series do not feature Franchot, however.)

• Avid for adventure? See Franchot as a lieutenant in India during the British Raj in The Lives of a Bengal Lancer, a 1935 film featuring Gary Cooper and Richard Cromwell.

• Collect Oscar Best Picture Winners on DVD? Make sure you have the 1935 Oscar winner Mutiny on the Bounty! Franchot was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in this sea adventure.

Already own every single Franchot DVD available? Think about using eBay or another auction/used goods site to add some original photos, lobby cards, playbills, or movie posters to your collection!