La Bonne Soupe (1964)

The good news is I recently stumbled across La Bonne Soupe on Youtube. The bad news is I can't understand a word of it. La Bonne Soupe is a 1964 French film that features Franchot in a character part. This foreign film is definitely a departure from the majority of his filmography, but I welcome any performance of Franchot's (even when I'm clueless as to the dialogue!). I'd love to get my hands on a version with English subtitles.

The film seems quite funny and Franchot pops up unexpectedly in several scenes.

In the cinema column, "Capsule Comments", in the Toledo Blade newspaper dated November 1, 1964, La Bonne Soupe is described as "a merry, bawdy French comedy about a girl of easy virtue and her search for Easy Street". Here is Bosley Crowther's review of the film in the New York Times.

Below is the Youtube video. If it doesn't play correctly from my blog, try this direct Youtube link. Franchot enters the picture at about the 5:15 mark and reappears throughout.

Dangerous (1935)

Dangerous (1935) is noteworthy to historians because it is the film that won Bette Davis her first Oscar (she would win again for the 1938 film Jezebel). It is one of my favorite films of the 30s and I enjoy watching it often. It has a lot going for it: stellar performances from Bette and Franchot (both incredibly lovely to look at, as well), a passionate romance, tons of classic Bette Davis drama and sacrifice, and a strong supporting cast.

Joyce Heath (Bette Davis) is a has-been actress. Once a talented young stage actress on the rise, Joyce has quickly descended into alcoholism, debt, and melancholy. Don Bellows (Franchot Tone) is an intelligent young architect who is greatly respected by New York society. Although he is engaged to wealthy and kind socialite Gail Armitage (Margaret Lindsay, who also costarred with Franchot in 1934's Gentlemen are Born), Don fondly recalls Joyce's stage career and how much he was moved by her performances. When he discovers Joyce's current state, Don sets out to rehabilitate her. In the process, they fall in love.

The scenes between Joyce and Don contain fluctuating moments of cute silliness, anger and resentment, passionate attraction, and deep bonding. It's really easy to get wrapped up in their romance. You're completely rooting for them, but all the time, there's a little voice telling you that it's not going to end pretty.

Don is willing to sacrifice everything for Joyce. His belief in her love and her talent is so strong that he gives up his fiancée and puts his wealth on the line to support Joyce in a new play. Although Joyce continuously warns Don that she is a jinx, Don believes that his love and the success of her new play will change everything. Don doesn't realize that Joyce has a secret and that the way she handles that secret may change everything.

Dangerous is a beautiful film, one that makes me both laugh and cry. Because of Franchot and Bette's performances and its powerful ending (which I won't spoil for you here), it's a film whose story lingers with me long after the end credits roll. Dangerous is available on DVD at Amazon and WBShop.

Bette Davis admitted that during filming, she had an intense crush on Franchot. At the time, he was deeply in love with Joan Crawford. Bette describes her attraction to Franchot and jealousy of Joan in this post.

 

News and Updates

Hello fellow Franchot-ers! I just wanted to update you on a few things.


First of all, Man-Proof is now on DVD! Warner Archive released it last week and it can be purchased through the online Warner Brothers shop or on Amazon. I wrote about Man-Proof back in May and am definitely adding the DVD to my holiday wishlist.


Only watch films online? Here are the Franchot films that are currently available to watch for free online. On Youtube, check out Trail of the Vigilantes, Jigsaw, Man on the Eiffel Tower, and I Love Trouble (you'll also find a handful of television and radio performances there, too). The Cave of Forgotten Films (www.rarefilmm.com) currently includes That Night With You, True to Life, Straight is the Way, Stage Mother, and Moulin Rouge in its collection. Free Films Org (www.ffilms.org) features His Butler's Sister and Dangerous.


Finally, last week was this blog's 6 month anniversary! Thanks to everyone who has visited the blog or followed it on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. In October, I focused on Franchot's personal life and relationships in my posts. I've gotten really behind on my film summary/screenshot posts and am working on several at the moment. I'll be posting about Dangerous, the 1935 film starring Franchot and Bette Davis, later this week and several other films in November.

Franchot the Fisherman

 

Source: Ottawa Citizen, May 23, 1959.

 

This is currently my favorite photo of Franchot. In a flannel shirt and casual hat, a proud Franchot, with his catch of the day, looks so relaxed and completely in his element in the Canadian woods. The caption that accompanied this photo reads, "Franchot Tone, veteran of stage, screen and television and many a marital outing, answered the call of the wild once again this week. With some Canadian friends, Tone trekked into the northern Pontiac for a week's fishing and impressed The Citizen's Fish and Game Editor Vern Bower with his ways in the outdoors. A rugged individualist, Tone resembled anything but the suave screen lover when he emerged from the bush. His weather-wracked face was beaming as he waved a pair of speckled trout." 

 

His friend Burgess Meredith wrote in his 1994 autobiography, "Tone had a secret side to him. It was his love of the Canadian woods. He was a fine woodsman." Archival Ottawa Citizen newspaper articles make many references to Franchot and his father's trips to their Canadian homestead as well as their reputation as outdoorsmen.

Franchot marries Jean

Franchot married Jean Wallace on this day in 1941. They were married in Yuma, Arizona in the justice of the peace's chambers and traveled to Palm Springs after the ceremony. Jean was granted a divorce from Franchot in August 1948, but newspapers reported that she still had hopes of a reconciliation. Following their divorce, Franchot and Jean were featured in the film noirs Jigsaw and The Man on the Eiffel Tower.

Franchot and Jean in Jigsaw.

Franchot and Joan After the Divorce

Joan and Franchot in the 1950s.
Source: http://joancrawfordaremarkabletalent.tumblr.com

Franchot and Joan were granted a divorce in April 1939. They had been married since October 1935 and attached to each other for two years before that. Although some researchers have noted rumors of extra-marital affairs and violent arguments (and that certainly wouldn't be a first for a Hollywood mega-couple), Joan and Franchot appeared to be able to overlook whatever ugliness occurred in their relationship. In fact, they were dining and dancing in the days leading up to their divorce. In the 1950s and 1960s, both Franchot and Joan commented on their affection and respect for each other.

After being spotted on the town several times with Franchot in early 1954, Joan was asked by Earl Wilson about a reconciliation. Joan responded, "We haven't discussed it, but I wish it could be so...I just adore this man!"

In 1964, Joan attended the opening of Franchot's off-Broadway play, "The Dirty Old Man". Franchot said that he and Joan had "dinner every once in a while and Joan is always stunning. She's very busy with her executive work for Pepsi-Cola and with pictures. She's good at anything she does."

In her autobiography published in the early 60s, Joan said, "I have the utmost trust in Franchot and regard for him. It took courage for us both to walk away, courage I didn't know I had. Somewhere I had once read, "Let your courage be as keen but at the same time as polished as your sword. We walked away. We retained a mutual respect."

Sources:
Wilson, Earl."Joan Crawford Would Try Anew with Franchot Tone." Milwaukee Sentinel. March 18, 1954. Page 21.
Crawford, Joan and Jane Kessner Ardmore. "Courage to Part From Love." The Miami News. August 17, 1962.  Page 5A.
Morehouse, Ward. "No More Toney Roles for Franchot Tone." The Toledo Blade. May 31, 1964. Page 2.

Franchot marries Joan

On October 11, 1935, Franchot and Joan, although being watched closely by the press, managed to secretly marry in New York. Franchot had been eager to marry Joan for two years. In a 1933 Ottawa Citizen article, Franchot indicated that he would not give up on marrying Joan, that he would propose forever. 

In 1934, Joan, recently divorced from Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., explained that she wouldn't marry Franchot, because "marriage just won't work in this business".

Sadly, Joan was eventually right, but there is no denying that these two were madly in love at the start and deeply respectful of each other after the end (check back later this week for more on their relationship after the divorce).

By fun coincidence, October 11th also happens to be my wedding anniversary, so Joan and Franchot's union is easy to remember!

Sources:
"Awaiting Answer of Joan Crawford." Ottawa Citizen. November 16, 1933.
"What? Joan Won't Wed?" Ottawa Citizen. April 9, 1934.