Peacock Alley | |
---|---|
Directed by | Marcel de Sano |
Written by | Frances Hyland Wells Root Carey Wilson |
Story by | Carey Wilson |
Produced by | Robert Z. Leonard |
Starring | Mae Murray George Barraud Jason Robards, Sr. Richard Tucker William L. Thorne Phillips Smalley E. H. Calvert Arthur Hoyt Billy Bevan |
Cinematography | Benjamin H. Kline Harry Zech |
Edited by | Clarence Kolster |
Distributed by | Tiffany Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 63 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Peacock Alley is a 1930 American pre-Code musical romantic drama film directed by Marcel de Sano, and starring Mae Murray and George Barraud. The film is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name in which Murray also stars. Aside from Murray being cast in the lead, the remake was largely different from the 1922 silent film. While Murray's character in the 1922 film was named Cleo, she was renamed Claire Tree in this film. George Barraud replaced Monte Blue as the male lead, who is now named Clayton Stoddard.
The film was shot in black-and-white except for a two-color Technicolor sequence in which Murray tangos and impersonates both a toreador and a bull. The film's sets were designed by the art director Hervey Libbert.
The film takes place entirely in New York City, removing the Paris portion of the earlier film's plot. Rather than falling in love with a man who happens along her way, Claire is actively looking for a husband. Two possibilities present themselves: a Texan, who ultimately rejects Claire because he believes her to be immoral, and Stoddard, who agrees to marry her in the end.
Produced by Tiffany Pictures, the film was lavishly produced with elaborate sets despite its low budget. Murray's silent films had been very successful and she and Bob Leonard had been founding members of Tiffany. However, by the time this remake was produced Murray's marriage to Leonard had come to an end as had the fortunes of Tiffany Pictures.
The film was intended to be a comeback vehicle for Murray as her career had declined after she was unofficially blacklisted by Louis B. Mayer after she walked out on her MGM contract in 1927. Unlike the silent version, the sound remake of Peacock Alley did not boost Murray's career and earned mostly unfavorable reviews. [1] [2] [3] Photoplay called the film "a sorry affair" and Murray's performance "more affected and more bee-stung of mouth than ever. You'll laugh at the drama and weep over the comedy." [4]
Murray alleged that Tiffany Pictures' crew had damaged her career by way of their technical incompetence displayed throughout the film. Because of this, she attempted to sue the company for $1,750,000, but was unsuccessful. [5]
Mae Murray was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter. Murray rose to fame during the silent film era and was known as "The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips" and "The Gardenia of the Screen".
Robert Zigler Leonard was an American film director, actor, producer, and screenwriter.
The Strand Theater is a vaudeville theater located at 400 Clifton Avenue in Lakewood Township, Ocean County, New Jersey. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 22, 1982, for its significance in architecture, art, and theater.
The Merry Widow is a 1925 American silent romantic drama/black comedy film directed and written by Erich von Stroheim. Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film stars Mae Murray, John Gilbert, Roy D'Arcy, and Tully Marshall, with pre-fame uncredited appearances by Joan Crawford and Clark Gable.
Tiffany Pictures, which also became Tiffany-Stahl Productions for a time, was a Hollywood motion picture studio in operation from 1921 until 1932. It is considered a Poverty Row studio, whose films had lower budgets, lesser-known stars, and overall lower production values than major studios.
Danger, Go Slow is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard, and starring Mae Murray, Jack Mulhall and Lon Chaney. Robert Z. Leonard and Mae Murray co-wrote the screenplay together. The film is today considered lost.
Circe, the Enchantress is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard. The film starred Leonard's then-wife Mae Murray. This was their last collaboration, and they divorced soon after. Considered to be a lost film for decades, a print of Circe, the Enchantress was found at a foreign archive.
The Masked Bride is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Mae Murray, Francis X. Bushman, and Basil Rathbone. It is currently a lost film.
Peacock Alley is a 1922 American silent drama film starring Monte Blue and Mae Murray. The film was directed by Murray's husband at the time, Robert Z. Leonard. An incomplete print survives at the Library of Congress.
Idols of Clay is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Mae Murray and David Powell. A copy of the film survives in the Gosfilmofond Archive in Moscow.
Broadway Rose is a 1922 American silent romantic drama film released by Metro Pictures and directed by Robert Z. Leonard. It stars Leonard's then-wife Mae Murray and Monte Blue. The film is based on an original story by Edmund Goulding written for star Murray, and was produced by Leonard's and Murray's production company Tiffany Pictures.
The Bride's Awakening is a 1918 American silent drama film released by Universal Pictures and produced by their Bluebird production unit. Robert Z. Leonard directed the film and his then-wife Mae Murray was the star. A print of the film is housed at the EYE Institute Nederlands.
The Big Little Person was a 1919 American silent romantic drama film produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Based on the novel of the same name by Rebecca Lane Hooper Eastman, the film was directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starred his then-wife and muse Mae Murray. Rudolph Valentino, who was credited as M. Rodolpho De Valentina, had a supporting role. The film is now considered lost.
On Record is a 1917 American silent crime drama film starring Mae Murray and directed by Murray's then-husband Robert Z. Leonard. Based on a story by John B. Clymer and Paul West, the film's scenario was written by George D. Proctor. On Record was produced by Jesse Lasky's production company, Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company and was distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film's status is currently unknown.
The Plow Girl is a lost 1916 American drama silent film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Edward Morris, Charles Sarver and Harvey F. Thew. The film stars Mae Murray, Elliott Dexter, Charles K. Gerrard, Edythe Chapman, Horace B. Carpenter and William Elmer. The film was released on November 13, 1916, by Paramount Pictures.
The Gilded Lily is a surviving 1921 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and written by Clara Beranger and Tom McNamara. The film stars Mae Murray, Lowell Sherman, Jason Robards, Sr., Charles K. Gerrard, and Leonora von Ottinger. The film was released on March 6, 1921, by Paramount Pictures.
What Am I Bid? is a 1919 American silent romance film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Mae Murray, Ralph Graves and Willard Louis.
The Scarlet Shadow is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Mae Murray, Martha Mattox and Frank Elliott.
Fashion Row is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Mae Murray in a dual role, Earle Foxe, and Freeman Wood. The film involves two Russian sisters emigrate to America. One tries to hide her peasant origins and rises in high society, while the other remains closer to her roots.
Hervey Libbert (1901–1953) was an American art director. He was employed by Tiffany Pictures in the late silent and early sound era on films such as Lucky Boy and Peacock Alley.