Friday, May 17, 2013

Did Leo McCarey Ever Attend the Cannes Film Festival?

Ducking Rain and Competition at Cannes. (The New York Times, 5/16/2013)

Excerpt: For many, the Cannes Film Festival summons up shimmering images of beautiful men and women drifting up a red carpet as photographers shout their names. “Leo!” “Carey!” “Leo!” “Carey!”

Perhaps.  The festival dates back to 1939, and McCarey lived until 1969.

"Going my Way", released in 1944, is certainly one of McCarey's best-known films.  He won the Oscar for "Best Director", and the movie received the "Best Picture" award.  (I guess this much better effort was just too noir, downbeat, for Academy voters.)  His most productive period, however, was the 1920s and 1930s.



He is also directed the movie where the Marx Brothers are at their best.


Of the 35 films that McCarey directed, the first in 1921, only 5 were produced after 1948, including this sentimental favorite.

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