This Is My Affair (1937)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writers:

Allen Rivkin (story) and
Lamar Trotti (story)

Release Date:

28 May 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | History | Romance

Plot:

Navy Lt. Richard Perry becomes an undercover man out to discover the leaders of a group of well connected...

Plot Keywords:

Bank Robbery | Trial | White House | Baltimore Maryland | Military Officer

Cast

Robert Taylor	...	Lt. Richard L. Perry
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Lil Duryea
Victor McLaglen	...	Jock Ramsay
Brian Donlevy	...	Batiste Duryea
John Carradine	...	Ed
Douglas Fowley	...	Alec
Alan Dinehart	...	Doc Keller
Sig Ruman	...	Gus (as Sig Rumann)
Robert McWade	...	Admiral Dewey
Sidney Blackmer	...	President Theodore Roosevelt
Frank Conroy	...	President William McKinley
Marjorie Weaver	...	Miss Blackburn
J.C. Nugent	...	Ernie
Tyler Brooke	...	Specialty
Willard Robertson	...	George Andrews

Also Known As:

His Affair (UK)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #3200) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-16

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

This film was made and released before Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor were married. In the oversized, 22-page press book that the studio had prepared for the exhibitors, there were constant references to and blurb lines describing Stanwyck and Taylor as "real-life sweethearts" or "real-life heart interests", etc., stills captions particularly, typical 1930s selling points to be used in the advertising. However, somewhere between the planning and the execution, something went amiss, and the pressbook had an 8x10 snipe pasted on page three with specific instructions: Dated May 26, 1937, and addressed to Exhibitors as IMPORTANT NOTICE. It read: "Delete the phrase "real-life sweethearts" and any similar phase, or any stunts or copy along the same line from all advertising or publicity on THIS IS MY AFFAIR. In utilizing any of the press book materials you will please correct the copy, eliminating the words "real-life sweethearts." Please note that this applies to everything in the press book, publicity copy, ads, exploitation, stunts, etc. Your cooperation will be appreciated." (signed) Charles E. McCarthy-Advertising Manager

Soundtrack:

I Hum a Waltz

Overlooked Historical Drama

In 1937 Darryl Zanuck, who had recently moved from head of production at Warner Brothers, was trying to get his newly created company, 20th Century Fox off the ground and on a level playing field with his old bosses at Warners and the glitter palace at MGM. "This Is My Affair" was an attempt to cash in on the current success of historical films set around the turn of the century ("San Francisco" "In Old Chicago")and in retrospect he succeeded quite mightily. The plot is fascinating. A trouble maker but heroic naval officer (Robert Taylor) is given a secret assignment by President McKinley to uncover a ring of bank robbers that are paralyzing American finance. He finds the gang but falls in love with their female mascot (Barbara Stanwyck) and must decide between love and duty.

Not everything about this vintage film works well, but overall it is a good slice of studio film-making. The plot gimmick would be borrowed by Kurt Vonnegut for "Mother Night" (the lead role of that film of the book was played brilliantly by Nick Nolte) and seems quite believable, at least within the confides of studio make believe. As a fan of old movies I am always thrilled when I stumble upon one that I have never seen and "This is my Affair" was no exception.