Genre: Classics, Comedy, Drama, Romance Directed By: Robert B. Sinclair Written By: Ernest Vajda, Mary c. McCall Jr. In Theaters: 9 Dec. 1938 Runtime: 80 minutes Studio: MGM Budget: $602,000 Box office: $664,000 | Cast: Luise Rainer as Louise Mauban Paulette Goddard as Nana Alan Marshal as Marquis Andre D’Abbencourt Lana Turner as Mado Genevieve Tobin as Gina Bertier John Hubbard as Fleury (as Anthony Allan) Henry Stephenson as Pasquel, Sr. Gale Sondergaard as Madame Therese Charlot Melville Cooper as Boulin Erik Rhodes as Georges Mounier Virginia Grey as Simone Ann Rutherford as Yvonne Margaret Dumont as the Pantomime Teacher Hans Conried as Ramy Marie Blake as Annette Rand Brooks as Pasquel Jr. Arthur Gardner as Student (Uncredited) Ralph Faulkner as Fencing Teacher (Uncredited) |
“Dramatic School” is a 1938 American romantic drama film directed by Robert B. Sinclair and starring Luise Rainer, Paulette Goddard, Alan Marshal, Lana Turner, and Gale Sondergaard.
Based on the play “School of Drama” by Hans SzĂ©kely and Zoltan Egyed, the screenplay was written by Ernest Vajda and Mary C. McCall.
Modest, kind-hearted aspiring actress Louise Mauban (Luise Rainer) attends the Paris School of Drama while working nights at a dreary factory job, where she has made friends with another worker.
She often comes to class late but rather than admit she has to work nights, she tells her fellow students stories of a luxurious life and her wealthy, handsome boyfriend, Marquis Andre D’Abbencourt (Alan Marshal).
The other girls begin to suspect that her stories are just fantasies that she weaves to relieve her humdrum life. One of them, Nana (Paulette Goddard), maliciously invites Louise to her “birthday party”, having arranged for Andre to attend.
However, the plan backfires.
Andre is enchanted by Louise and the lie turns into the truth.
He showers her with gifts and takes her out every night.
Andre eventually becomes enamored of another woman and breaks up with Louise by letter.
When Louise’s friends show up, she tells them to take their pick of the fabulous clothes Andre has given her.
However, to a late-arriving Nana, she shows the letter, as her “gift”. Nana’s heart is softened to her rival and they become friends.
One of the teachers is impressed by Louise’s sincerity and talent, but another teacher and aging star, Madame Therese Charlot (Gale Sondergaard), is jealous of Louise.
Madame Therese is upset to learn from the school’s director, Monsieur Pasquel, Sr. (Henry Stephenson) that she will not get the leading role in a new play about Joan of Arc because she is no longer young enough. In her bitterness, she lashes out when Louise is late to class once again; she informs Louise that she will demand her expulsion. Louise follows her and, to Charlot’s surprise, thanks her.
Louise explains that she believes that to be a great star, she must suffer, as Madame Charlot herself had suffered early in her own career.
The next day, Louise defiantly returns to class.
Madame Charlot announces that she has accepted another, more mature role in the play and recommended Louise for the lead.
Louise gets the part and is a great success on opening night, receiving a standing ovation. On the night of her triumph, she turns down party invitations, including one from Andre, to celebrate with her friend from the factory.
Lana Turner plays Mado, one of the student actresses along with Paulette Goddard, Ann Rutherford and Virginia Grey. Virginia and Lana became lifetime friends.
Clip:
You can watch the film here.
Lana Turner did a lot of movies. She really loved being a moviestar.
Here are the most important films in which she starred. Just click the links for more info, photos and videos.
20 April 1937: A Star Is Born
9 Oct. 1937: They Won’t Forget
24 Oct. 1937: The Great Garrick
1 Jan. 1938: The Adventures of Marco Polo
22 July 1938: Love Finds Andy Hardy
12 Aug. 1938: Rich Man, Poor Girl
9 Dec. 1938: Dramatic School
28 April 1939: Calling Dr. Kildare
18 Aug. 1939: These Glamour Girls
29 Sept. 1939: Dancing Co-Ed
19 April 1940: Two Girls on Broadway
19 July 1940: We Who Are Young
25 April 1941: Ziegfeld Girl
12 Aug. 1941: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2 Oct. 1941: Honky Tonk
18 Febr. 1942: Johnny Eager
27 Aug. 1942: Somewhere I’ll Find You
1 April 1943: Slightly Dangerous
19 Aug. 1943: Du Barry Was A Lady
13 Nov. 1943: The Youngest Profession
23 Aug. 1944: Marriage Is a Private Affair
8 March 1945: Keep Your Powder Dry
1 Oct. 1945: Week-End At The Waldorf
2 May 1946: The Postman Always Rings Twice
5 Nov. 1947 : Green Dolphin Street
1 Nov. 1947: Cass Timberlane
29 April 1948: Homecoming
20 Oct. 1948: The Three Musketeers
1 Sept. 1950: A Life Of Her Own
2 March 1951: Mr. Imperium
5 Sept. 1952: The Merry Widow
25 Dec. 1952: The Bad And The Beautiful
25 Aug. 1953: Latin Lovers
1 May 1954: Flame And The Flesh
7 Sept. 1954: Betrayed
13 May 1955: The Prodigal
4 June 1955: Sea Chase
14 Dec. 1955: The Rains Of Ranchipur
12 Jan. 1956: Diane
13 Dec. 1957: Peyton Place
30 Jan. 1958: The Lady Takes A Flyer
2 May 1958: Another Time, Another Place
30 April 1959: Imitation Of Life
23 June 1960: Portrait In Black
19 July 1961: By Love Possessed
2 Nov. 1961: Bachelor In Paradise
25 Dec. 1962: Who’s Got The Action?
24 Febr. 1965: Love Has Many Faces
27 April 1966: Madame X
30 April 1969: The Big Cube
7 Nov. 1974: Persecution
27 Oct. 1976: Bittersweet Love
31 Oct. 1980: Witches Brew
21 May 1982: Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid
Sources: Wikipedia, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Lana’s biography “Lana, the Lady, The Legend, The Truth“, “The Films Of Lana Turner” by Lou Valentino and “Lana Turner, The Memories, The Myths and The Movies” by Cheryl Crane.