Carole Lombard’s Stinging Satire: ‘Nothing Sacred’ 1937

 

As "doomed" media sensation Hazel Flagg in 1937's screwball comedy classic,
 "Nothing Sacred,"Carole Lombard isn't playing a death scene, just a passed out one!

Nothing Sacred is not only a nifty snapshot of the '30s era through the screwball comedy lens, but a smart look at human foibles that’s timeless as ever. 

This rocket speed romp is just 77 minutes, as muckraker reporter Wally Cook meets a young woman, Hazel Flagg, who's been mistakenly diagnosed with a fatal ailment, and aims to launch her as a media star.

Carole Lombard & Frederic March are in top form as the "dying" woman
& muckraking reporter in 1937's "Nothing Sacred."

The take on tale this is modern, where everyone is very likeable even though their behavior is deplorable. Nothing Sacred is much like comedies of the current era. Like Seinfeld, it works because while the characters are very human since their actions are recognizably our own at our worst impulses.

The opening scene of "Nothing Sacred"...

...sets the tone...

In our modern tabloid era, what’s now the Internet and social media used to be yellow journalism and daily rags. At one point, “heroine” Hazel Flagg’s front page story is later shown used for wrapping fish. The tabloid reporter and his paper turn the "doomed" girl into a nationally famous celebrity. Instead of "Free Britney," it's "Brave Hazel Flagg!"

Frederic March reacts hilariously as the wily reporter in 1937's "Nothing Sacred."

Frederic March is very funny as sardonic Wally, the reporter who is already the butt of one media scandal that gets him demoted to the obituaries, which is hilariously depicted. He then comes upon a newspaper blurb about Hazel (Carole Lombard), a small town Vermont woman who's diagnosed with radium poisoning from the local factory. 

Wally’s exasperated boss reluctantly lets him go to the small burg to seek out Hazel. What is typical of the irreverent tone of this movie is how even the small townspeople are depicted—they are outright nasty to the snooping outsider. A small child even comes out of nowhere to bite March's reporter on the leg!

Love the physical comedy in the scene where Frederic March's reporter gets demoted
 to Obituaries. March is a great straight man in 1937's "Nothing Sacred."

Frederic March plays against his aristocratic bearing quite amusingly as the shameless, self-aggrandizing reporter. But underneath his smarmy attitude, Wally does indeed fall for Hazel. March, like Lombard, is great from his big scenes right down to the smallest. I love when his Wally describes his editor boss to Hazel, grimacing in mock pain. Also noteworthy is that March gave this terrific comedic performance the same year he starred with Janet Gaynor in A Star is Born. Having watched Frederic March mostly in latter day movies, I forgot what a charming, good looking guy Freddie was!

Frederic March is funny, handsome, and holds his own against comedic dynamo
Carole Lombard in 1937's "Nothing Sacred."

Carole Lombard has one of her best roles as Hazel Flagg. Lombard is natural, warm, empathetic, and funny. The queen of screwball comedy was totally at ease with verbal and especially physical comedy. There are scenes of Carole getting drunk, dunked in water, tossed on a bed, knocked out, and throwing a punch or two. Lombard’s Hazel is not dying, but just wants to have fun, and get the hell out of that small Vermont town. I love how in the middle of a hissy fit with March, Lombard sticks out her tongue, like a little girl.

As Hazel Flagg, Carole Lombard gives as good as she gets in 1937's "Nothing Sacred."

Carole Lombard was gorgeous and this beautifully shot Technicolor film makes her look like a dream. For her big night in the city, Carole wears a simple but sparkling periwinkle blue gown by Travis Banton that any star today would kill to wear. What I love about Lombard is that she was such a natural in looks and style. Early in her leading lady career, Carole was slathered in an exotic look, to resemble an American Dietrich, her fellow Paramount star. This was not uncommon. Myrna Loy of Montana was often made to look like an Asian vamp early in her career. Alice Faye was first tarted up to look like Fox's version of Jean Harlow. Even Bette Davis was given the ultra-glam treatment early on at WB, with bleached hair and tons of makeup. But when Carole Lombard could take hold of her image, Carole’s hair and makeup is so simple compared to the stars of the day that she looks quite modern.

Carole Lombard does everything with comedic aplomb in 1937's "Nothing Sacred,"
 even wearing a fireman's hat!

At the time, Nothing Sacred did well enough but wasn't a smash, probably because the satire was too stinging... and all-encompassing. The media gets a kick in the pants, but so do the so-called media stars, and the public who eats up sob stories or scandals du jour of disposable media stars. I immediately thought of Britney Spears, the endless Kardashian scandals, or folks famous as Internet "influencers." The more things change...

1937's "Nothing Sacred" shows that some things never change when it comes to the media giving the public what they want.

This vehicle is perfect for director "Wild Bill" William Wellman, and his breakneck, no BS style. I can only imagine how Carole Lombard, famed for her practical jokes, salty style, and irreverence meshed with Bill’s like-minded attitude. There is a number of striking aerial shots in the movie, no surprise since Wellman was a pilot!

One of the friendly small-town faces that Frederic March's reporter finds in
1937's comedy classic, "Nothing Sacred."

Nothing Sacred has a number of familiar faces, some for just single scenes. Hattie McDaniel, whose mama with gaggle of kids busts March’s reporter and his story at a public banquet. Later, when Wally goes to the Vermont burg, the brusquest local he meets is Margaret Hamilton. Both are inimitable, even for a moment. Maxie Rosenbloom is a sly hoot as yes, Max, brought in as muscle to restrain Wally. Ironically, when Wally and Hazel run off at the finale, who should spot them aboard a ship but future gossip columnist/then actress, Hedda Hopper! 

Hollywood's other wicked witch, Hedda Hopper, when she was still an actress,
in the final scene of 1937's "Nothing Sacred."

Walter Connolly is a comedic bulldog as Wally’s perpetually irritated editor, named… Oliver Stone! Charles Winninger is a scene-stealer as Hazel’s drunken doctor, Enoch Downer.

There are is a non-stop flurry of satiric jabs in Nothing Sacred, plus the movie has a great visual style. A number of satirists from the era contributed to this film, but the main credit goes to Ben Hecht. Oscar Levant created the rather Gershwin-esque score. This film was produced by David O. Selznick, a raucous departure from his usual literary epics. Nothing Sacred is everything you could want in a screwball comedy.

One odd note, those caricature statues of the stars in the opening credits look like creepy yard gnomes. Especially that of Frederic March, which makes him look like Raymond Massey!

Opening title for Lombard in "Nothing Sacred."

March's caricature looks like Raymond Massey!

Check out Carole Lombard’s naturalistic dramatic turn with Jimmy Stewart, as newlyweds, in the sweet Made For Each Other:

https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2020/01/lombard-stewart-are-made-for-each-other.html

There's non-stop verbal and sight gags throughout 1937's "Nothing Sacred."