Whipsaw (film)
| Whipsaw | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sam Wood |
| Produced by |
|
| Screenplay by | Howard Emmett Rogers |
| Story by | James Edward Grant |
| Starring | |
| Music by | William Axt |
| Cinematography | James Wong Howe |
| Edited by | Basil Wrangell |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $238,000[1][2] |
| Box office | $965,000[1][2] |
Whipsaw is a 1935 American crime drama film directed by Sam Wood and starring Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy. Written by Howard Emmett Rogers, based on a story by James Edward Grant, the film is about a government agent working undercover as a thief who travels across country with an unsuspecting woman thief hoping to arrest a gang of jewel thieves. The film was produced by Harry Rapf for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and was released on December 18, 1935 in the United States.
Plot
A trio of thieves is composed of a woman named Vivian Palmer and two men named Ed and Harry. They break into various jewelry stores throughout Paris. Ross McBride, a US government official, meets Vivian in a chance encounter as she and her cohorts attempt to flee the country with the stolen merchandise. Ross and Vivian fall in love with each other, but Ross soon learns of her misdeeds. Following his legal obligations, he arrests her.
Cast
- Myrna Loy as Vivian Palmer
- Spencer Tracy as Ross McBride/ Danny Ross Ackerman
- Harvey Stephens as Ed Dexter
- William Harrigan as "Doc" Evans
- Clay Clement as Harry Ames
- Robert Gleckler as Steve Arnold
- Robert Warwick as Robert W. Wadsworth
- Georges Renavent as Monetta
- Paul Stanton as Chief Hughes
- Wade Boteler as Humphries
- Don Rowan as Curley
- John Qualen as Will Dabson
- Irene Franklin as Madame Marie
- Lillian Leighton as Aunt Jane
- J. Anthony Hughes as Bailey
- William Ingersoll as Dr. Williams
- Charles Irwin as Larry King
Production
Initially the film was designed for the duo William Powell and Myrna Loy. Spencer Tracy was called due to unavailability of the actor.[3]:85
Originally, the title of this movie was Unexpected Bride.[4]
Shooting dates were October 22 to November 20, 1935.
In one scene, Myrna Loy appears without makeup, her hair unkempt. A matter of some people, due to a conflict that had opposed the actress and MGM for a salary history. Finally the scene was cut.[5]
It was noted that Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy had an affair during the shooting, in the greatest secrecy. It was the first film of the two actors together. In her autobiography, Myrna Loy stated that Spencer Tracy, who had fallen in love with her, had harassed her during the filming.[6] Rumors says that they had been romantically linked to the end of the filming before to resume a year later in Libeled Lady. Loy and Tracy would hide their affair.[7][3]:85–86
Box office
According to MGM records, the film earned $574,000 in the US and Canada and $391,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $404,000.[2]
References
- 1 2 Curtis, James (2011). Spencer Tracy: A Biography. London: Hutchinson. p. 272.
- 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library Center for Motion Picture Study.
- 1 2 Andersen, Christopher (1997). An affair to remember — The remarkable love story of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Morrow.
- ↑ Whipsaw at Turner Classic Movies
- ↑ Notes on Whipsaw at Turner Classic Movies
- ↑ Kotsilibas-Davis, James; Loy, Myrna (1987). Myrna Loy, Being and Becoming. Knopf. p. 122.
- ↑ Wayne, Jane Ellen (2005). The Leading Men of MGM. New York: Carrol and Graf. p. 209. ISBN 978-0-7867-1768-2.
External links
- Whipsaw at the Internet Movie Database
- Whipsaw at the TCM Movie Database
- Whipsaw at AllMovie