Peacock Alley (1930 film)

Peacock Alley is a 1930 American musical romantic drama film directed by Marcel de Sano, and starring Mae Murray and George Barraud. The film is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name in which Murray also stars. Aside from Murray being cast in the lead, the remake was largely different from the 1922 silent film. While Murray's character in the 1922 film was named Cleo, she was renamed Claire Tree in this film. George Barraud replaced Monte Blue as the male lead, who is now named Clayton Stoddard.

Peacock Alley
Directed byMarcel de Sano
Produced byRobert Z. Leonard
Written byFrances Hyland
Wells Root
Carey Wilson
Story byCarey Wilson
StarringMae Murray
George Barraud
Jason Robards, Sr.
Richard Tucker
William L. Thorne
Phillips Smalley
E. H. Calvert
Arthur Hoyt
Billy Bevan
CinematographyBenjamin H. Kline
Harry Zech
Edited byClarence Kolster
Distributed byTiffany Pictures
Release date
  • January 10, 1930 (1930-01-10)
Running time
63 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film was shot in black-and-white except for a two-color Technicolor sequence in which Murray tangos and impersonates both a toreador and a bull. The film's sets were designed by the art director Hervey Libbert.

Overview

The film takes place entirely in New York City, removing the Paris portion of the earlier film's plot. Rather than falling in love with a man who happens along her way, Claire is actively looking for a husband. Two possibilities present themselves: a Texan, who ultimately rejects Claire because he believes her to be immoral, and Stoddard, who agrees to marry her in the end.

Cast

Production notes

Produced by Tiffany Pictures, the film was lavishly produced with elaborate sets despite its low budget. Murray's silent films had been very successful and she and Bob Leonard had been founding members of Tiffany. However, by the time this remake was produced Murray's marriage to Leonard had come to an end as had the fortunes of Tiffany Pictures.

The film was intended to be a comeback vehicle for Murray as her career had declined after she was unofficially blacklisted by Louis B. Mayer after she walked out on her MGM contract in 1927. Unlike the silent version, the sound remake of Peacock Alley did not boost Murray's career and earned mostly unfavorable reviews.[1][2][3] Photoplay called the film "a sorry affair" and Murray's performance "more affected and more bee-stung of mouth than ever. You'll laugh at the drama and weep over the comedy."[4]

Murray alleged that Tiffany Pictures' crew had damaged her career by way of their technical incompetence displayed throughout the film. Because of this, she attempted to sue the company for $1,750,000, but was unsuccessful.[5]

See also

References
  1. Parish, James Robert; Mank, Gregory W. (1980). The Hollywood Reliables. Arlington House. p. 71.
  2. Poverty Row Studios, 1929-1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each. McFarland & Co. 2005. p. 406. ISBN 0-786-42319-6.
  3. Ankerich, Michael G. (2012). Mae Murray: The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips. University Press of Kentucky. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-813-14038-4.
  4. Kreuger, Miles ed. The Movie Musical from Vitaphone to 42nd Street as Reported in a Great Fan Magazine (New York: Dover Publications) p. 163. ISBN 0-486-23154-2
  5. "Mae Murray Sepends Much Of Her Time In Courtrooms". The Portsmouth Time. February 14, 1932. p. 11. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
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