One of the most popular movie genres of the 1930’s was the screwball comedy. There were such gems as It Happened One Night, My Man Godfrey and Bringing Up Baby. Nothing Sacred shouldn’t be compared with these. It is a disappointment, from one of the groundbreaking director’s William Wellman. He directed the gangster film Public Enemy. This movie gave James Cagney his big break. It also helped give movies the Hayes Code for thirty years. Wellman wasn’t in his comfort zone with a film like Nothing Sacred. He had the star who made her name with this type of comedy, Carole Lombard. Not even a star of her magnitude can help this movie.
Lombard plays Hazel Flagg. She is a woman from a small Vermont town, who fakes a terminal illness. She is urged on in this behavior, by her doctor, Enoch Downer, (Charles Winninger). Wally Cook, (Frederick March), a reporter from a New York tabloid, The Morning Star. He has been demoted, and takes Hazel to New York, to make her an object of sympathy. This tactic works. It also helps to get him in the good graces of his sleazy boss, Oliver Stone, (Walter Connolly). Hazel and Wally fall in love. They must decide on the best way to keep their love alive, and kill off Hazel.
Nothing Sacred was scripted by Ben Hecht. He was responsible for many screenwriting accomplishments, Gone With the Wind and Stagecoach are two of many of his career highlights. He also won two academy awards for screenwriting. It is a mystery why this movie seems stale, with such a gifted scribe. It was written by him, with assistance, from James Street and David O. Selznick. The famous producer had his hand in a number of screenplays. The movie doesn’t work because it feels like the screenplay was written and directed by Frank Capra, without much effort.
Carole Lombard was captivating on screen and off. She seems out of place in this movie. Unfortunately Hollywood in this time frame didn’t allow for their stars to reject or ask that the script be redone. It was their job to do the best they could with the material. Despite Lombard’s very special comedic talents, they are lost in the film. The one good thing about this movie, is that it was shot in color. The natural beauty of Carole Lombard is brought out by it.It doesn’t help that her costar, Frederick March appears wooden. His style is different from many leading men. He was terrific in Dr, Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and was very good as the first screen version of Norman Maine, in A Star is Born. He had a very long and somewhat successful career, but this movie should not appear in his career achievements.
One good thing about the film is the supporting actors. Charles Winninger and Walter Connolly. They give the viewers the appropriate amount of sleaze. Charles Winninger could be the doctor in Stagecoach. That is if he was a horse doctor. Walter Connolly with his editor character, upholds the tradition of other actors, like Charles Coburn and Frank Morgan.
Nothing Sacred disappoints. It may have been on the level of the classic screwball comedies, with some reworking of the script. Hollywood in the golden age didn’t do much of that. Rare exceptions were Gone With the Wind. Everyone involved in this film, had much better movies to their credit. Please check out those movies to see their true talents.