Stingaree

Moviecut—Stingaree

source: Stingaree

"Stingaree" is a comedy romance with drama, mystery, crime and even music. Much of it takes place in the wilds of Australia, so one might consider it also a Western. Then there's a fairy tale aspect of the mean step mother and the oppressed girl. It struck me also as a sort of Robin Hood of the bush. One can see bits of all sorts of genres in this film. It's a sort of swashbuckler romance with an outlaw and a fair maiden with a beautiful singing voice. So, what's not to like about a film that gives an early look at a very talented Irene Dunne with a talented leading male actor from the silent screen age, Richard Dix? The filming location in Sherwood Forest of California represents the pastoral setting of Australia. The scenes of Hilda Bouverie's (Dunne) theater performances were filmed at Universal studios. Dix and Dunne give good performances, as do all of a fine supporting cast. They include a young Andy Devine, old hands Mary Boland and Henry Stephenson, and Conway Tearle, Una O'Connor and Reginald Owen. As others note, this is one of several early films in which Dunne gets to use her beautiful voice for a number of songs. This is an entertaining film that most movie buffs should enjoy - including the fairy tale ending. To some it may be preposterous, but to those of us who are still young of heart, it's a nice fairy tale for adults.

This rare RKO film from their golden age is an above average operetta that only suffers from the casting of its very American and British cast as Australians. Irene Dunne and Richard Dix, reunited from the western epic "Cimarron", play star-crossed lovers, a promising singer and the wanted outlaw she falls in love with. Dunne has been taken in by the outrageously vain Mary Boland who keeps singing whether anybody wants to hear her or not (presumably the latter). You soon realize that every time she starts chirping, "Yo Ho! Yo Ho! Yo Ho!" she's really shouting out of frustration of her lack of discovery. Boland, who played a nag better than anybody in the films of the 30's (just ask Charlie Ruggles' characters who were paired with her in a dozen films), emphasizes this female's phoniness, her constant cheeriness as a total fraud. When Dunne finally has enough and starts imitating this fish-wife, you can see why producers started looking at her for screwball comedies rather than the soap opera she had been playing for several years. Dix, as the titled character, is a bit over the top, his acting more out of a silent film with characteristics that most silent film stars still working in movies in 1934 had gotten rid of. He's also less romantic than the character should be. Andy Devine is always good for a laugh, and there are some good moments for the British Henry Stephenson and Reginald Owen as well. As always, Una O'Connor is a delightful screechy presence, her Irish maid not afraid of putting the boorish Boland in her place. This isn't a film for purists, but as entertainment, it really shines brightly among a few newly discovered "lost" films that even diligent collectors had been searching for over decades.

The best part of "Stingaree" is its wonderful cast, with Irene Dunne and Richard in the leads, and some strong character actors---especially Mary Boland, whose scenery chewing is hilarious. The story has Dix playing a roguish outlaw who attempts to save Dunne from a Cinderella-like existence at a remote Australian sheep station. Dunne gets to showcase her stellar voice in a few musical numbers. The film contains plot elements reminiscent of other fine films, but it is the casting that elevates it above mediocrity. Still, it lacks the lushness or complexity of plot that makes a film like "The Scarlet Pimpernel", for example, such a gem. I enjoy watching "Stingaree" regardless of its simplicity.

Australia, 1874. The famous bandit Stingaree is in the neighborhood; the prominent London music producer, Sir Julian Kent, is also visiting. Everyone is excited: Mrs. Clarkson (Mary Boland), the nutty (and annoying) lady of the vast Clarkson estate, is determined that she will impress Sir Julian with her singing. Mr. Clarkson (Henry Stephenson) is not so sure, but he is curious to see the famous Stingaree. Servant girl Hilda dreams of singing for Sir Julian herself—but Mrs. Clarkson is banishing her to the neighbors' during his visit. Hilda is crestfallen….might Sir Julian have been her once chance of escape from this lonely life? Irene Dunne is wonderful as Hilda, and her performance makes this picture worthwhile. When she sits down at the piano, thinking herself alone, and sings—what a beautiful song, and scene. Richard Dix is rugged yet refined as Stingaree, the dashing and notorious outlaw. He excels at disguises, takes bold risks…and has a keen appreciation for music. One very exciting moment: he's leaving in a hurry, cops in pursuit — he races toward the front door — sees Dunne standing there — picks her up in his arms and carries her off with him! Andy Devine plays it fairly straight as Stingaree's loyal sidekick, Howie. (Neither Dix nor Devine attempts to sound remotely Australian or English, by the way—with the exception of Devine's hilarious phony accent when helping set up a robbery.) Conway Tearle is the devoted and reliable Sir Julian—it's a good performance but the role doesn't offer much except bland sincerity and mild passion. The plot is outrageously silly—a suave criminal with a musical ear finds a girl in the sticks who sings like an angel and he risks life and limb to promote her career. Nevertheless, the picture certainly has its moments. It's not every 1930s operetta-style musical that is highlighted by its songs, at least not to my taste…but Irene Dunne's singing really is most excellent, and she creates a character we do want to cheer for. A couple of neat plot turns offer pleasant surprises right up to the rather abrupt but satisfying ending. Odd—but entertaining.

This is a really disappointing movie by highly talented Wiliam Wellman,compared with magnificent works such as "wild boys of the road" "heroes for sale" or "the conquerors",the latter also featuring Richard Dix (playing two parts in the same final scenes!) . This far fetched story of a bandit with a big heart who helps his protégée ,a servant,to become a great diva ,is not convincing:the ending is very romantic but might disappoint the audience who might call for more . On stage ,the diva performs the Castafiore 's biggest hit (see "the adventures of Tin Tin")in French ,Gounod's "Air Des Bijoux " (Ah!Je Ris De me Voir Si belle En Ce Miroir =Ah my beauty past compare.....) Half melodrama ,Irene Dunne's field ,half musical (there are plenty of songs),"Stingaree" should be reserved for Wellman's buffs ,but there are plenty of them,including myself.

TCM presented STINGAREE, a film with Irene Dunne I had never seen, 2 April 2008. The plot can be read elsewhere. I will discuss some of the music in the film and its relation to Irene Dunne. Although the famous Oscar winning composer Max Steiner is credited with the music for two of the songs in the film, the non-Steiner song that is a vital part of the film is: TONIGHT IS MINE, words by Gus Kahn and music by Frank Harling. Recently, I was given an original 1934 copy of the sheet music for this song. This lovely song first appears in the film as a 'music box' is opened by Stingaree about 11 minutes, 53 seconds into the film. Irene first sings this song about 23 minutes 15 seconds into the film. The pitch is a minor third lower than the printed sheet music. The 'music box' is again opened at about 36 min. 46 sec. Irene again sings the song at about 44 min. 40 sec., this time a whole step higher than given in the printed sheet music. The 'music box' is again heard about 49 min. 50 sec. Irene sings THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER from the opera MARTHA at about 54 min. 10 sec. into the film. The 'music box' is heard for the last time about 59 min. 20. sec. into the film. But the consequence this time is that Irene's character decides NOT to marry Sir Julian Kent. The last operatic aria is the Jewel Song from FAUST by Charles Gounod. Irene transposes the aria down a half step from the original. Geraldine Farrar, reportedly a major influence on Irene's life, sings this aria a half step up from the original in my undated recording. TONIGHT IS MINE is sung by Irene for the last time about 108 min. 15 sec. into the film, again a whole step up from the printed sheet music. Nowhere does Irene sing this lovely song at the pitch used in the sheet music, although pictures of Irene and Richard Dix are on the cover and there is a statement that the music is as sung by Irene to Richard Dix! STINGAREE is a very touching movie in places and is so much more of a film than it would be because of this one song.

This RKO picture benefits from William Wellman's direction, the re-teaming of Irene Dunne and Richard Dix, and a nice blend of music, adventure and romance. Miss Dunne is particularly suited to play an opera singer, and only MGM's Jeanette MacDonald could have performed the lead nearly as well. As for the love interest, Mr. Dix essays the title role of a dashing bandit, the first time he has worked with Miss Dunne since the studio's earlier hit, Cimarron. Mary Boland does a fine job as an obnoxious snob, proving her worth as a would-be member of the cultural elite who makes things a bit difficult for Dunne. And don't miss Andy Devine turning on the charm as Stingaree's high-pitched loyal sidekick (what else?).

I've just seen "Stingaree" the first time on TCM and enjoyed every bit of it as it takes me back to the excitement of the early movies I saw as a kid paying 25 cents for an all-day stay at the theatre on Saturday. To start was an hour of cartoons, the newsreel, then two feature films and we could stay to see it all over again if we wanted to. Those were the days! It does seem that the subject of Nellie Melba could've had a strong influence on this story, an unknown Australian singer who becomes famous worldwide. Irene Dunne is the servant girl Hilda who has dreams of a career and is given the chance to sing for the impresario Sir Julian. I had visions of Jeannette MacDonald in this role, it's her style, but Irene Dunne gives a more integrated performance and her singing is finer as it has somewhat more volume to project, in my opinion. There ought to be a special medal created for Mary Boland, she's quite something in all her films, over the top, hilarious, showy, a grand flurry of mannerisms, delightful and absurd. She certainly adds wit to her films. Her amusing reference to protecting "British womanhood's virginity" brought back the quip, "Oh no, my dear, you mean chastity. Britain wouldn't have survived on women's virginity," was quite a funny hint. Richard Dix has the role of Stingaree, the thief who is being hunted but he does have a good heart and is determined to help Hilda get her chance to be heard by Sir Julian which succeeds and she's off to make her career although Stingaree unfortunately gets captured in the process and must put in his time in jail during her venture into the world. I'm always charmed by Una O'Connor who plays Annie the maid. She has such a distinctive presence in all her roles, one can only wonder what it'd have been without her in so many great movies such as Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) and Witness For The Prosecution (Ty Power). Henry Stephenson performs as the man of the house, Mr Clarkson, married to the Mrs., Mary Boland, his is not a very large role but well done. Andy Devine is quite young in this film and he plays the 'sidekick' of Stingaree for their robbery excursions. One ought to be fair in judging the old movies, after all, the acting that was done in silent films is not what they did when talkies came along. So too, we should consider the time period and settle into that when viewing the oldies. Each decade brought along its own styles and fashions, and that needs to be taken into account when making a comment. All in all I enjoyed a first viewing of this adventure/ romance/ comedy film and I believe it's available to buy so that's good news too. Add it to your collection if you are a dedicated collector. Well worth it!