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Body and Soul (1931 film)

October 19, 2023

Body and Soul (1931) is an American Pre-Code action drama film directed by Alfred Santell and starring Charles Farrell, Elissa Landi, Humphrey Bogart, and Myrna Loy.[1] The story, adapted from the stage play Squadrons by Elliott White Springs and A.E. Thomas, depicts Royal Air Force pilots in World War I.[Note 1]

Body and Soul
Theatrical poster
Directed byAlfred Santell
Written byJules Furthman
Based onplay Squadrons
by Elliott White Springs and A. E. Thomas
Produced byWilliam Fox
Starring
CinematographyGlen MacWilliams
Edited byPaul Weatherwax
Music by
  • Peter Brunelli
  • George Lipschultz (uncredited)
Production
company
Distributed byFox Film Corporation
Release date
  • February 22, 1931 (1931-02-22)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot Edit

In World War I, American pilots Mal Andrews, Tap Johnson, and Jim Watson enroll in a Royal Air Force squadron. Mal and Tap are worried that their friend Jim is cheating on his new bride. When General Trafford Jones arrives to evaluate the squadron, he criticizes its lack of discipline and poor effort in aerial battles. Consequently, the general orders Watson to undertake a near-suicidal mission to shoot down an enemy balloon for his first flight with the squadron. Secretly, Mal joins him aboard the aircraft and when Jim is killed in the air battle, his friend manages to complete the mission and make it look like the dead pilot was a hero.

At the base, Jim's wife Carla is mistaken for "Pom Pom," his mistress. Mal falls in love with Carla and when Alice Lester, the real "Pom Pom", appears, she finds out that Tap is about to fly a mission. Lester is a German spy who sends the information to the enemy; Tap is killed as a result. When Mal realizes that Carla is Jim's widow and not his mistress, he sets off on another mission, with the hope that he will return to his true love.

Cast Edit

Production Edit

 
The Travel Air 4000 such as the example used in Body and Soul was often employed in movies as it approximated the "look" of a World War I aircraft.

Body and Soul began location shooting on November 29, 1930, at the Russell Movie Ranch in Agoura, California, with a modicum of flying.[4] A Travel Air 4000 biplane that had been flown in Hell's Angels (1930), disguised as a British World War I fighter aircraft, was the only actual aircraft acquired for the production.[5] A combination of flying sequences, matched to sound stage process shots at the studio where the Travel Air was again used, completed the aerial scenes.[5] Production wrapped up on January 2, 1931.[6]

Reception Edit

The main attraction of Body and Soul was in the drama and the introduction of Elissa Landi to North American audiences. In Mordaunt Hall's review for The New York Times, he noted: "There are several effective flying episodes, but after all, the whole production hinges on the excellent portrayal of Elissa Landi." He also praised other actors: "Myrna Loy does well with the minor role of Alice Lester. Humphrey Bogart is earnest as Jim Watson, and Donald Dillaway acquits himself favorably as the valorous Tap Johnson."[3]

References Edit

Notes Edit

  1. ^ Body and Soul was Bogart's third credited screen appearance.[2]
  2. ^ Landi made her American film debut in the film.[3]

Citations Edit

  1. ^ Fortune magazine, August 1931, p. 27.
  2. ^ Maltin 1994, p. 84.
  3. ^ a b Hall, Mordaunt. The screen, Romantic war fliers, 'Body and Soul' (1931)." The New York Times, March 14, 1931.
  4. ^ Wynne 1987, p. 114.
  5. ^ a b Orriss 2013, p. 59.
  6. ^ "Original Print Information: Body and Soul (1931)." Turner Classic movies. Retrieved: August 10, 2014.

Bibliography Edit

  • Maltin, Leonard. Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia. New York: Dutton, 1994. ISBN 0-525-93635-1.
  • Orriss, Bruce W. When Hollywood Ruled the Skies: The Aviation Film Classics of World War I. Los Angeles: Aero Associates, 2013. ISBN 978-0-692-02004-3.
  • Wynne, H. Hugh. The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. ISBN 0-933126-85-9.

External links Edit

October 19, 2023
body, soul, 1931, film, body, soul, 1931, american, code, action, drama, film, directed, alfred, santell, starring, charles, farrell, elissa, landi, humphrey, bogart, myrna, story, adapted, from, stage, play, squadrons, elliott, white, springs, thomas, depicts. Body and Soul 1931 is an American Pre Code action drama film directed by Alfred Santell and starring Charles Farrell Elissa Landi Humphrey Bogart and Myrna Loy 1 The story adapted from the stage play Squadrons by Elliott White Springs and A E Thomas depicts Royal Air Force pilots in World War I Note 1 Body and SoulTheatrical posterDirected byAlfred SantellWritten byJules FurthmanBased onplay Squadronsby Elliott White Springs and A E ThomasProduced byWilliam FoxStarringCharles Farrell Elissa Landi Humphrey Bogart Myrna LoyCinematographyGlen MacWilliamsEdited byPaul WeatherwaxMusic byPeter Brunelli George Lipschultz uncredited ProductioncompanyFox Film CorporationDistributed byFox Film CorporationRelease dateFebruary 22 1931 1931 02 22 Running time70 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishContents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Citations 5 3 Bibliography 6 External linksPlot EditIn World War I American pilots Mal Andrews Tap Johnson and Jim Watson enroll in a Royal Air Force squadron Mal and Tap are worried that their friend Jim is cheating on his new bride When General Trafford Jones arrives to evaluate the squadron he criticizes its lack of discipline and poor effort in aerial battles Consequently the general orders Watson to undertake a near suicidal mission to shoot down an enemy balloon for his first flight with the squadron Secretly Mal joins him aboard the aircraft and when Jim is killed in the air battle his friend manages to complete the mission and make it look like the dead pilot was a hero At the base Jim s wife Carla is mistaken for Pom Pom his mistress Mal falls in love with Carla and when Alice Lester the real Pom Pom appears she finds out that Tap is about to fly a mission Lester is a German spy who sends the information to the enemy Tap is killed as a result When Mal realizes that Carla is Jim s widow and not his mistress he sets off on another mission with the hope that he will return to his true love Cast EditCharles Farrell as Mal Andrews Elissa Landi as Carla Note 2 Humphrey Bogart as Jim Watson Myrna Loy as Alice Lester Pom Pom Don Dillaway as Tap Johnson Crauford Kent as Major Burke Pat Somerset as Major Knowls Ian MacLaren as General Trafford Jones David Cavendish as Lieutenant Meggs Dennis D Auburn Production Edit nbsp The Travel Air 4000 such as the example used in Body and Soul was often employed in movies as it approximated the look of a World War I aircraft Body and Soul began location shooting on November 29 1930 at the Russell Movie Ranch in Agoura California with a modicum of flying 4 A Travel Air 4000 biplane that had been flown in Hell s Angels 1930 disguised as a British World War I fighter aircraft was the only actual aircraft acquired for the production 5 A combination of flying sequences matched to sound stage process shots at the studio where the Travel Air was again used completed the aerial scenes 5 Production wrapped up on January 2 1931 6 Reception EditThe main attraction of Body and Soul was in the drama and the introduction of Elissa Landi to North American audiences In Mordaunt Hall s review for The New York Times he noted There are several effective flying episodes but after all the whole production hinges on the excellent portrayal of Elissa Landi He also praised other actors Myrna Loy does well with the minor role of Alice Lester Humphrey Bogart is earnest as Jim Watson and Donald Dillaway acquits himself favorably as the valorous Tap Johnson 3 References EditNotes Edit Body and Soul was Bogart s third credited screen appearance 2 Landi made her American film debut in the film 3 Citations Edit Fortune magazine August 1931 p 27 Maltin 1994 p 84 a b Hall Mordaunt The screen Romantic war fliers Body and Soul 1931 The New York Times March 14 1931 Wynne 1987 p 114 a b Orriss 2013 p 59 Original Print Information Body and Soul 1931 Turner Classic movies Retrieved August 10 2014 Bibliography Edit Maltin Leonard Leonard Maltin s Movie Encyclopedia New York Dutton 1994 ISBN 0 525 93635 1 Orriss Bruce W When Hollywood Ruled the Skies The Aviation Film Classics of World War I Los Angeles Aero Associates 2013 ISBN 978 0 692 02004 3 Wynne H Hugh The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood s Classic Aviation Movies Missoula Montana Pictorial Histories Publishing Co 1987 ISBN 0 933126 85 9 External links EditBody and Soul at IMDb Body and Soul at the TCM Movie Database Body and Soul at AllMovie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Body and Soul 1931 film amp oldid 1108756677, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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