Twentieth Century poster & wallpaper

Billie Seward, Carole Lombard, Charles Levison

Screwball comedy was practically invented by this classic Howard Hawks picture, a breathless farce with not an ounce of sentimentality. John Barrymore, in magnificent form, plays egomaniacal Broadway ...( read more  read more... )producer Oscar Jaffe, who molds his latest protégé, Mildred Plotka, into elegant thee-a-tuh star Lily Garland (Carole Lombard). The last hour of the picture has Oscar and Lily, now on the outs, battling each other on the Chicago-to-New York train. These two marvelous creatures are quintessential Hawks characters, figures of pure style who can't exist without the adrenaline and spark so amply supplied by the Hecht-MacArthur script. Hawks's giddyup pacing anticipates Bringing Up Baby and His Girl Friday, and his deployment of character actors (notably Walter Connolly and Roscoe Karns, as Jaffe's long-suffering, oft-fired flunkies) is sublime. Barrymore and Lombard take it at full speed, grand and horrid and silly and probably meant for each other. --Robert Horton

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73% liked it

1,114 ratings

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91% liked it

23 critics

Unrated, 91 min.

Directed by: Howard Hawks

Release Date: May 11, 1934

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DVD Release Date: February 22, 2005

Stats: 77 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (77)

  • her69eyes
    August 18, 2009
    her69eyes
    "Twentieth Century" is a perfect example of a depression era screwball comedy, directed by the man who would become known as one of the first masters of the genre. Howard Hawks, who went on to direct one of the quintessential comedies of the 40's in "His Girl Friday", made this p...( read more)icture in 1934 after successes including the likes of the original "Scarface" in 1932. It's Hawks' first comedy from the sound era, and his career to follow would display his impressive versatility by working on films of all genres. It was the frantic pacing and absurd humor on display in "Twentieth Century" that cemented it as one of the building blocks for the sound era screwball comedy genre.

    The story was first adapted into a play by Charles Bruce Milholland, based on his experiences with an eccentric Broadway producer. Although it would never be produced, stage and screenwriters Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht adapted Milholland's story into an incredibly sharp farce that became a success on both stage and screen. In the starring role is the delightful John Barrymore, the grandfather of Drew.

    Oscar Jaffe (John Barrymore) is an eccentric and egomaniacal theater director. His latest discovery is a lingerie model, Mildred Plotka (Carole Lombard), whom he repackages as Lily Garland and leads to great success as a stage star. However, when Jaffe goes as far as tapping Garland's telephone to keep a watchful eye, Garland has enough and leaves for Hollywood. She is an instant success story, whereas Jaffe is left behind in the dust.

    The "Twentieth Century" of the title refers to the train in which the majority of the film takes place. Jaffe, alongside his business manager (Walter Connolly) and agent (Roscoe Karns), board the Twentieth Century Limited to avoid his creditors. Lily Garland, coincidentally, happens to be aboard the exact same train. Oscar uses the opportunity to win back his old star.

    Also aboard the train is one of the most memorable characters in the film, Matthew J. Clark (Etienne Girardot), who litters everything he can get his hands on with fliers reading "Repent for the time is at hand". Unbeknownced to Jaffe, Clark has escaped from an asylum - which certainly puts a damper on Jaffe's high spirits after receiving a check for about a quarter of a million dollars from Clark.

    John Barrymore is a delight - vibrant and completely full of life. He's playing a cartoon, a character so exaggerated that it takes a great performer to not succumb into complete buffoonery. Barrymore is a buffoon, alright, but there's a certain sureness about everything he does that leaves you buying every last phony excuse he makes. Although the film becomes a bit tiresome in it's final act, it's still an enormously enjoyable comedy that holds up fairly well 75 years later.
  • rubystevens
    June 14, 2009
    rubystevens
    great early screwball comedy with a hilarious performance by john barrymore as a hammy broadway producer and carole lombard as his adorable diva. hawks soon perfected his rapid-fire style with bringing up baby and his girl friday
  • cavemanlawyer91
    June 14, 2009
    cavemanlawyer91
    I know that John Barrymore is one of the best!
  • ralch
    January 25, 2009
    ralch
    Muy, muy graciosa y trabajada con arte. Excelente reparto, pero John Barrymore es una cosa tremenda... / Very very funny and artfully wrought. Excellent cast, but John Barrymore is quite something...
  • Ghw12158
    October 6, 2008
    Ghw12158
    good stuff Barrymore turns in amazing performance
  • kurosawian
    January 23, 2008
    kurosawian
    A fun, high-spirited screwball romp. There is a reason Carole Lombard is so fondly remembered. Her comic timing is astonishing. Plus, she's so damn cute!
  • moonrivers
    July 14, 2007
    moonrivers
    i gotta see this...i've heard so much
  • Glinda
    May 7, 2007
    Glinda
    Why have I never heard of this? Is it terrible?
  • nanoqna
    January 20, 2007
    nanoqna
    this is a screwball comedy. carole lombard is so good in ths movie shes so different than john barrymore. its so much fun its no romance but its romantic!

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Critic Reviews

June 25, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

A shining example of moviemaking magnificence. full review

View more Twentieth Century reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • dharmabum
    August 16, 2007
    dharmabum
    Go on, Owen... tell her I'm dying... and DON'T OVERACT!
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