There was a time when some people weren't keen about having their earlier careers known. That may seem odd to many people well into the 21st century when hardly anything people do seems strange or shocking. So, many people today probably wouldn't find "Dreamboat" very interesting. But some movie buffs, and those who are interested in the culture of recent past generations, should enjoy the film. Those among us "senior" movie buffs will appreciate (and remember?) the satire. The film takes pokes at the growing medium of TV, at Hollywood and the age of silent films, and at the culture of the time.
Clifton Webb's Thornton Sayre has a "respectable" career as an English professor in the stereo-typical small-town college of middle-class America at the start of the mid-20th century. But, old Iron Face, as he learns students call him behind his back, has a problem when the school's board of directors learns of his "scandalous" past. He had been an actor. But not just any actor. He had been the romantic, swashbuckling, dashing heartthrob of the silent films who melted women's hearts - none other than Bruce Blair.
His character is fictional, of course, but there was such an actor who played romantic and swashbuckling characters. Douglas Fairbanks was the king of the daring heroes in the silent era. No doubt, the writers were parodying the earlier film hero along with the early days of Hollywood. In the swashbuckling scenes on TV with masks, costumes and makeup, Webb's Bruce Blair, with a mustache very much like that of Fairbanks, could pass for him.
But now, in "Dreamboat," Webb's Sayre had wanted to escape his flamboyant past and lead a respectable life. Things go awry when his students see re-runs of the old films on TV. Then, his overly nerdy, puritanically-raised daughter, Carol (Anne Francis), was shocked seeing her father as the hero in a silent film about the legendary Zorro. And, now his new life and teaching career, which he loved, is threatened. Fortunately for him, the school board defers to the president, Dr. Mathilda Coffey, played by Elsa Lanchester, to decide Sayre's future.
Sayre, aka "Dreamboat" Bruce Blair, sets out to save his job by trying to get the TV network to stop showing his old movies. He has to stay one step ahead of Dr Coffey who has romantic designs on him. The twice Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning Lanchester is a hoot in this role.
Ginger Rogers plays Gloria Marlowe, who was the heroine of many of Blair's films. She's the one who discovered him and got him his start in cinema. Now she wants the money and new fame that comes with their rediscovery through the afternoon movie re-runs on the boob tube. Sayre has to go to New York to stop the TV shows, and takes daughter Carol along. By this time everyone should have guessed how this will turn out. Well, it sort of does - as one would imagine, but the film has a little different twist that brings it to a funny and satisfying finish.
What modern viewers may enjoy as much as anything is the look at the days of early TV which was then a very real threat to the survival of the movie industry. In time, of course, the two fields would emerge with their own followings which often overlapped anyway. And some actors would work in both mediums, as well as on the live stage.
A number of other cast members brighten this story. Fred Clark is very good as Sam Levitt, and Jeffrey Hunter helps Carol come out of her shell. He takes her around the Big Apple so that she can experience the "real" side of life form which she had been so sheltered in her upbringing.
Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Thornton Sayre, "Doctor, get hold of yourself."
Carol Sayre, "Are you sure those pictures were meant to be shown to the public?" Thornton Sayre, "Times and moral standards have changed, my child."
Carol Sayre, "That waitress - the way she reacted to your kiss, I .. I felt as though I was peeking through a keyhole." Thornton Sayre, "Naturally. Those pictures were designed to capitalize on the vicarious cravings of middle-aged glandular cases."
Carol Sayre, "Did you realize at the time what a bad actor you were?" Thornton Sayre, "My child, at the time those films were made, I was recognized as one of the few real talents in Hollywood. Furthermore, I ranked second in a nationwide popularity poll." Carol, "Who was first?" Thornton, "Some stupid police dog. I've forgotten his name. But I'll have you know that my salary was three times more than his."
Dr. Mathilda Coffey, "Stay where you are. Don't come one step nearer." Thornton Sayre, "But I haven't moved. It was you who followed me in here." Dr. Coffey, "I have to find out the truth about you, no matter what may happen to me."
Gloria Marlow, "You ungrateful, untalented hypocrite."
Gloria Marlowe, "What were you when I found you on that California campus? A third-rate professor with a fourth-rate future." Thornton Sayre, "Discovered by a fifth-rate actress with a mentality that defies classification."
Gloria Marlowe, "And, what were you when I co-starred you in my pictures? An obscure ham, riding on my ability, and you knew it. That's why you quit Hollywood, before you were thrown out." Thornton Sayre, "There's one little mistake, my dear. I quit Hollywood before you were thrown out."
Thornton Sayre, "Apparently, my tired Juliet, your opinion of my acting ability is not shared by Hollywood. I have here a contract awaiting my signature, the terms of which would turn your green eyes red with envy."
Gloria, " What? You making pictures in Hollywood today?" Thornton Sayre, " Why not? Hollywood learned to talk after you left. There's an increasing demand for people with something to say."
Clifton Webb's Thornton Sayre has a "respectable" career as an English professor in the stereo-typical small-town college of middle-class America at the start of the mid-20th century. But, old Iron Face, as he learns students call him behind his back, has a problem when the school's board of directors learns of his "scandalous" past. He had been an actor. But not just any actor. He had been the romantic, swashbuckling, dashing heartthrob of the silent films who melted women's hearts - none other than Bruce Blair.
His character is fictional, of course, but there was such an actor who played romantic and swashbuckling characters. Douglas Fairbanks was the king of the daring heroes in the silent era. No doubt, the writers were parodying the earlier film hero along with the early days of Hollywood. In the swashbuckling scenes on TV with masks, costumes and makeup, Webb's Bruce Blair, with a mustache very much like that of Fairbanks, could pass for him.
But now, in "Dreamboat," Webb's Sayre had wanted to escape his flamboyant past and lead a respectable life. Things go awry when his students see re-runs of the old films on TV. Then, his overly nerdy, puritanically-raised daughter, Carol (Anne Francis), was shocked seeing her father as the hero in a silent film about the legendary Zorro. And, now his new life and teaching career, which he loved, is threatened. Fortunately for him, the school board defers to the president, Dr. Mathilda Coffey, played by Elsa Lanchester, to decide Sayre's future.
Sayre, aka "Dreamboat" Bruce Blair, sets out to save his job by trying to get the TV network to stop showing his old movies. He has to stay one step ahead of Dr Coffey who has romantic designs on him. The twice Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning Lanchester is a hoot in this role.
Ginger Rogers plays Gloria Marlowe, who was the heroine of many of Blair's films. She's the one who discovered him and got him his start in cinema. Now she wants the money and new fame that comes with their rediscovery through the afternoon movie re-runs on the boob tube. Sayre has to go to New York to stop the TV shows, and takes daughter Carol along. By this time everyone should have guessed how this will turn out. Well, it sort of does - as one would imagine, but the film has a little different twist that brings it to a funny and satisfying finish.
What modern viewers may enjoy as much as anything is the look at the days of early TV which was then a very real threat to the survival of the movie industry. In time, of course, the two fields would emerge with their own followings which often overlapped anyway. And some actors would work in both mediums, as well as on the live stage.
A number of other cast members brighten this story. Fred Clark is very good as Sam Levitt, and Jeffrey Hunter helps Carol come out of her shell. He takes her around the Big Apple so that she can experience the "real" side of life form which she had been so sheltered in her upbringing.
Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Thornton Sayre, "Doctor, get hold of yourself."
Carol Sayre, "Are you sure those pictures were meant to be shown to the public?" Thornton Sayre, "Times and moral standards have changed, my child."
Carol Sayre, "That waitress - the way she reacted to your kiss, I .. I felt as though I was peeking through a keyhole." Thornton Sayre, "Naturally. Those pictures were designed to capitalize on the vicarious cravings of middle-aged glandular cases."
Carol Sayre, "Did you realize at the time what a bad actor you were?" Thornton Sayre, "My child, at the time those films were made, I was recognized as one of the few real talents in Hollywood. Furthermore, I ranked second in a nationwide popularity poll." Carol, "Who was first?" Thornton, "Some stupid police dog. I've forgotten his name. But I'll have you know that my salary was three times more than his."
Dr. Mathilda Coffey, "Stay where you are. Don't come one step nearer." Thornton Sayre, "But I haven't moved. It was you who followed me in here." Dr. Coffey, "I have to find out the truth about you, no matter what may happen to me."
Gloria Marlow, "You ungrateful, untalented hypocrite."
Gloria Marlowe, "What were you when I found you on that California campus? A third-rate professor with a fourth-rate future." Thornton Sayre, "Discovered by a fifth-rate actress with a mentality that defies classification."
Gloria Marlowe, "And, what were you when I co-starred you in my pictures? An obscure ham, riding on my ability, and you knew it. That's why you quit Hollywood, before you were thrown out." Thornton Sayre, "There's one little mistake, my dear. I quit Hollywood before you were thrown out."
Thornton Sayre, "Apparently, my tired Juliet, your opinion of my acting ability is not shared by Hollywood. I have here a contract awaiting my signature, the terms of which would turn your green eyes red with envy."
Gloria, " What? You making pictures in Hollywood today?" Thornton Sayre, " Why not? Hollywood learned to talk after you left. There's an increasing demand for people with something to say."