The Perfect Specimen

The Perfect Specimen
Film poster
Directed byMichael Curtiz
Written byNorman Reilly Raine
Lawrence Riley
Brewster Morse
Fritz Falkenstein
Story:
Samuel Hopkins Adams
StarringErrol Flynn
Joan Blondell
CinematographyCharles Rosher
Edited byTerry O. Morse
Music byHeinz Roemheld
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • October 23, 1937 (1937-10-23) (U.S.)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$505,000
Box office$1,281,000

The Perfect Specimen is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn and Joan Blondell. The picture is based on a novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams.

It was Flynn's first comedy.

Plot

Gerald Wicks, the heir to a large fortune, has never been outside the gates of his childhood estate. He goes on an adventure with newspaper reporter Mona Carter and they fall in love.

Cast

Original novel

The Perfect Specimen
AuthorSamuel Hopkins
LanguageEnglish
GenreComedy
PublisherNew York Liveright Publishing Corporation
Publication date1936
Pages224

The book was based on a novel. The New York Times called it "a trifling little number. It reads like one of those old fashioned farce comedies... hammock reading for a hot afternoon."

Production

The film was Flynn's first comedy starring role and the movie always seems to have been considered a vehicle for him. He made it after holidaying in Europe.

Warners originally sought Carole Lombard or Miriam Hopkins to play against Errol Flynn and for a while it seemed Hopkins was set to co-star. However she turned down the role and Warners decided to look at players assigned to their contract roster. The two leading contenders were Olivia de Havilland and Joan Blondell; it was thought the former was ideal if the role was played in a "romantic" way but the latter should be preferred it they wanted someone "pepful and sparkling". Blondell was cast and filming started in May 1937.

Marie Wilson was meant to play a small role but was assigned to The Great Garrick instead. Dennie Moore replaced Jane Wyman.

Joan Blondell fell ill during filming but recovered.

Reception

The New York Times called the film a "light and unaffecting romantic comedy."

May Robson's performance was highly praised in particular.

Box Office

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $786,000 domestically and $495,000 foreign.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 18 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
  2. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (November 10, 2019). "The Films of Errol Flynn: Part 2 The Golden Years". Filmink.
  3. ↑ PERFECT SPECIMEN By Samuel Hopkins 224 pp. New York Liveright Publishing Corporation. $2.
  4. ↑ Tony Thomas, Rudy Behlmer * Clifford McCarty, The Films of Errol Flynn, Citadel Press, 1969 p 58-59
  5. ↑ "NEWS OF THE SCREEN: ' Seventh Heaven' and 'Silent Barriers' Open Today-Dolly Haas to Bow in 'Absent Without Leave' News from Hollywood". New York Times. March 25, 1937. p. 29.
  6. ↑ "HUSTQN IS SLATED FOR NEW FILM ROLE: May Appear With Miss Rogers for R.-K.-O.--FirstScreenTest Passed by Mrs. Moody ZUKOR DINNER TONIGHT 1,000 to Help Mark Producer's 25th Year in PicturesFrohman to Attend". New York Times. March 29, 1937. p. 14.
  7. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (May 12, 1937). "NEW "TORCHY BLANE" AWAITING GLENDA FARRELL UPON RETURN: Gene Raymond to Act Again With Ann Sothern". Los Angeles Times. p. A10.
  8. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (May 7, 1937). "WILD TRIO JOIN "MAKE A WISH" AS BOBBY BREEN OPUS POSTPONED: Girls Debated for "Perfect Specimen" Role". Los Angeles Times. p. 19.
  9. ↑ "WARNERS TO STAGE PLAYS IN LONDON: Complete Plans to Produce in the Fall--Shows Later to Be Converted Into Films A PURCHASE BY GOLDWYN He Gets Screen Rights to 'The Duchess of Broadway'--Other Picture News News From Hollywood". New York Times. June 12, 1937. p. 8.
  10. ↑ "NEWS OF THE SCREEN: ' Slave Ship' Tonight at the Rivoli--Warner Standard May Fly Over Broadway in Autumn News From Hollywood". New York Times. June 16, 1937. p. 27.
  11. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (June 29, 1937). "DOUG FAIRBANKS, JR., WILL STAY IN HOLLYWOOD FOR HEPBURN COMEDY: Marla Shelton to Play "Star" in "Stand-In"". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.
  12. ↑ FRANK S. NUGENT (October 28, 1937). "THE SCREEN: With Errol Flynn as Exhibit A, the Warners Present 'The Perfect Specimen' at the Strand Theatre". New York Times. p. 29.
  13. ↑ "BEST PERFORMANCES IN CURRENT PICTURES". Los Angeles Times. November 7, 1937. p. C1.