Heavy, tropical rain today and I’m bored as hell, so here goes:
Well, if we are going to include the old classics, I vote for Foreign Correspondent, 1940
The Set up:
Johnny Jones (Joel McCrea) is a happy-go-lucky, good looking, politically clueless, young hack working the police beat on a major New York City newspaper. Jones’ main interests in life are women, the goings-on down at the 12th precinct, women, how to wheedle an expense account out of his employer, baseball, and women.
The paper’s publisher, hard-bitten, cigar-chomping Mr. Powers (Harry Davenport)—who has obviously worked his way to the top from street corner newsboy—is sick and tired of his alcoholic, Harvard educated, dilettante European correspondent (Robert Benchley) who reports mainly on the dish he overhears at embassy cocktail parties in London. Powers senses Europe is falling apart and will soon be at war, a subject not mentioned at all in the cables of his present foreign correspondent. So he calls his police reporter, Johnny Jones, in to offer him the job.
Powers fulminates to his secretary:
Mr. Powers: Foreign correspondent, my eye! I could get more news out of Europe looking in a crystal ball. I don’t want any more economists, sages, oracles, or high society gossips bombinating over our cables. No more “foreign correspondents.” I want a reporter! Get me that smart alec kid Jones, or Smith, or whatever his name is.
So, he calls Johnny Jones, Police reporter, into his office:
Mr. Powers: How would you like to cover the biggest story in the world today?
Johnny Jones: Give me and expense account and I’ll cover anything.
Mr. Powers: I’ll give you an expense account.
Johnny Jones: Okay, What’s the story?
Mr. Powers: Europe.
Johnny Jones: Well, I’m afraid I’m not exactly equipped, sir, but I can do some reading up.
Mr. Powers: Never mind that! I like you just as you are, Mr. Jones. What Europe needs is a fresh, unused mind.
Johnny Jones: Thanks. Foreign correspondent, huh?
Mr. Powers: No, reporter. I don’t want correspondence, I want news!
*****
Powers is giving Jones instructions on whom he should interview in Europe:
Johnny Jones: Anyone else?
Mr. Powers: No.
Johnny Jones: Well, how about this Hitler fella? Don’t you think it would be a good idea to pump him? He must have something on his mind.
*****
There is a lot of old school intrigue, evil Nazi spies victimizing peaceful Dutch nationals, a kidnapping, and in the end, of course, Johnny not only gets the girl, but also saves the day.
*****
This film is packed with great lines:
Stebbins (Robet Benchley): This is Scott ffolliott, newspaperman same as you. Foreign correspondent for the London Times. Mr. Jones, Mr. ffolliott.
Scott ffolliott (George Sanders): With a double ‘F’.
Johnny Jones: How do you do?
Scott ffolliott: How do you do?
Johnny Jones: I don’t get the double ‘F’.
Scott ffolliott: They’re at the beginning. Both small ‘F’s
Johnny Jones: They can’t be at the beginning.
Scott ffolliott: One of my ancestors was beheaded by Henry VIII. His wife dropped the capital letter to commemorate it. There it is.
Johnny Jones: How do you say it, like a stutter?
Scott ffolliott: Just a straight ‘fuh’.
*****
Stebbins (Robert Benchley): They (the newspaper) love to cable from New York. It makes them think that you’re working for them.
*****
Scott ffolliott: Who has he shot?
Johnny Jones: Van Meer assassinated.
Scott ffolliott: Dead?
Johnny Jones: Looked like it.
Scott ffolliott: Bad show.
Johnny Jones: Couldn’t be much worse from his point of view.
*****
Johnny Jones: I’m in love with you, and I want to marry you.
Carol Fisher (Laraine Day): I’m in love with you, and I want to marry you.
Johnny Jones: Hmm… that cuts down our love scene quite a bit, doesn’t it?
*****
Great clothes, Great cars, and great dialogue by James Hilton, Ben Hecht (uncredited), and Robert Benchley (Best pal of Dorothy Parker and among the Algonquin Hotel Roundtable crowd and father of author Robert Benchley, Jr., who is best known as the author of Jaws [both the book and the film script]).
