Letty Lynton

You could say I’ve waited my whole life to see this film, since it’s been out of circulation for over 90 years. And I enjoyed it. The first half, which sets up the romantic relationships, is kind of standard stuff. But it gets very good in the second half. And it’s quite refreshing---a bit of fun---to see an old film in which the main character basically gets away with MURDER and has a happy ending. This film never would have been allowed to be made, once the Production Code was fully implemented in mid-1934. So, as a Crawford fan, this one gets a definite thumbs-up from me.

Picture quality is fine; certainly better than the wretched print that had been floating around online. I’d say it looks as good as it possibly could, given the fact that the original negative is long gone.

Ah, but as for that famous dress…. Okay, I’m definitely not a fashion guy (as is obvious by the clothes in my wardrobe). So I guess I don’t always notice what someone is wearing. And in this case, honestly, if I hadn’t known that this frilly white concoction was a well-known and influential gown, I don’t know that I would have given the dress any particular attention when it appeared onscreen. I mean---to me it was just another in a string of gowns that Joan wore throughout the picture. It’s pretty enough (though really a bit too flouncy and frilly for my taste). But it didn’t grab my attention in those scenes where it was featured, and stand out in a way that said "this dress is…