one of my new years resolutions is that every week imma see a classic movie i aint never seen before.

kicked it off tonight with claudette colbert and louise beaver in a strange film about race, pancakes, and love.

directed by john stahl, one of the 36 founding members of the academy, one of the odd facts about the movie is the Mammy (beaver) in real life was less than two years older than her daughter (fredi washington) – both actresses were actually in their 30s. washington played a convincing 19 year-old.

what i liked was how it portrayed the rich as people who wear tuxedos, carry canes of all sorts, own furs and employ help.

but really it was an eye opening and in a way progressive view of race and mixed race America in the 1930s.

the film was nominated for best picture, but it was up against the other film colbert starred in that year

it happened one night

two and a half stars