Peacock Alley (1930 film)
Encyclopedia
Peacock Alley is a black-and-white talkie
which originally had one color sequence, and is remake of the 1921 silent film of the same name
. Like the 1921 version, Mae Murray
starred in the leading female role, but little else other than the title was retained from the previous version. While Murray's character in the 1921 film was named Cleo, she was renamed Claire Tree in this film. George Barraud
replaced Monte Blue
as the male lead, who is now named Clayton Stoddard. The new story and dialogue was written by Carey Wilson.
The film takes place entirely in New York City
, removing the Paris
portion of the earlier film's plot. Rather than falling in love with a man who happens along her way, Claire is actively looking for a husband. Two possibilities present themselves: a Texan, who ultimately rejects Claire because he believes her to be immoral, and Stoddard, who agrees to marry her in the end.
For a lower-budget independent production, the film was lavishly produced, with elaborate sets and a 2-color Technicolor
sequence in which Murray tangoed and impersonated both a toreador and a bull. After all, Murray's silents had been very successful and she and Bob Leonard
had been founding members of Tiffany. However by the time this remake was produced Murray's marriage to Leonard had evaporated as was the fortunes of Tiffany in Hollywood. The film received few reviews or major engagements, because Murray had been blacklisted by Louis B. Mayer
after she walked out on her MGM
contract in 1927.
Murray alleged that Tiffany Pictures
' crew had damaged her career by way of their technical incompetence displayed throughout the film. Because of this, she attempted to sue the company for $1,750,000, but was unsuccessful.
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
which originally had one color sequence, and is remake of the 1921 silent film of the same name
Peacock Alley (1921 film)
Peacock Alley is a black-and-white American silent film starring Monte Blue as Elmer Harmon and Mae Murray as Cleo. The film was directed by Murray's husband at the time, Robert Z. Leonard, was one of Murray's most successful films, and one of the biggest hits of 1921.In the film, Elmer travels...
. Like the 1921 version, Mae Murray
Mae Murray
Mae Murray was an American actress, dancer, film producer, and screenwriter. Murray rose to fame during the silent film era and was known as "The Girl with the Bee-Stung Lips" and "The Gardenia of the Screen"....
starred in the leading female role, but little else other than the title was retained from the previous version. While Murray's character in the 1921 film was named Cleo, she was renamed Claire Tree in this film. George Barraud
George Barraud
-Selected filmography:* The Wolf Man * Bellamy Trial * Woman to Woman * Peacock Alley * The Return of Raffles * Great Expectations * Charlie Chan in London * Mystery Woman...
replaced Monte Blue
Monte Blue
Monte Blue was a movie actor who began his career as a romantic leading man in the silent film era, and later progressed to character roles....
as the male lead, who is now named Clayton Stoddard. The new story and dialogue was written by Carey Wilson.
The film takes place entirely in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, removing the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
portion of the earlier film's plot. Rather than falling in love with a man who happens along her way, Claire is actively looking for a husband. Two possibilities present themselves: a Texan, who ultimately rejects Claire because he believes her to be immoral, and Stoddard, who agrees to marry her in the end.
For a lower-budget independent production, the film was lavishly produced, with elaborate sets and a 2-color Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
sequence in which Murray tangoed and impersonated both a toreador and a bull. After all, Murray's silents had been very successful and she and Bob Leonard
Robert Z. Leonard
Robert Zigler Leonard was an American film director, actor, producer and screenwriter.He was born in Chicago, Illinois...
had been founding members of Tiffany. However by the time this remake was produced Murray's marriage to Leonard had evaporated as was the fortunes of Tiffany in Hollywood. The film received few reviews or major engagements, because Murray had been blacklisted by Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
after she walked out on her MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
contract in 1927.
Murray alleged that Tiffany Pictures
Tiffany Pictures
Tiffany Pictures was a Hollywood motion picture studio in operation from 1921 until 1932.-History:...
' crew had damaged her career by way of their technical incompetence displayed throughout the film. Because of this, she attempted to sue the company for $1,750,000, but was unsuccessful.