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Appearing on the same DVD together are two Twentieth Century-Fox films That Wonderful Urge (1948) and Love Is News (1937). Both films are about romantic comedies set in the world of the newspaper business. That Wonderful Urge stars Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney. Love Is News stars Tyrone Power and Loretta Young. The films are part of Fox's 5-disc Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection which also includes Johnny Apollo, Girl's Dormitory, Day-time Wife, I'll Never Forget You, Second Honeymoon, and Café Metropole.
That Wonderful Urge
Much like Love Is News, this (basically a remake) movie is based on a newspaper reporter's goal to get the "big" story. Ace reporter of the Chronicle, Thomas Jefferson Tyler (Tyrone Power) has grown cynical in his competitive job. When he tricks heiress Sara Farley (Gene Tierney) that he's a fan and she spills more than she would want a newspaper man to know, he thinks he's got a scoop. Farley is no dummy. When his story hits the papers, she tells his rival papers that she and Thomas are married.
The double cross causes problems galore for Thomas. Now he has to prove to the world and his boss, Duffy (Lloyd Gough), that he's not married and trying to avoid giving him the scoop. He also has to endure the jibes from his fellow newsmen that he's now a "kept" man. While that might be acceptable if it were true - after all how hard would it be to live a carefree life with a beautiful dame - it's not.
This plotline gets old very quickly; maybe if I had not watched Love Is News prior to this film, I would have found it more entertaining. The two films are so similar; this one even has its own subplot with Count Andre de Guyon, this time portrayed by Reginald Gardiner. Power (The Mark of Zorro, 1940) is also older in this film, which lessens his sexual chemistry somewhat, but mostly the story just goes off in too many directions - from newsrooms to court rooms, and bedrooms to Sun Valley getaways - with little feel for the characters being genuine.
While certainly no Oscar contenders, if you're a classic film fan, either of these movies is entertaining to watch. Power is charming and amusing in both films and Young and Tierney (Belle Starr, 1941) offer more opportunities to see these legends in action. The special features of both films are slim, but we can still thank Fox for putting these films on DVD.
Love Is News
Those rascally newsmen of yesterday would do anything to score a lead story, as is proved in this amusing comedy. Steve Layton (Tyrone Power) is a star reporter who expects to be chosen as the new city editor of the New York Daily Express. When Marty Canavan (Don Ameche) is given the job, Layton quits the paper. Marty knows Steve is the best reporter around and tricks him into covering a "big" story. Multi-millionaire Tony Gateson (Loretta Young) is coming to town and Marty wants Steve to head off the other paper chasers and get a story at the airport.
Steve pulls out all stops when he actually gets onboard Tony's plane posing as part a of police detail to protect her. He gets a big scoop when she confesses she's broken off her engagement to Count Andre de Guyon (George Sanders), "a blue-blooded moron," she says. Steve's pride is short lived as Tony finds out about his scam and turns tail on him, giving all the other newspapers her own "big" story - that she and Steve are engaged.
In no time at all Steve learns what it's really like to be on the other end of a scandal. He tries in vain many times to get Tony to denounce her story, but she's having too much fun. She's also falling for Steve during moments when she grabs him in front of phototogs and lays on the lips.
There's lots of comedy, wedding plans for several people, several apologies and great conflict between Steve and Marty. It's hard to take your eyes off of Power (The Black Swan, 1942) or Young; they're so beautiful. Young (The Call of the Wild, 1935) makes easy work of Tony's enjoyment of making Steve squirm, and Power is great in the "squirming" role. Don Ameche is also good as the befuddled and frustrated editor who would rather take a punch to the face then admit he's wrong.
That Wonderful Urge
Presented in full screen with mono and stereo sound, French and Spanish subtitles and the following bonus material:
Director: John Ford
Writers: William R. Lipman and Frederick Stephani (story), Jay Dratler (screenplay)
Cast Members: Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, Reginald Gardiner, Arleen Whelan, Lucile Watson, Gene Lockhart
Rating: Unrated - fine for all ages (but certainly boring to children)
Run Time: 82 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Format: Black & White, full frame
Photo credits © Fox Home Entertainment
Love Is News
Presented in full screen with mono sound, French and Spanish subtitles and the following bonus material:
Director: Tay Garnett
Writers: William R. Lipman and Frederick Stephani (story), Harry Tugend & Jack Yellen (screenplay)
Cast Members: Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, Don Ameche, George Sanders, Jane Darwell
Rating: Unrated - fine for all ages
Run Time: 77 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Format: Black & White, full frame
Photo credits © Fox Home Entertainment
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