Monsieur Beaucaire

Today's show is Monsieur Beaucaire, a short novel written by Booth Tarkington (29 July 1869 - 19 May 1946) adapted into a radio play. It differs from the novel. Monsieur Beaucaire was produced for Lux Radio Theater and aired on CBS Radio Network June 21, 1937. It stars Leslie Howard, Elissa Landi, Pedro de Cordoba and Dennis Greene with an introduction by Cecil B. DeMille, Producer.

[Cecil B. DeMille always the showman, dressed in
jodhpurs, as producer of the CBS Radio Theatre, 1937]

Monsieur Beaucaire is in reality the Duke de Orleans, played by Leslie Howard, who wants to marry for love. His cousin, King Louis XV of France, had the Duke imprisoned for refusing to submit to his arranged marriage. He has escaped to England and has fallen in love with Lady Mary. The story follows his efforts to win her love. Howard was fluent in many languages, including French, and does a very good job with his French accent.

Also appearing on the show is Ray Jones, a photographer for Paramount in the 1930's. He gives a very interesting explanation of how still photography is used in film. If you are like me and watch your favorite movies over and over again until you know every scene, you may have wondered, as I have, why there are so many photos of movie scenes (production stills) that never appeared in the movie itself. This segment will answer your questions.

Evelyn Keyes appears in a commercial for Lux Soap. You will remember her as Suellen O'Hara, Scarlett's sister, in Gone With The Wind (1939). At the time of this broadcast she had just been "discovered" by Cecil B. DeMille. If you are a fan of Gone With The Wind, you may remember that the production had been delayed many times. However, David O. Selznick used the delays to create a buzz for his film by advertising his search for Scarlett, holding casting calls all over the country (sort of like American Idol). The search for Scarlett always reminded me of the search for Cinderella. As Evelyn is leaving the studio, DeMille says what I think is, "Goodnight, Scarlett." It could have been, "Goodnight, starlet." I'm not sure. But I am sure that in 1937, Evelyn Keyes would have been salivating over the part of Scarlett, just like a million other girls.

[Evelyn Keyes, 20 November 1916 - 4 July 2008]

At the end of the show the announcer tells the audience that next week's guest will be Amelia Earhart who is at that time in Java. Earhart has promised to appear on the show in two weeks if she is late from her flight around the world. Of course, we now know that Earhart never makes it back.

[Amelia Earhart, c. 1935]

At the end of the show Howard discusses his plans for the near future. He never made either of the two movies he talks about. There was a sequel made to The Scarlet Pimpernel (1935), but Howard did not reprise his role. Bonnie Prince Charlie was made in 1948, after Howard's death, and starred David Niven. Howard did film Stand-in (1937) with Humphrey Bogart and Joan Blondell and then went on to film It's Love I'm After (1937) with Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland, a film which can be seen in July on TCM.

[Leslie Howard and Elissa Landi are being introduced to CBS radio
audiences by Cecil B. DeMille for the Lux Radio Theatre
production of Monsieur Beaucaire, June 21, 1937]

[Leslie Howard and Elissa Landi in the Lux Radio Theatre

production of Monsieur Beaucaire, June 21, 1937]

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