Movie Reviewed: Turnabout (1940), starring Carol Landis & Mary Astor. Director Hal Roach

Movie Reviewed: Turnabout (1940), starring Carol Landis & Mary Astor. Director Hal Roach

I have become “?Cait”

“The man’s had a baby instead of the lady” proclaimed the billboards when this movie was released. This is an oddball gender-bender screwball slapstick produced and directed by Hal Roach, and adapted by Mikel Novak from a Thorn Smith’s novel. The ad gives away the punchline of the story of a well-heeled couple (John Hubbard and Carol Landis) argue about their roles in life. He works hard all day and she looks after the house. When a Hindu guru, referred to as Mr. Ram comes to life from an idol, and grants them the wish to change places. The body switch takes place and thus starts the real comedy. The husband talks and behaves like a woman and his wife behaves like a man. Their friends become dumbfounded by the sudden developments in their mannerisms. In supporting roles is Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor, William Gargan, Marjorie Maine, Verre Teasdale, Joyce Compton, Donald Meek and Polly Ann Young offer good performances. I can’t understand how leading lady like Mary Astor came to play a supporting role and the Carol Landis is has the leading role. The alumna of “Meet me in St Louis” Marjorie Maine is in the cast with Mary Astor and does splendid work.

This is an interesting story in that similar “switch bodies” and “gender-bender” movies have been made in plenty in later years in Hollywood that includes; The change-up (2011), starring Jason Bateman; 18 Again! (1988), starring George Burns; All of me (1984) starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin; Dream a Little Dream (1989), starring Corey Feldman, Jason Robards, and Piper Laurie; and Freaky Friday (2003), starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.

When Bruce Jenner’s gender transformation occurred in 2015 and he became Caitlyn Jenner; the media is giving us the mother lode about what is the real nature of human sexuality. This debate started long ago, and this story filmed in 1940 nicely illustrates this controversial debate. It was a bold move on the part of the studio and also the producer for that time. Thanks also to the TV and film archives at UCLA for the preservation of this movie and also the archives from all major studios. Many producers and directors also have left their archives to UCLA including Director Hal Roach.