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Released by: 20th Century Fox Cinema Archives
Released on: June 20, 2012
Director: Tay Garnett
Cast: Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, Don Ameche
Year: 1937
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The Movie
Love Is News is a time capsule for Darryl Zanuck's typical “star pictures†set in New York in the late 30's. A brash but honest workingman reporter, Steve Layton (Tyrone Power) works the gossip column at The Daily Express. His new city desk editor, Canavan (Don Ameche), has a love-hate relationship with Steve and so, throughout the movie, they trade barbs and right-crosses.
Setting out on his latest scoop Steve encounters millionairess Tony Gateson (Young). He bluffs his way to an exclusive interview with her but is soon exposed so she decides to pull a big prank on him, turning the tables: She tells the other reporters there to cover her arrival in NYC that she and Steve are engaged. In a milquetoast version of the “hunter becomes the hunted†story the plot now revolves around Steve's desperate attempts to convince everyone that they're not engaged while, at the same turn, Tony keeps at him and fluffing up the story.
Naturally, then, later on the two actually find something worthwhile in each other and start to become close. However, a misunderstood turn of events pits the characters against each other if only to allow for a big romantic climax to cap off the end of the film.
The performances are mostly adequate here although Power and Young are quite notable, basking in their star-power and having fun with it all, their on-screen chemistry is palpable and all that. It's a short, playful romantic filler-type of a film that's an enjoyable enough period piece.
Audio/Video/Extras:
Like others in this archives-release series this release comes just with the film itself - no extras are presented. The film itself is capably transferred in 4:3 full-frame ratio. Apart from some slight frame jumps during the opening credits and a few nicks here and there the transfer looks otherwise quite remarkable. The black & white photography is very sharp and balanced, showing a fine attention to detail for the transfer process. Audio is served up in Dolby Digital 2.0 that handles this older film with aplomb.
The Final Word:
Pitting two characters that basically despise one another against each other allows Love Is News to live up to its own title. Worth watching for the fast-pitched dialog of the time as well as very solid performances from the lead actors as well. Oh and also worth it for the brief appearance of the limo driver credited as, “Stepin Fetchit.â€
