Twentieth Century

Theatre director Oscar Jaffe sees a future star in underwear model Mildred, and as Lily Garland she does indeed make a career on Broadway. However, the ‘challenging’ nature of her egomaniacal teacher and now lover drives her to Hollywood - and the impresario to ruin. The two meet on the eponymous express train from Chicago to New York, and Oscar will use any theatrical means to get the successful Mildred back under contract ... Showbiz meets battle of the sexes in Hawks' first, in every respect fast-paced sound film comedy, which becomes a screwball prototype and helps Carole Lombard herself make her breakthrough. The prelude to the exchange of blows is provided by a consistently rhymed dialogue between total silliness and genius. (red)