In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, that’s difficult.

1939 film:
Reno (1939)

Release date:
Dec. 1, 1939

Cast:
Richard Dix, Gail Patrick, Anita Louise, Paul Cavanaugh, Laura Hope Crews, Louis Jean Heydt, Hobert Cavanaugh, Charles Halton, Astrid Allwyn, Joyce Compton, Frank Faylen, Carole Landis (uncredited)

Studio:
RKO Radio Pictures

Director:
John Farrow

Plot:
Told in retrospective, Lawyer Bill Shayne (Dix) arrives in Reno, Nev. in 1905 ready to go into business. He finds helping with legal issues related to mining, and soon marries Jessie (Patrick). When the mining industry in Nevada collapses, Bill becomes a successful divorce lawyer—and contributing to Reno later becoming the divorce capital of the U.S. Working on divorce cases causes issues for Jessie and Bill when the divorcees start to catch his eye. Jessie divorces Bill, taking their baby daughter, Joanne, who he doesn’t see for many years.

1939 Notes:
• One of two films Richard Dix and Gail Patrick co-starred in together in 1939. The other was “Man of Conquest.”
• By the numbers:
– Richard Dix was in four films released in 1939.
– Gail Patrick was in five films released in 1939.
– Anita Louise was in six films released in 1939.
– Paul Cavanaugh was in three films released in 1939.
– Laura Crew Hopes was in seven films released in 1939.
– Astrid Allwyn was in five films released in 1939.

My review: Searching for the “1939 feature”:
In the 1930s and 1940s, if you wanted a quick divorce, all you had to do was head to the Divorce Capital of the World — Reno, Nev. — and get one. That’s how it was in the movies at least.

In the 1939 film “Reno,” the plot tells the fictional account of how it got to be known as a famous divorce destination. The film begins with a woman played by Anita Louise not being able to pay her gambling debts while spending time in Reno for a quick divorce. She calls the police to expose the gambling joint, owned by Bill Shearer, played by Richard Dix. In court, Shearer tells how he got his start in Reno in 1905 when he came there to be a lawyer, under his real name, Bill Shayne.

Bill marries Jessie, played by Gail Patrick, before hitting it big. Bill soon becomes a lucrative lawyer in the mining business, and then becomes a successful divorce lawyer when he helps out an oft-married lady friend. The women seeking divorce cause a rift between Jessie and Bill, and the two divorce, with Jessie taking her baby daughter with her.

The whole film, I was thinking how aspects of the film reminded me of “Cimarron” (1931), another period film that stars Richard Dix who is also unfaithful to his wife (though Dix doesn’t call anyone “Sugar” in this film). Interestingly, some reviewers called this Dix’s best film since “Cimarron.”

Frank S. Nugent of the New York Times criticized this film in his 1939 review, calling the plot thin.

While it all is fairly predictable, I enjoyed this film. Though Richard Dix’s character ends up being a bit of a cad, he still plays with a lot of heart. I though Gail Patrick was wonderful in this too—I love seeing her play a nice, sentimental character (rather than a conniving woman like in “My Man Godfrey.”)

Anita Louise plays a brief role, but she is so stunning, per usual.

While there are some sweet and sad moments, there are also some fun ones. I loved a part where divorcees Joyce Compton and Astrid Allwyn get into it, with Compton telling her off and splashing a drink on her. That’s always a good time.

The ending is very sweet and sentimental, which I loved.

Perhaps this isn’t the top of the 1939 greats, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

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