Twentieth Century Overview:

Twentieth Century (1934) was a Comedy - Romance Film directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Howard Hawks and Harry Cohn.

SYNOPSIS

Here's another whip-smart comedy from Hawks-Hecht-MacArthur, the His Girl Friday (1940) team. Theater producer Barrymore molds Lombard into a Broadway smash, but their hectic life leads her to the saner climes of Hollywood where she becomes an even bigger star. Without his former wife, Barrymore can't get a show together and he's on the run from Chicago to New York aboard the famous Twentieth Century Limited. As luck and romantic farce demand, Lombard's on the same train with her new beau, slow-witted football star Karns. After much hilarious wheedling, wooing, door-slamming, and conniving, Lombard's ready once again for the Great White Way. Barrymore at his best, and a terrific warm-up for even bigger things from the creators.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

.

Twentieth Century was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2011.

BlogHub Articles:

Silver Screen Standards: Twentieth Century (1934)

By Jennifer Garlen on Jan 10, 2023 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Silver Screen Standards: Twentieth Century (1934) Although it?s not as widely celebrated today as Bringing Up Baby (1938), director Howard Hawks? Twentieth Century (1934) is another go-for-broke screwball comedy with protagonists who are all bonkers. This earlier picture stars John Barrymore and ... Read full article


Silver Screen Standards: Twentieth Century (1934)

By Jennifer Garlen on Jan 10, 2023 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Silver Screen Standards: Twentieth Century (1934) Although it?s not as widely celebrated today as Bringing Up Baby (1938), director Howard Hawks? Twentieth Century (1934) is another go-for-broke screwball comedy with protagonists who are all bonkers. This earlier picture stars John Barrymore and ... Read full article


Of 2020 and "Twentieth Century"

By carole_and_co on Jan 1, 2021 From Carole & Co.

At times we weren't certain we'd reach 2021, but indeed we have, which gives us plenty of reason to smile, just as Carole Lombard is doing above. But as 2020 further retreats in our figurative rear-view mirror, let's look back at a response to one of her most memorable movies, indeed the one that pu... Read full article


Twentieth Century (1934, Howard Hawks)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 14, 2019 From The Stop Button

Even with its way too abrupt finish, Twentieth Century is rare delight. Would it be more successful if the ending hadn’t wasted Carole Lombard? Yes, but also because it would’ve given lead John Barrymore more Lombard to act opposite and Barrymore’s best opposite Lombard. He’s... Read full article


Twentieth Century (1934, Howard Hawks)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 14, 2019 From The Stop Button

Even with its way too abrupt finish, Twentieth Century is rare delight. Would it be more successful if the ending hadn’t wasted Carole Lombard? Yes, but also because it would’ve given lead John Barrymore more Lombard to act opposite and Barrymore’s best opposite Lombard. He’s... Read full article


See all Twentieth Century articles

Quotes from

Oscar Jaffe: You amoeba.
Max Jacobs: It's the truth, whether you know it or not.
Oscar Jaffe: Owen, take this creature who came to me as an office boy as Max Mendlebaum and who is now Max Jacobs for some mysterious reason and throw him into the street.


Owen O'Malley: He's going to end up in the breadline unless he finds out that these jittery horse operas with a lot of people staggering around in foul iron suits ain't entertainment.
Oliver Webb: Where did you leave Jaffe?
Owen O'Malley: At the Morrison Hotel under the name of Hemingway, which he's adopted in his grief.


Owen O'Malley: O.J., I'm in no mood for a lot of fuzzy lamentations.


read more quotes from Twentieth Century...

Facts about

Versions presently in distribution, as shown on Turner Classic Movies, bear the updated Columbia logo and title credits from the 1938 re-release.
John Barrymore once said that the role of Oscar was "a role that comes once in a lifetime" and even deemed this his favorite of all the movies he appeared in.
After filming had ended, John Barrymore gave Carole Lombard an autographed photo inscribed, "To the finest actress I have worked with, bar none."
read more facts about Twentieth Century...
Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
National Film Registry

Twentieth Century

Released 1934
Inducted 2011
(Sound)




See All Films in National Registry >>
Also directed by Howard Hawks




More about Howard Hawks >>
Also produced by Howard Hawks




More about Howard Hawks >>
Related Lists
Create a list


See All Related Lists >>
Also released in 1934




See All 1934 films >>
More "Romance (Comic)" films



See All "Romance (Comic)" films >>
More "Screwball Comedy" films



See All "Screwball Comedy" films >>