A hypochondriac heiress inherits a sanitarium to find that it is a front for bootleggers. This manic comedy is often regarded as La Cava's best silent film. With live piano accompaniment by Forrester Pyke.
(Country: USA; Year: 1928; Director: Gregory La Cava)
Gabriel over the White House
In this outrageous political fantasy made at the bottom of the Depression, a political hack is elected President of the United States. After suffering a near-fatal car accident, he is inspired by the angel Gabriel to seize dictatorial powers in order to lead the nation out of its woes. Print courtesy of The Library of Congress.
(Country: USA; Year: 1933; Director: Gregory La Cava)
My Man Godfrey
An evergreen classic of Depression-era screwball comedy. On a "scavenger hunt" for "forgotten men," spoiled socialite Carole Lombard picks up homeless William Powell and gives him a job as her family's butler. Print courtesy of The Library of Congress.
(Country: USA; Year: 1936; Director: Gregory La Cava)
Private Worlds
The flow of life at a progressive psychiatric hospital is disturbed by the arrival of the conservative new superintendent and his sister. This unusual melodrama, one of the first Hollywood films to deal with mental illness, is one of La Cava's most visually arresting works. Print courtesy of La Filmoteca Espanola.
(Country: USA; Year: 1935; Director: Gregory La Cava)
She Married Her Boss
An efficient secretary tries to bring some working-class common sense to running her boss's household but meets resistance from his family. Played for naturalistic satire rather than belly laughs, this is an interesting set of variations on some of La Cava's favourite themes.
(Country: USA; Year: 1935; Director: Gregory La Cava)
Unfinished Business
A brilliant, rarely seen La Cava masterwork in which a small-town woman goes to New York to seek her fortune as a singer. After marrying an alcoholic playboy almost by accident, she tries to make the best of the situation. Print courtesy of The BFI National Archive.
(Country: USA; Year: 1941; Director: Gregory La Cava)
