The Last Tycoon

The latest news from the land of the stars.

Minna Davis fans everywhere are rejoicing this week

as Brady-American Pictures begins production on...

Minna, Hollywood's beloved Gaelic gal,

died tragically two years ago

when fire swept through the mansion

she shared with her husband

Brady-American mogul Monroe Stahr.

Now her rags-to-riches story is coming to the screen,

and guess who's penning it.

Her own brother, screenwriter Dex Davis.

Rest in peace, Minna.

We'll see you and your American Dream

at the movies.

Brady-American Pictures. Good morning.

Monroe,

thank you.

It's lovely.

Celia.

Christ.

Monroe, I...

I feel terrible. Was it from Minna?

That's hardly the point.

Mary.

I actually came here to talk to you about Spain.

Is that right? We'll need some glue.

Right away, Mr. Stahr.

There won't be any rushes from the Mountie picture.

They lost a day due to snow,

and when you're done with Mr. Brady,

you'll have two meetings. Can it be fixed?

I think so.

Which meeting should I reschedule?

The one with Celia's fiance Mr. White.

Who, Wylie? He's not my fiance.

I heard he asked you to marry him.

Thank you, Mary.

And did you have any reaction?

Yes. I thought you'd make a lovely couple

if you wait until he's been sober for two years

or maybe five minutes.

Well, that's disappointing.

Everyone says I bloomed this summer.

I thought you'd noticed.

Let's get you back to Bennington.

You can bloom some more.

When are you going to take me seriously, Monroe?

I can help you.

I have ideas, great stories.

Got one about this bandleader who's going...

I'm excited to hear it...

after you've graduated.

I heard you were unhappy with the rushes, Monroe.

Yes, I was.

Mind if I ask why?

Because he shot the whole thing on a 35

when it should have been a 50.

All the tension was lost.

And he cut the gag with the pith helmet.

I love that. And who dressed those natives?

They look like lollipops.

You're fired.

Easy, Calde.

There's still a few things your family doesn't own.

Good morning, Felicity.

My suggestions for your retakes.

So thorough.

I'm not talented enough to be unprepared.

Are you?

Uh, sorry, fellas. Kay, I have some selling to do,

and Pat's expecting me.

Did you get a chance to read...

Yes. It's much better. Well done.

I only have two weeks, Monroe.

Then I fly back.

Hi, Wylie.

Darling.

See that she does fly back, Wylie.

Or I'll break your neck.

Good morning, Birdy. Good morning, Mr. Stahr.

Ask someone to travel this far, Pat,

you ought to provide cab fare.

I thought you Israelites were used to crossing the desert.

Hmm.

What was my daughter doing in your office today?

A bit of redecorating.

I don't want her spending too much time in this environment.

It's unhealthy.

Well, maybe she just wants to be closer

to her dear old dad.

Or to see Gary Cooper.

He's coming in today.

Heck of an actor.

He's a prostitute.

Everybody who comes into this office is a prostitute.

They don't walk in here unless they want something.

Gee, Pat, I walked in here.

I like your new secretary.

Felicity, is that it?

We have a deal about that.

Anybody but my secretaries.

What if she is attracted to me?

Heh heh heh heh.

The human heart is a hard muscle to fathom.

Your heart's not the muscle I'm worried about.

Heh heh. I just hate to see a pretty secretary go to waste.

Did you see this?

I want to start doing what MGM's doing.

They're the only shop in town making any money.

Sally Sweet.

She can sing, dance, cries at the drop of a hat.

Knock Shirley Temple right on her ass.

Build a musical around her:

farm girl with dreams of the big city,

that kind of thing.

The creative side's still your domain, but...

I'm always open to a good idea.

I'm sure there's a compliment in there somewhere.

What's for sale today?

The promise of America in a single shot.

Start on the kids... Minna and Dex.

Hope in their eyes.

Awe. What are they looking at?

We pull back to reveal hundreds of immigrants

behind them on that boat,

becoming thousands.

That same look on every face.

If we keep pulling back,

panning left now to see what they're staring at:

New York Harbor.

The skyline of Manhattan.

Impossibly big and grand.

And the Statue of Liberty

lifting her lamp to welcome them to their new home.

Looks expensive.

But memorable.

And half the country came over

on a boat like that.

You're breaking me, you know.

Could be our Oscar, Pat.

We don't need an Oscar.

Yes, we do.

Just think how much it'll impress Felicity.

Good morning, Mr. Stahr.

Ladies.

I got it! I got it!

Wonderful. They said they loved it.

Congratulations.

Why is it, Calde, that whenever you're around

I always feel some horrible crime's about to be committed?

I'm studying you,

watching how you put up with people

I know you detest, like me.

How do you do that?

Calde told me about the pith helmet gag, Monroe.

Don't worry. It's going back in.

Gable's already in makeup.

See, Calde?

There's no profit in the anger business.

You know, I had to do a similar bit

back when I was acting.

Funny as hell!

God, you're an idiot.

He does draw a crowd, that Monroe.

Hmm.

Something troubling you, Tommy?

Yes.

Jews and money.

I saw it all the time in the old country.

They are so tired of being called stingy.

They will overpay for things just to prove it isn't true.

Now, what gets me about this Jew

is the money he's doing it with is yours.

Can I tell you a secret?

He's a bargain.

Rehearsal up.

Minna at the party.

Just out of Makeup.

Places, honey.

Hello, Bess.

Hello, Gladys.

Good morning.

So, this one?

Or this one?

This one.

My, my.

A beautiful actress on a beautiful set

in my favorite picture.

What a morning.

Thanks, Bess.

But...

Cheer up, honey.

It isn't you. He just doesn't date.

Maybe if I'd been stark naked.

A couple girls have tried.

But you can't compete with a ghost.

Hello.

Did you knock this time?

Sorry, Aubrey.

Well, I guess you don't have to.