Gene Raymond is one of the few actors in Hollywood history to have written, directed and starred in his own movie. And this is it - his only one. It's also the only film he directed. While "Million Dollar Weekend" didn't fare well at theaters, it has a good plot and screenplay. It was made by a small film company, Eagle-Lion films, which didn't provide it very wide distribution. Yet, it is a good and interesting story. It's a crime mystery with redemption, and it holds up very well. The very small cast of three main players focuses the plot well in just 72 minutes. .
The credits list only Hawaii for shooting locations. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu was one setting. Raymond is very good as Nicholas Lawrence and John Nicholas. Osa Massen is very good as Cynthia Strong, and Francis Lederer is very good as Alan Marker.
Raymond was a man of many talents. Besides acting, he sang, wrote stories and screenplays, and wrote songs. He was a sound and very good leading man, but he didn't land many major roles that shot him to stardom with the best known actors. He was equally adept at comedy, drama and musicals. Raymond was married to Jeanette MacDonald for 27 years, until her death in 1965. The couple had a sometimes stormy relationship. MacDonald's was one career in which the legendary Louis B. Mayer ruled with an iron hand and dictated much of her personal life. Raymond bore a striking resemblance to Nelson Eddy who co- starred with MacDonald in a number of musicals.
Raymond served in the Army Air Forces of World War II and was decorated, with later flying during the Vietnam War. He retired from the Air Force reserves as a colonel. He also had a controversial and colored past with some run-ins with the law. His bisexuality became known and created more personal and career problems.
The credits list only Hawaii for shooting locations. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu was one setting. Raymond is very good as Nicholas Lawrence and John Nicholas. Osa Massen is very good as Cynthia Strong, and Francis Lederer is very good as Alan Marker.
Raymond was a man of many talents. Besides acting, he sang, wrote stories and screenplays, and wrote songs. He was a sound and very good leading man, but he didn't land many major roles that shot him to stardom with the best known actors. He was equally adept at comedy, drama and musicals. Raymond was married to Jeanette MacDonald for 27 years, until her death in 1965. The couple had a sometimes stormy relationship. MacDonald's was one career in which the legendary Louis B. Mayer ruled with an iron hand and dictated much of her personal life. Raymond bore a striking resemblance to Nelson Eddy who co- starred with MacDonald in a number of musicals.
Raymond served in the Army Air Forces of World War II and was decorated, with later flying during the Vietnam War. He retired from the Air Force reserves as a colonel. He also had a controversial and colored past with some run-ins with the law. His bisexuality became known and created more personal and career problems.