Feminists who happen to catch this most unusual film will be completely torn by it. The picture of a very serious career woman who has chosen the law that Fay Wray gives us is a very good role model. And it's unusual casting, the role is standard stuff for people like Bette Davis or Katharine Hepburn, but for an actress who was primarily known for screaming her way through her ordeal with a giant ape, it's offbeat casting. We had not gotten to the Legally Blonde era yet and this film is not a comedy by any means.
Gene Raymond and Fay Wray meet in college, he's the All American football hero who also sings occasionally and is the big man on campus. Wray is beautiful, but serious in pursuing the law. They fall big time for each other and eventually marry.
But away from the campus Raymond loses his glamor and settles into a routine. Wray on the other hand becomes a big success, just the idea of a female lawyer, playing and beating the men regularly makes her the celebrity who just happens to be married to a former All American. That leads to booze, Raymond taking up crooning at a nightclub in the hopes of becoming the next Crosby, Columbo or Vallee and eventual infidelity with Claire Dodd, another singer.
When Raymond is accused of Dodd's murder and in his drunken state he can't provide any account of what happened of course Wray steps into the breach as his defense attorney. I know that Fay Wray must have jumped at this role when Harry Cohn at Columbia offered it. What actor doesn't kill for a courtroom trial drama with a dramatic speech. A couple year earlier Lionel Barrymore got an Oscar for such a role in A Free Soul. Spencer Tracy and Orson Welles delivered memorable courtroom soliloquys in Inherit The Wind and Compulsion respectively. But for a woman to do it? I honestly can't think of another instance of this happening.
And Wray is every bit of eloquent as these gentlemen were in their addresses to the juries. Of course when she says this will be her last trial as she plans to be a stay at home wife now in the tradition of June Cleaver, that does get a bit much. NOW who would be hailing Ann Carver's Profession for its showing of a great feminist role model in Wray, would be staffing the picket lines if the film were ever debuting now.
Ann Carver's Profession with Fay Wray in the title role is a real gem. For those who want to see something other than a screaming Fay Wray, this film shows what a great talent she was. And it's sad to think that her whole career was overshadowed by a make believe 50 foot ape.
Gene Raymond and Fay Wray meet in college, he's the All American football hero who also sings occasionally and is the big man on campus. Wray is beautiful, but serious in pursuing the law. They fall big time for each other and eventually marry.
But away from the campus Raymond loses his glamor and settles into a routine. Wray on the other hand becomes a big success, just the idea of a female lawyer, playing and beating the men regularly makes her the celebrity who just happens to be married to a former All American. That leads to booze, Raymond taking up crooning at a nightclub in the hopes of becoming the next Crosby, Columbo or Vallee and eventual infidelity with Claire Dodd, another singer.
When Raymond is accused of Dodd's murder and in his drunken state he can't provide any account of what happened of course Wray steps into the breach as his defense attorney. I know that Fay Wray must have jumped at this role when Harry Cohn at Columbia offered it. What actor doesn't kill for a courtroom trial drama with a dramatic speech. A couple year earlier Lionel Barrymore got an Oscar for such a role in A Free Soul. Spencer Tracy and Orson Welles delivered memorable courtroom soliloquys in Inherit The Wind and Compulsion respectively. But for a woman to do it? I honestly can't think of another instance of this happening.
And Wray is every bit of eloquent as these gentlemen were in their addresses to the juries. Of course when she says this will be her last trial as she plans to be a stay at home wife now in the tradition of June Cleaver, that does get a bit much. NOW who would be hailing Ann Carver's Profession for its showing of a great feminist role model in Wray, would be staffing the picket lines if the film were ever debuting now.
Ann Carver's Profession with Fay Wray in the title role is a real gem. For those who want to see something other than a screaming Fay Wray, this film shows what a great talent she was. And it's sad to think that her whole career was overshadowed by a make believe 50 foot ape.