In some ways, "Ann Carver's Profession" is a formulaic film...but WOW, I didn't see that plot twist coming near the end. I like this, even though it's a bit hard to believe, as it made the film more than a typical working professional woman film.
The movie starts with Gene Raymond graduating with an architecture degree and Fay Wray with a law degree. Despite her advanced degree, she stays home once they marry--after all, that WAS a woman's place according to 1930s conventions. However, Fay hates being a housewife and jumps at the chance to work for a law firm. Unfortunately for Raymond's ego, she turns out to be super-successful--and becomes a famous lawyer. In the 30s, this would essentially mean he was emasculated. At first, I was mad at Raymond for his petulant feelings...after all, my wife makes lots more money than I do!! But, I came to feel a bit sorry for him when he quit his job to become a professional crooner (something Raymond had been in real life). In this new job, Wray treated him horribly and acted ashamed of him. This reaction to his new job was the straw that broke the marriage. However, what happened next really hit me out of left field. I'll say no more, as it would spoil the film, but the movie went in a direction I never would have anticipated.
Overall, a good film. Although it appeared to be just another successful business woman film, it turned out to be a lot better. Too bad, however, a bit of this was undone by forcing the plot to follow the dumb conviction that a woman MUST sacrifice her career for the sake of a marriage. By the end of the film Wray had to become a housewife and be less of herself in order for them to be happy--what a terrible message to girls of the day!
The movie starts with Gene Raymond graduating with an architecture degree and Fay Wray with a law degree. Despite her advanced degree, she stays home once they marry--after all, that WAS a woman's place according to 1930s conventions. However, Fay hates being a housewife and jumps at the chance to work for a law firm. Unfortunately for Raymond's ego, she turns out to be super-successful--and becomes a famous lawyer. In the 30s, this would essentially mean he was emasculated. At first, I was mad at Raymond for his petulant feelings...after all, my wife makes lots more money than I do!! But, I came to feel a bit sorry for him when he quit his job to become a professional crooner (something Raymond had been in real life). In this new job, Wray treated him horribly and acted ashamed of him. This reaction to his new job was the straw that broke the marriage. However, what happened next really hit me out of left field. I'll say no more, as it would spoil the film, but the movie went in a direction I never would have anticipated.
Overall, a good film. Although it appeared to be just another successful business woman film, it turned out to be a lot better. Too bad, however, a bit of this was undone by forcing the plot to follow the dumb conviction that a woman MUST sacrifice her career for the sake of a marriage. By the end of the film Wray had to become a housewife and be less of herself in order for them to be happy--what a terrible message to girls of the day!