House On 56th Street (1933) Kay Francis, Ricardo Cortez, Gene Raymond, Margaret Lindsey. Kay is a 1905 showgirl (Peggy} on Broadway and lover to Lyndon Fiske. She also has young Monte Van Tyle{Raymond) wanting to marry her. So she does. He builds her a mansion - the title address. Hubby is taken to war and Peggy has a baby girl And then Monte is killed, so Fiske pounces and says he needs her back, he is ill, etc. She says no. He takes out a gun. Badabing. In a struggle, he is shot and killed. Peggy is arrested, tried and given 20 years. House goes, baby goes to mother-in-law, and 20 years pass. We see Kay released and given a new start by an inheritance from her mother-in-law. From dowdy, gray haired convict, to glamorous widow sailing on a luxury ship and meeting up with crooked gambling man, Cortez. Eventually teaming up, they make lots of money and end up at the 56th St address, now the biggest gambling house/speakeasy in NYC. Well, now we have the set up for daughter and her beau, threatened by gambling problems. Suffice to say, Kay suffers but her daughter cries a lot as she sails off into the sunset with her young man, thanks to Ma. Kay wears a different gown in almost every scene in the speakeasy. Gorgeous. 8/10
Review of The House on 56th Street
