This film's central character - Carole Lombard (Mae) - is a prostitute. As this is her profession of choice and the ridiculous attitude towards this lifestyle that was enforced by the Hayes Code from 1934, the film has had the beginning sequence wiped with just the dialogue remaining. It doesn't last long but it is nevertheless an utterly stupid thing to have done and may convince viewers that they have got possession of a duff version of the film and stop watching. Please keep things running as the picture appears after a couple of minutes and you can follow the film's setting and plotline from the auditory.
Once Lombard appears, she is being escorted out of town for that most important of professions - prostitution. She is under the instruction to never return to New York or she will face jail. Guess what she does? The dialogue is also sharp and funny so it's an entertaining start to the film. However, we are also introduced to Pat O'Brien (Jimmy) who has a macho role as a cab driver and refers to women as "dames". And who also never shuts up. He is really annoying. The tone and pitch with which he delivers his dialogue is also extremely discordant. He maintains this throughout the film and his unpleasant actions and manners do not elicit any sympathy or interest for him. It's ludicrous that Lombard falls for him. O'Brien has been poorly cast as the leading man. We just don't care about him. Quite rightly.
The story is about making foolish decisions and trying to make good, misunderstandings and there is a murder thrown in towards the end. The film is made by the female cast and the story moves along nicely whenever any character other than O'Brien is on screen. The first half is slower. There are 2 memorable slap scenes. One slap is delivered by O'Brien and it is just plain nasty. This guy needs to get a good kicking. The other is delivered by Lombard and is more of a sequence and is a quality scene. Don't mess with her! Here's another...and another...etc - ha ha.
So, Lombard, fellow prostitutes Mayo Methot (Lil) and Shirley Grey (Gert), badass pimp Jack La Rue (Toots), and cab driver Ward Bond (Frank) all put in engaging performances but the film is dragged back by O'Brien's unsympathetic character in the lead male role. Lombard should have just got out of town and headed to Danbury and a new hat.
Once Lombard appears, she is being escorted out of town for that most important of professions - prostitution. She is under the instruction to never return to New York or she will face jail. Guess what she does? The dialogue is also sharp and funny so it's an entertaining start to the film. However, we are also introduced to Pat O'Brien (Jimmy) who has a macho role as a cab driver and refers to women as "dames". And who also never shuts up. He is really annoying. The tone and pitch with which he delivers his dialogue is also extremely discordant. He maintains this throughout the film and his unpleasant actions and manners do not elicit any sympathy or interest for him. It's ludicrous that Lombard falls for him. O'Brien has been poorly cast as the leading man. We just don't care about him. Quite rightly.
The story is about making foolish decisions and trying to make good, misunderstandings and there is a murder thrown in towards the end. The film is made by the female cast and the story moves along nicely whenever any character other than O'Brien is on screen. The first half is slower. There are 2 memorable slap scenes. One slap is delivered by O'Brien and it is just plain nasty. This guy needs to get a good kicking. The other is delivered by Lombard and is more of a sequence and is a quality scene. Don't mess with her! Here's another...and another...etc - ha ha.
So, Lombard, fellow prostitutes Mayo Methot (Lil) and Shirley Grey (Gert), badass pimp Jack La Rue (Toots), and cab driver Ward Bond (Frank) all put in engaging performances but the film is dragged back by O'Brien's unsympathetic character in the lead male role. Lombard should have just got out of town and headed to Danbury and a new hat.