Preposterous and silly, the early talkie comedy, "The Girl Said No," depends on the charms of its handsome star, William Haines, and on a short scene-stealing turn by Marie Dressler. The irrepressible Haines plays his usual over-confident flamboyant self in the guise of Tom Ward, a young man just back from college. To the dismay of his parents, he has more interest in partying and pursuing girls than job hunting. Oozing charm and optimism throughout, Haines goes to ridiculous lengths to win Leila Hyams, who is the girl who says no. Perhaps the film should have been titled "The Man Never Hears No," because Haines blithely ignores rejection and perseveres, much as he did in film after film throughout his career. Oh, a setback here and there, a lesson learned, a smart aleck chastened, but Haines always gets the girl, and his pearly whites gleam in a dazzling smile at every fadeout.
If the boyish attributes of Mr. Haines fail to engage, perhaps Dressler's tipsy curmudgeon will. Although again totally foolish, Haines, who looks bemused throughout the often-hilarious scene with Dressler, manages to impersonate a doctor and inebriate the old toughie during a sales pitch for Denver bonds. Don't ask why or how, because nothing in the film makes any sense if examined from closer than a mile. While "The Girl Said No" is less-than-classic movie-making, director Sam Wood keeps the plot moving breezily, and the actors hamming shamelessly. Unfortunately, Haines and Dressler alone rise above the proceedings, and the audience may laugh fitfully if at all.