This is a decent little comedy--very good for 1931, though not as entertaining as many of Jean Harlow's and Loretta Young's later pictures. One of the main reasons I did not love this film was its odd casting. Having Jean play a society girl whose family is made up of apparently old money is odd, as her accent betrays her more urban and less sophisticated roots. Later, you never would have seen her playing such a role. My assumption is that Hollywood still didn't know what to do with her, so they stuck her in such an improbable role.
The film is about society dame Jean meeting and falling in love with low-brow reporter, Robert Williams. Williams is in a totally different league and Harlow has visions of molding this guy into the man of her dreams--a "stuffed shirt" who likes dull society parties. However, Williams is afraid of becoming the proverbial "bird in a gilded cage" and fights for his independence. Neither is willing to give very much and during all this arguing, poor old Loretta Young just stands by--waiting and hoping that eventually Williams will notice her. In a very Pre-Code moment, at the end, Williams leaves Harlow for Young--something you never would have seen in a Post-Code film.
The film has decent acting, though Robert Williams is a bit obnoxious--playing a character much like Lee Tracy would play in subsequent years. Williams, tragically, died just after the premier of this film and Tracy looked and acted in a manner very suggestive of Williams.
The bottom line is that this doesn't quite compare to the quality of later films, though for 1931, it's pretty good. A definite must for old movie fans who love Pre-Code films or anyone interested in seeing Williams in one of his only film appearances.
The film is about society dame Jean meeting and falling in love with low-brow reporter, Robert Williams. Williams is in a totally different league and Harlow has visions of molding this guy into the man of her dreams--a "stuffed shirt" who likes dull society parties. However, Williams is afraid of becoming the proverbial "bird in a gilded cage" and fights for his independence. Neither is willing to give very much and during all this arguing, poor old Loretta Young just stands by--waiting and hoping that eventually Williams will notice her. In a very Pre-Code moment, at the end, Williams leaves Harlow for Young--something you never would have seen in a Post-Code film.
The film has decent acting, though Robert Williams is a bit obnoxious--playing a character much like Lee Tracy would play in subsequent years. Williams, tragically, died just after the premier of this film and Tracy looked and acted in a manner very suggestive of Williams.
The bottom line is that this doesn't quite compare to the quality of later films, though for 1931, it's pretty good. A definite must for old movie fans who love Pre-Code films or anyone interested in seeing Williams in one of his only film appearances.