This would have to be the most depressing film.
There are no nice people in this movie (even Dickie
Moore plays a pretty bratty kid.)
The moral of the film is everyone has their price - even
a lowly janitor played by John Qualen.
SPOILER ALERT
Mary Astor plays Hettie Stream, a society wife, who has
little time for her husband and son.
Warren William plays Alex Stream, who is used to having
his own way in all situations. A chance meeting with Lily
Linda (Ginger Rogers) a burlesque dancer creates a
diversion for him but Lily begins to fall for him. In Lily he
finds someone who is sweet and good and delights in
simple pleasures.
I couldn't believe when Lily is shot (it happens about
half way through the film) Alex callously cleans the
apartment to get rid of evidence that would incriminate
him.
Lily is a good person but no-one cares about her - except
a policeman (Sidney Toler). He has been demoted for daring
to give tycoon Stream a speeding ticket and he is determined
to see justice done.
From then on it is as though she doesn't exist. Stream is
completely unremorseful and he and his wife renew their
love for each other and plan to go away. But Hettie doesn't
intend to stand by her man.
The ending has to be seen to be believed - especially since
it was made in 1934 - after the production code.
The next year Rogers would be able to leave these sort of
thankless roles behind her when she became a star.

I'm pretty certain I've seen this one. It would be back in the early 1990's on TCM UK. If I remember rightly one does not see all that much of Mary Astor despite the fact she is second billed.

Hi Diane,

Thanks for a great review of this early 1930's film, I really enjoyed reading it. This is one of my faves, of course anything with Warren William ranks up there! :)

Mark

Thank you Mark.
This film can be viewed on many different levels.
Dickie Moore is first heard bawling out the butler
for disrupting his game. Through-out the film
Warren William is giving him subtle advice about
how to succeed in life.
Mary Astor, even though she plays a brittle society
lady - her warmth shines through and it is not hard
to understand WW's affection.
Warren William is one of my pre-code fab four. He is
so amazing that he could often play cold, hard- headed
business men and you still love him. :wub:

I bought this film about ten years ago and I've never re-watched it. I found it so out of bounds that it didn't sit right with me. Just not one of my favorites at all, even with Warren William and Mary Astor. I thought Ginger Rogers would make it right, but the film is all wrong. Frankly, my wife thinks it one of the strangest films she's ever seen.

I wholeheartedly agree with you and your wife, R Michael Pyle.
I saw it a few years ago and didn't like it full stop.
It came on a couple of weeks ago and I thought I would try it
again but it struck me the same.
Ginger Rogers part would have been better played by someone
like Mary Doran - where you could say "that's why she wasn't a
big star because of pictures like this". But Ginger - who became
a big star with her "spunky but good" roles - gave her character
a real niceness and I don't think it would matter who played her
part any human being would have cared about what happened
to her.
And that ending - could someone please explain it to me.

It was a strange film, but I liked it. Warren William often played a character who wasn't always a "hero", like the way Bogart did.

Some studios tried to make unusual films in the '30s because so many "formula" films were made that had similar plots.

Although the cop in the film was right, I found myself hoping that William wouldn't get into any trouble.

Welcome to the board Dobbs. :) I'm Derek and I started the group. Why not introduce yourself in the Introductions forum and tell us about your fave films/stars ? :)

Oh, I do so agree. It's a great flick. And Ginger looked absolutely beautiful, too. ^_^