In the so-called "Pre-Code" era of the late 20s up to 1934, Hollywood's standards for films were very ill-defined and open to quite a bit of excess. While today we have this stereotype that films of the time were dull family-friendly movies, they often were far from it--featuring nudity, coarse language and very adult plots with a strong emphasis on sex. While not as explicit as films today, these films are still rather shocking today--particularly as they often conveyed the message that "nice girls DO" or that being a "bad girl" often paid off by the end of the film!! While Loretta Young later was known for a very virginal image (one she herself promoted strongly), her early films were often rather scandalous and could not be shown in the more conservative parts of the country. While this is not among the most salacious, this one did feature some content that would have been either forbidden or strongly punished had it appeared in film just a few years later--even though Miss Young was an innocent lady throughout the film.
The film begins with rich traveling salesman, David Manners, stumbling into a small town and becoming intoxicated by Loretta's charms. She is extremely smitten as well and soon decides to leave this crappy Kansas town (sorry Kansas, but that's how it IS portrayed here). She heads to New York to surprise Manners but is shocked to find out he is engaged! He apparently wanted to "have his cake and eat it too" as the saying goes! Saddened by this, she decides to devote her energies to making a career in music. Unfortunately, she comes to the lecherous Louis Calhern for a job. He just wants to steal her music and bed poor Loretta! When Manners find out about this, he and Calhern get into a fight and Calhern falls off his balcony!! People think Manners did this deliberately and it looks pretty bad for him until the end.
By the way, although he and Loretta received top billing, George Brent was strangely absent during much of the film and seemed almost "tacked on" as an after-thought. Rarely is he given so little to do in a starring role and so I just don't feel it's worth discussing his insignificant part.
Overall, the film abounds with sexual innuendo, bad playboyish behavior and Loretta spending most of the film finding out that many men are pigs. While nowhere nearly as sexually charged as contemporary films like RED HEADED WOMAN, it is nevertheless a good example of Pre-Code morals and plotting--and the title is exactly what you'd expect for this type of film. Too bad that apart from some good acting performances the film is so ordinary.
The film begins with rich traveling salesman, David Manners, stumbling into a small town and becoming intoxicated by Loretta's charms. She is extremely smitten as well and soon decides to leave this crappy Kansas town (sorry Kansas, but that's how it IS portrayed here). She heads to New York to surprise Manners but is shocked to find out he is engaged! He apparently wanted to "have his cake and eat it too" as the saying goes! Saddened by this, she decides to devote her energies to making a career in music. Unfortunately, she comes to the lecherous Louis Calhern for a job. He just wants to steal her music and bed poor Loretta! When Manners find out about this, he and Calhern get into a fight and Calhern falls off his balcony!! People think Manners did this deliberately and it looks pretty bad for him until the end.
By the way, although he and Loretta received top billing, George Brent was strangely absent during much of the film and seemed almost "tacked on" as an after-thought. Rarely is he given so little to do in a starring role and so I just don't feel it's worth discussing his insignificant part.
Overall, the film abounds with sexual innuendo, bad playboyish behavior and Loretta spending most of the film finding out that many men are pigs. While nowhere nearly as sexually charged as contemporary films like RED HEADED WOMAN, it is nevertheless a good example of Pre-Code morals and plotting--and the title is exactly what you'd expect for this type of film. Too bad that apart from some good acting performances the film is so ordinary.