Gilda (Dorothy Mackaill) is a New Orleans prostitute who has just arrived at a hotel to meet with a client. The client turns out to be none other than Piet Van Saal (Ralf Harolde), her former boss and the man responsible for ruining her career. The encounter ends in conflict, with Gilda hitting Piet with a bottle and accidentally starting a fire. Sure that she … Continue reading Safe in Hell (1931)
When her father and her boyfriend are killed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, pregnant and unwed Jenny Sandoval (Ruth Chatterton) must find a way to survive. She takes up residence in the Chinese district and is able to make ends meet, but not necessarily through legal methods. Mixed up with gamblers and running a brothel, Jenny finds herself in a world of trouble when … Continue reading Frisco Jenny (1932)
Rod Deane (Gene Raymond) is in love with a nightclub singer, Abby Fane (Carole Lombard). He’s taking her home to meet his family soon, since he’s convinced he wants to marry her… …but his family, wealthy society folks, might not take too kindly to their golden boy marrying a woman of a lower class. Despite his parents’ protests, Rod and Abby marry, honeymooning in Europe. … Continue reading Brief Moment (1933)
“When you’re dead you get a hunk of Earth. When you’re alive you wanna hang on to your hunk of blue. That’s all I’ve got in the world. That’s all anybody’s got, is that hunk of blue.” When Bill (Spencer Tracy) and Trina (Loretta Young) meet in a city park, it’s clear to him that she’s seen better days. Starving and with no place to … Continue reading Man’s Castle (1933)
Tony Landers (Joan Blondell) and Flip Daly (Ginger Rogers) are best friends, and two of a gaggle of chorus girls starring in the “Frolics of 1929.” Tony has caught the eye of the show’s rich backer, Craig (Ricardo Cortez), leaving his mistress Aileen (Adrienne Ames), another dancer, fuming. Craig may not get far with Tony after all, though, as she’s madly in love with her … Continue reading Broadway Bad (1933)
Blacky Gorman (Joel McCrea) and Marje Harris (Ginger Rogers) are young and in love. They’ve been casually dating for a couple of years, and Blacky is finally ready to propose, having found success as a gas station owner. Their future is set. One day, though, Glory Franklyn (Marian Nixon) comes veering into Blacky’s life. She visits his gas station, nearly tearing the place down with … Continue reading Chance at Heaven (1933)
Lorry Evans (Constance Bennett) and Minnie Brown (Pert Kelton) have been released from jail and are boarding a boat for New Orleans. They’re short on money and prospects, but hope they’ll have some luck in the city. When they run into trouble on the boat, Lorry jumps overboard to avoid being arrested again and is pulled from the water by cotton barge skipper Dan (Joel … Continue reading Bed of Roses (1933)
Tom Cardigan (John Barrymore) is a prominent attorney handling the case of June Perry (Helen Twelvetrees), a pretty young woman arrested for tapping on mobster Valentine Powers’ window in a suggestive manner. Luckily for June, Tom’s not just a prominent attorney but one with a high rate of success. After winning her case, the two strike up a romance. Though accused of prostitution, June is … Continue reading State’s Attorney (1932)
Agnes “Aggie” Appleby (Wynne Gibson) is a hard luck gal. She’s about to be evicted from her apartment, and on top of that, her boyfriend Red (William Gargan) is being arrested for assaulting two policemen. Aggie makes do by sneaking into the apartment building where her friend Sibby (Zasu Pitts) works as a maid. She sleeps in an empty room… but is soon found by … Continue reading Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men (1933)
Young and lovely June Dale (Mary Brian) is being pursued by the wealthy but far-too-pushy Kenneth Van Dusen (Guy Kibbee). When June’s friend Kay (Glenda Farrell) walks in and puts a stop to Kenneth’s attempts to woo June, he leaves them at their fancy Palm Beach hotel, sticking them with the bill. Luckily for Kay and June, their old showgirl “pal” Daisy Bradford (Peggy Shannon) … Continue reading Girl Missing (1933)
