7/10
oldie b/w version of "how to marry a millionaire"
24 February 2008
This fun, pre-code romp from 1932 starring Joan Blondell, Madge Evans, Ina Claire, was remade in color in 1953 as How to Marry a Millionaire. Similar plot, but in the original, the girls steal boyfriends (David Manners and Phillips Smalley) from each other, where as in the remake, they each find their own man, and then have to decide if they want to keep them or not. Interesting that Betty Grable, who starred in the 1953 version had appeared as a hat check girl in the 1932 version. This was one of the last films directed by Lowell Sherman ( also played Boris Feldman in the film) as he died two years after filming this. Ina Claire (played Jean) would have been the oldest of the three co-stars, 39 years old in 1932, and she only made three more after this. "The Greeks" was made during prohibition, so of course part of it takes place in a loud, smoke-filled "speakeasy". Lots of dark eye makeup, and the picture and sound quality are pretty terrible in the version I watched, but this IS a pretty old flick. A little slow, but fun if you have the patience. Gives you an idea of how some of the young, poor women got by in those days if they weren't willing to go look for work.
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