A year before "Gold Diggers of 1933" said it with songs, this scintillating pre-code comedy was the first of many imitations. Three sassy Broadway babes are out to snare millionaires. In 1919 Ina Claire starred on Broadway in the comedy hit "The Gold Digger", and that's how the term was created. I agree with the other reviews, this is far more grittier and real than the 1950s "How to Marry a Millionaire".
"Since the world began, half the female population have always been working women. The other half have been working men!!!" announces the opening title. Jean (Ina Claire) returns from Paris and together with friends Polaire (Madge Evans) and Shchatzi (Joan Blondell) decide to be like the three musketeers "all for one and one for all" - then the fun and fighting starts.
Jean is in the habit of stealing men from her friends. The three of them go out on the town with Polaire's boyfriend Dey (David Manners). He brings Boris Feldman , a renowned pianist (Lowell Sherman) who can see a lot of talent in Polaire. She decides to study with him but a chance traffic accident involving a milk truck brings her back to Dey's arms and Boris is unfortunately out of the picture. Dey's father needs to be convinced that Polaire is not a gold-digger.
The film abounds with one liners - "I can always tell real pearls - even when they're such little ones!!!"
Jean hides her pearls in Polaire's jacket so she can expose her as a thief in front of Dey's father. She ends up almost marrying Dey's father.
Even though Joan Blondell is top billed - she has the least to do. It is Ina Claire's movie all the way and she is great as the ruthless man eater Jean. She had been a big Broadway star and also was one of John Gilbert's wives. Madge Evans was a protégé of Irving Thalberg's who appeared in some prestigious MGM productions, "Dinner at Eight", "David Copperfield" etc. She played the sensitive Polaire. The film was directed by Lowell Sherman who also played Boris Feldman - it is a pity he did not have a bigger role.
Recommended.
"Since the world began, half the female population have always been working women. The other half have been working men!!!" announces the opening title. Jean (Ina Claire) returns from Paris and together with friends Polaire (Madge Evans) and Shchatzi (Joan Blondell) decide to be like the three musketeers "all for one and one for all" - then the fun and fighting starts.
Jean is in the habit of stealing men from her friends. The three of them go out on the town with Polaire's boyfriend Dey (David Manners). He brings Boris Feldman , a renowned pianist (Lowell Sherman) who can see a lot of talent in Polaire. She decides to study with him but a chance traffic accident involving a milk truck brings her back to Dey's arms and Boris is unfortunately out of the picture. Dey's father needs to be convinced that Polaire is not a gold-digger.
The film abounds with one liners - "I can always tell real pearls - even when they're such little ones!!!"
Jean hides her pearls in Polaire's jacket so she can expose her as a thief in front of Dey's father. She ends up almost marrying Dey's father.
Even though Joan Blondell is top billed - she has the least to do. It is Ina Claire's movie all the way and she is great as the ruthless man eater Jean. She had been a big Broadway star and also was one of John Gilbert's wives. Madge Evans was a protégé of Irving Thalberg's who appeared in some prestigious MGM productions, "Dinner at Eight", "David Copperfield" etc. She played the sensitive Polaire. The film was directed by Lowell Sherman who also played Boris Feldman - it is a pity he did not have a bigger role.
Recommended.