This film is about three rather mercenary ladies--Ina Claire, Madge Evans and Joan Blondell. Despite being the sort of girls who DO put out in order to get ahead, there is a huge difference between them. Madge plays the nice girl--one with a tarnished past but a heart of gold. Ina plays one who is 100% selfish--and very conniving. And, Joan plays one who just seems to exist--with no discernible personality of her own. She simply plays 'Girl #3'! Throughout the film, Ina schemes and steals men from Madge and it makes no sense at all why Madge and Joan consider Ina to be their friend. In fact, that is a huge problem with the film--Ina's character is just too superficial and unbelievable and everyone's reactions to her are impossible to believe. She is so obviously selfish and rotten but almost every man falls under her spell--but in real life, her transparent personality would prevent this. She was too unlikable, too self-centered and too one-dimensional to be believable. Further, Madge and Joan SHOULD have either slugged her in the mouth or killed her--but in the end, they all have a good laugh and re-affirm their friendships! What a pile of poo!
While I love Pre-Code films and their rather amoral and scandalous attitudes, this one is NOT in the same league as "Red-Headed Woman" or any of the other classic films of this sexy genre. The characters are ridiculous and poorly written--and so the film comes off as a poor man's version of the film style...at best. Not worth watching unless you are a rabid Pre-Code fan.
While I love Pre-Code films and their rather amoral and scandalous attitudes, this one is NOT in the same league as "Red-Headed Woman" or any of the other classic films of this sexy genre. The characters are ridiculous and poorly written--and so the film comes off as a poor man's version of the film style...at best. Not worth watching unless you are a rabid Pre-Code fan.