Since having had a fun time watching Otto Preminger's daring 1953 movie The Moon Is Blue a while ago,I decided to search around on Amazon UK for any titles that had come out on the Warner Archives DVD label,which would give me a chance to take a look at Robert Montgomery for the first time.
The plot:
Annoyed about hearing her family constantly screaming at each other,Laura Murdock leaves her mum,dad and sisters behind in their tiny house to continue their arguments,whilst she desperately rushes to get to work on time.Quickly saying hello to her longtime crush Jack Madison as she rushes down the street,Murdock reaches her work place, (a perfume counter in the city's leading shopping centre)without a moment to spare.
Feeling relieved to have reached her workplace,Laura is soon left in a state of shock,when a male customer arrives to buy some perfume for his wife,and gives Murdock a card for a model agency,that he says Laura would be a "perfect fit" for.
Despite having always felt that she did not have the traditional looks to be a model,Laura decides to pay the modelling agency a visit,who she finds out are currently holding interviews for new talent.Finding herself surrounded by beautiful women,Murdock begins to have serious doubts that she will be noticed in the slightest when her audition time arrives.Noticing Laura sitting on her own in the corner,a fellow would be model comes up to Murdock and tells Laura that even if she fails at her audition,there are still plenty of ways to make cash from modelling,with the main alt option that this fellow would be model tells Murdock about,being one that involves something called a "sugardaddy"
View on the film:
Before getting to the movie itself,I have to mention that whilst the print does have some specks of dirt,the DVD edition by Warner Archive's includes a fabulous,crisp soundtrack which allows every line of dialogue to be fully heard.
Despite not filling her adaptation of Eugene Walter's 1909 play and the earlier French film adaptation Quand On est belle with the bouncing dialogue that appears to be ripe for picking in this movie,the screenplay by Edith Ellis instead places the transformation of Murdock's life right at the centre of the film.Keeping a careful balance of showing Laura's desire for money by making strong,underhanded suggestion of Murdock being an escort,Ellis makes sure that Murdock's smile is kept on the edge of her lips,so that it can be wiped away by a wonderfully bitter X- Mas day set harsh swipe.
Breaking the movie out of its stage origins,director Jack Conway uses tracking shots to cleverly show the squeezed,claustrophobic nature of Murdock's family life,which along with fantastic performances from a smooth Clark Gabel in a supporting role,a very good Robert Montgomey as the well meaning,but native Jack Madison and Constance Bennett giving an excellent performance which show the mixed,dark emotions that Murdock is experiencing,which make this film one that is easy to enjoy.
The plot:
Annoyed about hearing her family constantly screaming at each other,Laura Murdock leaves her mum,dad and sisters behind in their tiny house to continue their arguments,whilst she desperately rushes to get to work on time.Quickly saying hello to her longtime crush Jack Madison as she rushes down the street,Murdock reaches her work place, (a perfume counter in the city's leading shopping centre)without a moment to spare.
Feeling relieved to have reached her workplace,Laura is soon left in a state of shock,when a male customer arrives to buy some perfume for his wife,and gives Murdock a card for a model agency,that he says Laura would be a "perfect fit" for.
Despite having always felt that she did not have the traditional looks to be a model,Laura decides to pay the modelling agency a visit,who she finds out are currently holding interviews for new talent.Finding herself surrounded by beautiful women,Murdock begins to have serious doubts that she will be noticed in the slightest when her audition time arrives.Noticing Laura sitting on her own in the corner,a fellow would be model comes up to Murdock and tells Laura that even if she fails at her audition,there are still plenty of ways to make cash from modelling,with the main alt option that this fellow would be model tells Murdock about,being one that involves something called a "sugardaddy"
View on the film:
Before getting to the movie itself,I have to mention that whilst the print does have some specks of dirt,the DVD edition by Warner Archive's includes a fabulous,crisp soundtrack which allows every line of dialogue to be fully heard.
Despite not filling her adaptation of Eugene Walter's 1909 play and the earlier French film adaptation Quand On est belle with the bouncing dialogue that appears to be ripe for picking in this movie,the screenplay by Edith Ellis instead places the transformation of Murdock's life right at the centre of the film.Keeping a careful balance of showing Laura's desire for money by making strong,underhanded suggestion of Murdock being an escort,Ellis makes sure that Murdock's smile is kept on the edge of her lips,so that it can be wiped away by a wonderfully bitter X- Mas day set harsh swipe.
Breaking the movie out of its stage origins,director Jack Conway uses tracking shots to cleverly show the squeezed,claustrophobic nature of Murdock's family life,which along with fantastic performances from a smooth Clark Gabel in a supporting role,a very good Robert Montgomey as the well meaning,but native Jack Madison and Constance Bennett giving an excellent performance which show the mixed,dark emotions that Murdock is experiencing,which make this film one that is easy to enjoy.