It's not the film Illicit put a permanent roadblock in the careers of Barbara
Stanwyck and Joan Blondell. But both even early in their careers were doing
better material. It was more of a speed bump than a detour.
Illicit has young people James Rennie and Stanwyck falling in love, but both coming from the upper crust have seen too many marriages fail even in their own families. They come up with the radical idea of just living together without the wedding rings or benefit of clergy. An idea that the Code would certainly not countenance.
Then they try separate dating and exes from both in the persons of Joan Blondell and Ricardo Cortez show up. Cortez is his usual smarmy self and Blondell is the best one in the film.
Besides Blondell, fans of Charles Butterworth who like seeing him as these droll playboy types will like this one. As Rennie's father, Claude Gillingwater is his usual crotchety parent.
Rennie sadly is stiff and doesn't register well. The part called for a Cary Grant, but he was still on the horrizon.
Illicit is a naughty film by the standards of the times. Today it wouldn't raise an eyelash.
Illicit has young people James Rennie and Stanwyck falling in love, but both coming from the upper crust have seen too many marriages fail even in their own families. They come up with the radical idea of just living together without the wedding rings or benefit of clergy. An idea that the Code would certainly not countenance.
Then they try separate dating and exes from both in the persons of Joan Blondell and Ricardo Cortez show up. Cortez is his usual smarmy self and Blondell is the best one in the film.
Besides Blondell, fans of Charles Butterworth who like seeing him as these droll playboy types will like this one. As Rennie's father, Claude Gillingwater is his usual crotchety parent.
Rennie sadly is stiff and doesn't register well. The part called for a Cary Grant, but he was still on the horrizon.
Illicit is a naughty film by the standards of the times. Today it wouldn't raise an eyelash.