Phillips Holmes (Clyde) is a social climber. He's good-looking but is an outcast from his own family. His mother is a religious sanctimonious do-gooder as played by Lucille La Verne. Not surprisingly, Holmes isn't going to follow her path as it is natural for children to rebel against their parents. He is set up by rich uncle Frederick Burton (Mr Griffiths) with a job at a factory where he works his way up to a supervisory position. However, he is not really accepted by Burton who is fixated on his own social status and self-importance. Clyde gets involved with 2 girls - working class Sylvia Sidney (Roberta) from the factory and wealthy socialite Frances Dee (Sondra). Sylvia gets pregnant to the dismay of Holmes and he thinks up a plan to free himself of this trouble. It involves a lake.
This is an interesting story that concludes with a court case. Unfortunately, the film loses its way a bit during these scenes as the acting becomes pretty awful. The lawyers just shout a lot which is in contrast to the underplayed calculating nature of the first half of the film centring on Holmes and his predicament. The first half of the film is way better and more entertaining. The acting is good apart from the lawyers and a very phony La Verne who over-emotes. She only manages to pull off one of her scenes - just - at the end of the film. Everywhere else she is diabolical with that phony dialogue delivery that signifies somebody who really cares. Only it doesn't. It makes you shout "Oh shut up!" at her on the TV and winds the audience up. I'd like to take her out on the lake.
I remember when I was 4 years old and I went on a picnic with my then girlfriend. She was also 4. We went down to a lake and before I knew it, she was in it. We had been standing throwing sticks into the water and then.....she is suddenly shouting out "You pushed me!" I hadn't. I asked how she was and then ran off to get help. Luckily, she could tread water. So, I understand how situations can suddenly arise and how the truth gets mixed up. Her parents didn't like me after that. This film is different as we see the reactions of Holmes after the accident.
This is an interesting story that concludes with a court case. Unfortunately, the film loses its way a bit during these scenes as the acting becomes pretty awful. The lawyers just shout a lot which is in contrast to the underplayed calculating nature of the first half of the film centring on Holmes and his predicament. The first half of the film is way better and more entertaining. The acting is good apart from the lawyers and a very phony La Verne who over-emotes. She only manages to pull off one of her scenes - just - at the end of the film. Everywhere else she is diabolical with that phony dialogue delivery that signifies somebody who really cares. Only it doesn't. It makes you shout "Oh shut up!" at her on the TV and winds the audience up. I'd like to take her out on the lake.
I remember when I was 4 years old and I went on a picnic with my then girlfriend. She was also 4. We went down to a lake and before I knew it, she was in it. We had been standing throwing sticks into the water and then.....she is suddenly shouting out "You pushed me!" I hadn't. I asked how she was and then ran off to get help. Luckily, she could tread water. So, I understand how situations can suddenly arise and how the truth gets mixed up. Her parents didn't like me after that. This film is different as we see the reactions of Holmes after the accident.