The title of this movie made me think of "Manhattan Tower" (1932) and it is sort of like it. This movie is a far cry from that one. Yes, they both occur in a skyscraper, feature many people, and have your standard boss in an illicit relationship with his secretary, but that's as far as the similarities go.
Personally, I'm getting tired of the boss dating his secretary routine. It was already old hat in 1932.
David Dwight (Warren William) was the philandering boss in "Skyscraper Souls" (SS). Warren William is very adept at playing an authoritative figure. His mannerisms and manner of speaking make him a perfect fit for a president or CEO.
He was seeing his secretary, Sarah Dennis (Verree Teasdale), before he laid eyes on HER secretary, Lynn Harding (Maureen O'Sullivan).
Lynn was somewhat spoken for already. I say somewhat because her relationship with Tom Shepard (Norman Foster) had just started the day Dave made designs on her. Lynn was the target of two men and it seemed she was voiceless in both relationships. She worked for Dave so she had to entertain his requests while Tom used the old don't-take-no-for-an-answer routine on Lynn to muscle his way into a relationship. He didn't ask as much as he told her they were going to date, and she complied.
***Side bar***
The amount of women in 30's movies that went along with assertive and aggressive men is uncanny. It was even more prevalent in the working class. The message was clear: "Women don't know what they want or need, so men, be strong and make the women understand that you're what they want and need." Then, after the women meekly go with the man they realize that they love him. Again, the message being that women love strength, and part of that strength is men telling them what's best. It is very difficult to watch.
***End of side bar***
For all of Dave's tricks, which involved copious amounts of champagne, Lynn didn't reciprocate the advances. However, when Tom saw her drunk and being escorted by Dave, he was incensed. He wanted nothing more to do with a harlot like Lynn.
Lynn was crushed.
I was bemused.
The whole arrangement between Tom and Lynn was sophomoric. She ostensibly didn't like him (which I should know better by now that it means she does). He badgered her into dating him then even started throwing words like marriage at her while she seemed like a mere passenger in it all, just along for the ride. Then, when Tom dropped her with harsh words, she was all broken up instead of saying, "See ya!" It was the weirdest relationship.
Then Tom came back. He'd heard from Lynn's immediate boss, Sarah, that he'd had it all wrong. Lynn was a good girl after all. What's more, Tom had money because he invested in the new bank created by a merger.
You'd figure that when Tom came back to Lynn she'd flip him off. She did, at first. Then when he mentioned the new home he bought in New Jersey and the nest egg he had put away, Lynn was suddenly fond of him again.
At this point I was confused about what kind of woman Lynn was. Was she the principled woman who rejected David Dwight, or was she a golddigger? They were sending me mixed signals.
The fondness didn't last long. She made him promise never to doubt her again. He promised, and not even a minute later he began questioning her about her outings with Mr. Dwight (Warren William) and the presents he'd bought her. That was it. Lynn was through.
The next time we saw her she was firmly ensnared in David's trap. I guess she dismissed the whole idea of scruples, marriage, and all that jazz. She was set to sail with David until David's number one mistress, Sarah, shot him dead.
You knew something like that was coming. Between the fat cats he'd bilked and the women he was playing, you could easily figure out that David wasn't long for this life.
With David now gone Lynn returned back to Tom. She begged him to forgive her, he did, and that was the end. A 30's movie can't end without two people getting back together no matter what was said, what was done, or how dissimilar they are. In the end all will be forgiven and forgotten and the two will get along like nothing ever happened.
Also of note in the movie were Anita Page, Jean Hersholt, and Wallace Ford. Jean Hersholt was part of a side story. He lusted after Anita Page like she was the last woman on Earth. He was willing to sell his soul for her even though she was not the type of girl you'd bring home to mother. She and Wallace Ford were a thing until an incident happened, then, just like that, she was with Jean Hersholt.
Free on Odnoklassniki.
Personally, I'm getting tired of the boss dating his secretary routine. It was already old hat in 1932.
David Dwight (Warren William) was the philandering boss in "Skyscraper Souls" (SS). Warren William is very adept at playing an authoritative figure. His mannerisms and manner of speaking make him a perfect fit for a president or CEO.
He was seeing his secretary, Sarah Dennis (Verree Teasdale), before he laid eyes on HER secretary, Lynn Harding (Maureen O'Sullivan).
Lynn was somewhat spoken for already. I say somewhat because her relationship with Tom Shepard (Norman Foster) had just started the day Dave made designs on her. Lynn was the target of two men and it seemed she was voiceless in both relationships. She worked for Dave so she had to entertain his requests while Tom used the old don't-take-no-for-an-answer routine on Lynn to muscle his way into a relationship. He didn't ask as much as he told her they were going to date, and she complied.
***Side bar***
The amount of women in 30's movies that went along with assertive and aggressive men is uncanny. It was even more prevalent in the working class. The message was clear: "Women don't know what they want or need, so men, be strong and make the women understand that you're what they want and need." Then, after the women meekly go with the man they realize that they love him. Again, the message being that women love strength, and part of that strength is men telling them what's best. It is very difficult to watch.
***End of side bar***
For all of Dave's tricks, which involved copious amounts of champagne, Lynn didn't reciprocate the advances. However, when Tom saw her drunk and being escorted by Dave, he was incensed. He wanted nothing more to do with a harlot like Lynn.
Lynn was crushed.
I was bemused.
The whole arrangement between Tom and Lynn was sophomoric. She ostensibly didn't like him (which I should know better by now that it means she does). He badgered her into dating him then even started throwing words like marriage at her while she seemed like a mere passenger in it all, just along for the ride. Then, when Tom dropped her with harsh words, she was all broken up instead of saying, "See ya!" It was the weirdest relationship.
Then Tom came back. He'd heard from Lynn's immediate boss, Sarah, that he'd had it all wrong. Lynn was a good girl after all. What's more, Tom had money because he invested in the new bank created by a merger.
You'd figure that when Tom came back to Lynn she'd flip him off. She did, at first. Then when he mentioned the new home he bought in New Jersey and the nest egg he had put away, Lynn was suddenly fond of him again.
At this point I was confused about what kind of woman Lynn was. Was she the principled woman who rejected David Dwight, or was she a golddigger? They were sending me mixed signals.
The fondness didn't last long. She made him promise never to doubt her again. He promised, and not even a minute later he began questioning her about her outings with Mr. Dwight (Warren William) and the presents he'd bought her. That was it. Lynn was through.
The next time we saw her she was firmly ensnared in David's trap. I guess she dismissed the whole idea of scruples, marriage, and all that jazz. She was set to sail with David until David's number one mistress, Sarah, shot him dead.
You knew something like that was coming. Between the fat cats he'd bilked and the women he was playing, you could easily figure out that David wasn't long for this life.
With David now gone Lynn returned back to Tom. She begged him to forgive her, he did, and that was the end. A 30's movie can't end without two people getting back together no matter what was said, what was done, or how dissimilar they are. In the end all will be forgiven and forgotten and the two will get along like nothing ever happened.
Also of note in the movie were Anita Page, Jean Hersholt, and Wallace Ford. Jean Hersholt was part of a side story. He lusted after Anita Page like she was the last woman on Earth. He was willing to sell his soul for her even though she was not the type of girl you'd bring home to mother. She and Wallace Ford were a thing until an incident happened, then, just like that, she was with Jean Hersholt.
Free on Odnoklassniki.