The 1930s had a plethora of three types of films that were seldom made after that. They were: (1) the shooting gangster flicks; (2) the high night life of the idle rich; and (3) the young girls who left small towns for a chance at fame or wealth. In some ways, these were a product of the times. Prohibition had just come to an end, but the organized crime that it spawned was well entrenched, and many movies were made from that. Then, the Great Depression was felt everywhere - well, just about everywhere. There still were the wealthy who were above all this - those who hadn't lost everything in the stock market crash. And movies about people who were enjoying the high life were escapist fodder for many audiences.
In that last group, the girls who left home to score in the big city, there were three or four sub groups. Some girls wanted to find good jobs, try to get ahead, and meet Mister Right with whom to marry and settle down. Some had stars in their eyes and hoped to make it big on Broadway or as entertainers. And one group was women who just wanted to find rich men to live off of, and even marry. "The Greeks Had a Word for Them," is about the latter. And the Greek word probably translates to two words in English - gold diggers.
Well, this movie that also went by the title, "Three Broadway Girls," may be the best portrayal of the lot. The plot centers around three single girls who had met in New York, became friends and roomed together. They present a mix of the young ladies who venture to the city for their futures. Polaire Quinn and Schatzi Sutro have an an unseen elderly patron, "Pops," who helps them out in a pinch, between the roles they could get in shows. Polaire has a steady guy, the son of a wealthy man, but she isn't after his money. Schatzi doesn't have anyone in tow, but has a working stiff who would like to be her guy.
These two have been rooming for some time while a third girlfriend, Jean Lawrence, has been in Paris, living it up and pursing a wealthy title or two. But Jean is coming home and Polaire and Schatzi are going to meet her at the docks. Before this film is through, Jean will display her masterful talents of gold digging that will put all others to shame. And, in the process stomp on her friends and break up their chances for love and romance, at least once.
This film is loaded with comedy, but a warning is in order. It takes the right frame of mind to see and enjoy the humor. Jean's portrayal and behavior with her two friends is anything but good and proper for bosom buddies. Seeing this as a serious film, one might want to yell at Polaire and Schatzi to get rid of Jean, or imagine their doing her in. But that would miss the very good, subtle and dog-eat-dog humor that Samuel Goldwyn and his writers came up with.
There's no doubt that this is a masterful plot. Zoe Akins and Sidney Howard were very adept screenwriters. Each wrote many good films in various genres. They each had several smash comedies. Akins wrote for many years and was a poet and journalist besides. Her comedy scripts included "My Man Godfrey" in 1936, and two more films about women gold diggers - "Girls About Town" of 1931, and "How to Marry a Millionaire" of 1953.
Howard died early from a farm accident at age 46. But not before he had won an Academy Award for "Gone with the Wind" in 1940, and two more Oscar nominations for "Arrowsmith" in 1932 and "Dodsworth" in 1937. Among his great comedy scripts were "Nothing Sacred" of 1937 and "He Stayed for Breakfast" of 1940. He also wrote the screenplays for two of the British caper comedies of "Raffles" in 1930 and 1939.
The three women who play the leads in this film were perfect in their parts. Joan Blondell had top billing as Schatzi and was the best known, as she probably is yet today. Madge Evans played Polaire. She made more movies than the others - 100 credits in all, but Evans wasn't especially adept at comedy. She made many serious and dramatic films But the one roll that really puts this film over is that of Jean played so superbly by Ina Claire. She would be the least known among movie goers, but certainly not among the theater crowds.
Ina Claire was a well-known stage actress for the first half of the 20th century. She became best known for her sophisticated comedy. She made only 12 films in her career, four of them were silent films. Her most memorable and familiar film to movie buffs will be "Ninotchka" of 1939. Her second female lead as Swana, behind Greta Garbo, shows her edge in biting humor. But in this earlier comedy Claire's comedy is subtle and wily, both in verse and looks.
Another little plus in this film is in the director, Lowell Sherman, also playing the second male lead as Boris Feldman. Sherman had a fine double career in films but died young from pneumonia - at age 46.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Jean Lawrence, "You gonna make me believe that I've bought $43 worth of liquor since I've been on this boat?" Waiter, "Oh, no, madame. These are only the drinks you haven't paid for yet."
Jean, "Say, whatta you do?" Boris Feldman, "I play the piano." Jean, "Is that all?" Boris, "Well, I took tambourine lessons, but I gave them up when I was very young." Jean, "Oh, dear - a comic as well." Polaire Quinn, "He happens to play a little better than anyone else in the world."
In that last group, the girls who left home to score in the big city, there were three or four sub groups. Some girls wanted to find good jobs, try to get ahead, and meet Mister Right with whom to marry and settle down. Some had stars in their eyes and hoped to make it big on Broadway or as entertainers. And one group was women who just wanted to find rich men to live off of, and even marry. "The Greeks Had a Word for Them," is about the latter. And the Greek word probably translates to two words in English - gold diggers.
Well, this movie that also went by the title, "Three Broadway Girls," may be the best portrayal of the lot. The plot centers around three single girls who had met in New York, became friends and roomed together. They present a mix of the young ladies who venture to the city for their futures. Polaire Quinn and Schatzi Sutro have an an unseen elderly patron, "Pops," who helps them out in a pinch, between the roles they could get in shows. Polaire has a steady guy, the son of a wealthy man, but she isn't after his money. Schatzi doesn't have anyone in tow, but has a working stiff who would like to be her guy.
These two have been rooming for some time while a third girlfriend, Jean Lawrence, has been in Paris, living it up and pursing a wealthy title or two. But Jean is coming home and Polaire and Schatzi are going to meet her at the docks. Before this film is through, Jean will display her masterful talents of gold digging that will put all others to shame. And, in the process stomp on her friends and break up their chances for love and romance, at least once.
This film is loaded with comedy, but a warning is in order. It takes the right frame of mind to see and enjoy the humor. Jean's portrayal and behavior with her two friends is anything but good and proper for bosom buddies. Seeing this as a serious film, one might want to yell at Polaire and Schatzi to get rid of Jean, or imagine their doing her in. But that would miss the very good, subtle and dog-eat-dog humor that Samuel Goldwyn and his writers came up with.
There's no doubt that this is a masterful plot. Zoe Akins and Sidney Howard were very adept screenwriters. Each wrote many good films in various genres. They each had several smash comedies. Akins wrote for many years and was a poet and journalist besides. Her comedy scripts included "My Man Godfrey" in 1936, and two more films about women gold diggers - "Girls About Town" of 1931, and "How to Marry a Millionaire" of 1953.
Howard died early from a farm accident at age 46. But not before he had won an Academy Award for "Gone with the Wind" in 1940, and two more Oscar nominations for "Arrowsmith" in 1932 and "Dodsworth" in 1937. Among his great comedy scripts were "Nothing Sacred" of 1937 and "He Stayed for Breakfast" of 1940. He also wrote the screenplays for two of the British caper comedies of "Raffles" in 1930 and 1939.
The three women who play the leads in this film were perfect in their parts. Joan Blondell had top billing as Schatzi and was the best known, as she probably is yet today. Madge Evans played Polaire. She made more movies than the others - 100 credits in all, but Evans wasn't especially adept at comedy. She made many serious and dramatic films But the one roll that really puts this film over is that of Jean played so superbly by Ina Claire. She would be the least known among movie goers, but certainly not among the theater crowds.
Ina Claire was a well-known stage actress for the first half of the 20th century. She became best known for her sophisticated comedy. She made only 12 films in her career, four of them were silent films. Her most memorable and familiar film to movie buffs will be "Ninotchka" of 1939. Her second female lead as Swana, behind Greta Garbo, shows her edge in biting humor. But in this earlier comedy Claire's comedy is subtle and wily, both in verse and looks.
Another little plus in this film is in the director, Lowell Sherman, also playing the second male lead as Boris Feldman. Sherman had a fine double career in films but died young from pneumonia - at age 46.
Here are some favorite lines from this film.
Jean Lawrence, "You gonna make me believe that I've bought $43 worth of liquor since I've been on this boat?" Waiter, "Oh, no, madame. These are only the drinks you haven't paid for yet."
Jean, "Say, whatta you do?" Boris Feldman, "I play the piano." Jean, "Is that all?" Boris, "Well, I took tambourine lessons, but I gave them up when I was very young." Jean, "Oh, dear - a comic as well." Polaire Quinn, "He happens to play a little better than anyone else in the world."