PLOTLINE:
Suzy Sachs (Marian Marsh) is what they call a ‘Church
Mouse’. She is poor, unemployed, voiceless and part of the thousands of other
girls in the same situation. Suzy spends her days spying into shop windows
staring enviously at strangers and their hot meals as well as looking for work.
On her daily rounds, she enters the office of Baron Josef von Ullrich (Warren
William) the head of a profitable and powerful banking firm. She tricks the
Baron into seeing her and he is instantly amazed by her energy, brains and efficiency
and immediately employs her. However, the Baron being a man of discipline and
business sees Suzy only as a machine and likes to enjoy his pleasures outside
of business hours.
Soon she is accompanying the Baron on a business deal
in Paris along with the young and handsome Baron Paul von Ullrich (David
Manners) and the Count von Tolheim (Frederick Kerr). Suzy longs to experience the
Paris nightlife and to be admired but Baron Josef is all business; although, Paul
seems to have developed a crush on her.
To Suzy’s surprise, beautiful women of the world
begin appearing in her office wanting to see the Baron, she – disgusted and a
little envious – refuses them entry and the Baron is unaware of his visitors. Finally,
the merger is successful, with the help of Suzy; the company has made a large profit
from the deal. Elated, the Baron suggests Suzy goes out and sees Paris
accompanied, not by him, but the delighted Frederick and Baron Paul. Angry,
Suzy confesses that she has kept women from seeing him and he immediately sets
up a date with his favourite and ex-secretary Ollie Fray (Mary Doran).
Baron and his list of women
Suzy goes
up to Ollie’s hotel room ready to scold her but in the process finds out what
she really wants out of life and is determined to go on the town lively, beautiful
and irresistible. The Church Mouse has blossomed into a beautiful butterfly and
intends on attracting the Baron’s attention and love – but not with some help
from his favourite “mistress”.
Suzy confronts Ollies
THE LOWDOWN:
This is my favourite Precode Marian Marsh. She is beautiful,
joyous and enchantingly sweet and naïve. Like, in “Under 18” (1931), Warren William
is her love interest as the efficient, capable business man whose mind turns to
alluring women when the working day is over. These women, of which there are
many, create the Precode moments that make this film truly modern and adult. My
favourite is the seductive and much overlooked Mary Doran. She is a woman of
the world, with lovely lingerie and perfume and knowledge of how to seduce a
man. Mary is fabulous as the sweet Ollie with hard edge who tries to catch the
Baron. Although, perhaps she is overtaken by the enchanting Marion in the final
scenes with her flattering white gown, crimped hair and makeup. Her transformation
is wonderful and I can see why all the men fawn over her.
Like most of Marian’s films, Precode moments seem to
creep in, there is several mainly shots of lingerie and the revealing flash of
one of Barons many admirers nude in the bathtub. 
Also the Baron’s aid Ludwig (Charles Butterworth) appears to go on a binge late in the movie indulging in women, alcohol and several Moulin Rouge type shows. Lastly, you can’t forget Warren whose films always have sexual innuendo and sly comments which this film has plenty.
“I’m hanging over your head like a ripe peach, if you’d only give the tree a little shake.” Ollie Fray
"I know I’m not much out of the ordinary – a little
bit pretty, a little bit wise, a little bit willing, a little bit absent
minded.” Ollie Fray
“Are you absent minded tonight?” Baron
“Oh, very.” Ollie Fray
This film perfectly displays Marion’s charm and
screen persona. I’m happy in the fact that it doesn’t have as many poverty/
depression-era scenes, such as, the ones in ‘Notorious but Nice” or “Under 18”
that I think made it more light and enjoyable. It was a lovely rags to riches,
Cinderella cross with Beauty and the Beast story perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
“Yes he got mixed up with a snake.”
“Well you’ve thrown him right into the snakes arms.”
Ollie Fray
“How vulgar you are.” Suzy Sachs
“If its vulgar to be in a man’s arms, I hope I never
get refined.” Ollie Fray
“He’s different he’s not the sort to fall for a
person like you.” Suzy Sachs
“What’s the matter with me?” Ollie Fray
“You’re nothing just beautiful that’s all.” Suzy
Sachs
“Since you’re tossing around bouquets I’ll hand you
one. You’re a quite very pretty girl
yourself, a very decent figure, a very sweet little shape but it’s no use to
you, you don’t know what to do with it.” Ollie Fray
“What do you mean by that?” Suzy Sachs
“You don’t know how to make men realise you have it.
Your one ambition is to be a perfect machine. But you’ve never learned how to
be women.” Ollie Fray
“I don’t know what he sees in a creature like you.”
Suzy Sachs
“He sees someone who’s warm and human. Whose skin is
soft and perfumed and who isn’t afraid to let herself go. He’s a live wire.” Ollie
Fray
Blink and you will miss it....
No comments:
Post a Comment