A true shocker in its day. There is a reason why you never saw this picture on the midnight movie. Valerie West, (Constance Bennett), does believe in marriage, she just doesn't believe in rushing into it. At the beginning of the film she breaks with her long time lover who she would not marry.
Soon she is supporting herself as an artist's model. In the book being a model was her only sin and it made her unfit to marry the upper class artist that loves her. This third version of the Chambers' novel takes it a step farther with the old lover thrown in.
Hedda Hopper, as the artist's sister Claire, plays a true bitch that rivals Gene Tierney in "The Razor's Edge". The screen lost a real talent when she stopped acting in front of the camera.
The production values are high and the image quality very good. The spoken word is in the hands of talented writers. Horace Jackson's dialog is smart and snappy with real bit. It is hard to believe that this picture is just 7 years from D. W. Griffith's silent picture "America".
Joel McCrea, as the artist John Neville Jr., was a bite of a jerk more than once. I found it a little hard to believe that Miss West could still love him after some of the stuff he pulled.
A fun movie, in some cases an improvement on the book. Anyway it is over quicker, 72 minutes, than reading the book. Chambers' love stories can sometimes drag on and on.
Produced by: RKO Radio Pictures
Constance Bennett .... Valerie West
Written by Robert W. Chambers (novel)
Carroll Clark .... art director
Language: English
Runtime: USA:77
Sound Mix: Mono
Directed by Paul L. Stein
Cast (in credits order)
Joel McCrea .... John Neville Jr
Lew Cody .... Cardemon
Robert Williams ... Sam
Hedda Hopper .... Claire Collis
Marion Shilling .... Stephanie Brown
Paul Ellis .... Querido
Walter Walker .... John Neville Sr
Emile Chautard .... Doorman
George Irving .... Doctor
Nella Walker .... Yacht Guest
Dolores Murray .... Queen at the Ball
John Farrow
Horace Jackson
Cinematography by: Hal Mohr
Original music by: Arthur Lange
Costume Design by: Gwen Wakeling
Film Editing by: Charles Craft
Produced by: Harry Joe Brown
(associate) Charles R. Rogers
Other crew
John C. Grubb .... sound
Earl A. Wolcott .... sound