This movie starts with floods of women arriving to a department store to start work for the day. Chatter, griping, gossip and a moving camera all promise some fun. And Joan Crawford, whose appearance in this period was constantly evolving, looks lovely rather than merely striking. She also appears relaxed and self-possessed. But the picture slides downhill fast. Clearly, MGM considered Crawford the shop girl's delight, and they plotted her movies accordingly. This one dangles the wages of sin, with promises of new frocks among the art deco splendor of vast outdoor pavilions, fanciful tree house love nests and luxe illicit city apartments. But then we learn that girls who go bad end up badly. Determined Joan doesn't take that route and SHE winds up with the callow rich boy rather than dead or back on the farm with Mother. Oy.
Alternately static and melodramatic, only Anita Page gives a direct, natural performance here. Everyone else poses and strikes attitudes, spouting pretentious dialogue that makes no sense whatever. Two fashion shows (another sop to the Working Girl) feature some very unattractive and unflattering Adrian outfits. Supporting actor Raymond Hackett is pretty cute as a cad, and there is one amusing in-joke. At one point, Joan attends a movie to escape her troubles and it turns out to be LET US BE GAY, a real picture which featured co-star Raymond Hackett (whose character is also in the theatre watching the picture) but whose star was Norma Shearer, Crawford's arch rival at MGM. Just watch the first ten minutes then skip the rest of this turkey.
Alternately static and melodramatic, only Anita Page gives a direct, natural performance here. Everyone else poses and strikes attitudes, spouting pretentious dialogue that makes no sense whatever. Two fashion shows (another sop to the Working Girl) feature some very unattractive and unflattering Adrian outfits. Supporting actor Raymond Hackett is pretty cute as a cad, and there is one amusing in-joke. At one point, Joan attends a movie to escape her troubles and it turns out to be LET US BE GAY, a real picture which featured co-star Raymond Hackett (whose character is also in the theatre watching the picture) but whose star was Norma Shearer, Crawford's arch rival at MGM. Just watch the first ten minutes then skip the rest of this turkey.