The Clinging Vine (1926)

Mannish ultra-efficient A.B. is the real force behind the Bancroft paint business. But on a weekend house-party when she overhears the boss's grandson (Jimmy)'s unflattering opinion of her ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Sloane

Writers:

Jack Jevne (adaptation), Rex Taylor (adaptation),

Stars:

Leatrice Joy, Tom Moore, Robert Edeson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Leatrice Joy	...	Antoinette B. 'A.B.' Allen
Tom Moore	...	Jimmie Bancroft
Robert Edeson	...	T.M. Bancroft
Snitz Edwards	...	Dr. A. 'Tut' Tutweiler
Toby Claude	...	Grandma Bancroft
Dell Henderson	...	B. Harvey Doolittle

Storyline

Mannish ultra-efficient A.B. is the real force behind the Bancroft paint business. But on a weekend house-party when she overhears the boss's grandson (Jimmy)'s unflattering opinion of her (unseen) lack of charms, she's hurt. Jimmy's grandmother takes her under her wing, makes her over, and teaches her to flutter her eyelashes and only say the two phrases to win a man: "Do go on!" and "Aren't you wonderful?". And Jimmy falls hard, not knowing his darling girl is the dreaded A.B. But can A.B. maintain her girlish guise while setting Jimmy on the right track to financial security and a proposal?

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Plot Keywords:

paint | grandmother | deception | invention | flirt | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

6 September 1926 (USA)

Also Known As:

Negócios de Mulher

Company Credits

Production Co:

DeMille Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

71 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Zelda Sears' play opened in New York on 25 December 1922.

User Reviews

The Joy of Dress

Mannish looking Leatrice Joy (as "A.B." Allen) is the brains behind a paint company headed by office putter Robert Edeson (as T.M. "Grandpa" Bancroft). With her suit, tie, and boyish haircut, Ms. Joy makes all the important decisions at the company, including the firing of the boss' grandson, Tom Moore (as Jimmie Bancroft). While she is very successful, Joy is also very sad. Why? For starters, she has never been kissed by a man. At a social gathering on Mr. Edeson's estate, spry old Toby Claude (as "Grandma" Bancroft) directs Joy to pluck eyebrows, bat eyelashes, and dress like a woman. Joy is taught to speak to men by simply interjecting the two phrases "Do go on!" and "Aren't you wonderful!"

The new, womanly "Antoinette" is a bit hit with men, especially Mr. Moore. As "The Clinging Vine" of the title, Joy performs well. Unfortunately, the story is silly and sexist. Most interesting is the fact that Joy dresses much better as a male than a female. Formerly married to superstar John Gilbert, Joy could play the typical attractive leading woman as well as these occasional "mannish" roles. Unlike many famous actresses from the 1920s to the present, she actually looks like a "juvenile young man" of her era. If you think Katharine Hepburn ("Sylvia Scarlett"), Greta Garbo ("Queen Christina"), Julie Andrews ("Victor/Victoria"), and Barbra Streisand ("Yentl") masqueraded well as men, check out Leatrice Joy.

**** The Clinging Vine (9/6/26) Paul Sloane ~ Leatrice Joy, Tom Moore, Robert Edeson, Snitz Edwards