Children of Pleasure (1930)

Successful songwriter falls for society girl who is just playing around. He doesn't realize that his girl-Friday is the one he really loves until it is almost too late. Although he is ... See full summary »

Director:

Harry Beaumont

Writers:

Crane Wilbur (play), Richard Schayer (scenario)

Stars:

Lawrence Gray, Wynne Gibson, Judith Wood

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lawrence Gray	...	Danny Regan
Wynne Gibson	...	Emma Gray
Judith Wood	...	Pat Thayer (as Helen Johnson)
Kenneth Thomson	...	Rod Peck (as Kenneth Thompson)
Lee Kohlmar	...	Bernie (as Lee Kolmar)
May Boley	...	Fanny Kaye
Benny Rubin	...	Andy Little

Storyline

Successful songwriter falls for society girl who is just playing around. He doesn't realize that his girl-Friday is the one he really loves until it is almost too late. Although he is dazzled by high society, he overhears the society girl's admission of just fooling in time to avoid marriage. Played against a theatrical backdrop, there are lots of songs and production numbers.

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Plot Keywords:

trial marriage | heiress | composer | singer | theatrical show | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jazzkomponisten

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play opened in New York on 13 August 1928.

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Connections

Edited into Roast-Beef and Movies (1934)

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Soundtracks

"A Couple of Birds with the Same Thing in Mind"
(1930) (uncredited)
Music by Reggie Montgomery
Lyrics by Howard Johnson, George Ward
Performed by May Boley and chorus

User Reviews

Lawrence Gray Star

Snappy musical of songwriter (Lawrence Gray) who falls for a society girl (Helen Johnson) much to the chagrin of his faithful secretary (Wynne Gibson). Gray sings a few songs and there are some productions numbers from Broadway shows that feature May Boley, Benny Rubin, and Gibson.

Supposedly loosely based on the life of Irving Berlin, this is an interesting early musical, one of many that Gray starred in. The songs are pretty much integrated into the plot and chart the course of love as Gray writes songs for Johnson (also known as Judith Wood) and then creates dark lyrics when he learns she's only out for a lark.

I suspect some material has been cut and long lost since the film clocks in at a little over an hour.

Gray is a pleasant leading man, Gibson a surprise in her singing number, Boley a powerhouse (despite the hideous costumes) as the "red hot mama," and Rubin always good for a laugh. Cameos by Jack Benny and Cliff Edwards don't add much. Co-stars include Kenneth Thomson, Ann Dvorak (chorus girl), Mary Carlisle, Lee Kohlmar, and the girl from Buster Keaton's FREE AND EASY who wants to sing a funny song.