Ladies of Leisure (1930)

Director:

Frank Capra

Writers:

David Belasco (play) &
Milton Herbert Gropper (play) ...

Release Date:

5 April 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

ALL TALKING DRAMA OF NEW YORK'S NIGHT LIFE

Plot:

An upper-crust artist hires a 'party girl' as a model; romance follows.

Plot Keywords:

Painter | Flapper | Pre Code | Remake | Based On Play

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck	...	Kay Arnold
Ralph Graves	...	Jerry Strong
Lowell Sherman	...	Bill Standish
Marie Prevost	...	Dot Lamar
Nance O'Neil	...	Mrs. Strong
George Fawcett	...	John Strong
Juliette Compton	...	Claire Collins
Johnnie Walker	...	Charlie

Also Known As:

Ladies of the Evening (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Frank Capra wrote the first draft of Ladies of Leisure, before Jo Swerling took over. According to his interview "I went to my hotel, locked myself in my room and for five days pounded out a rewrite story of the plot I'd heard, interrupting the writing only long enough for black coffee, sandwiches and brief snitches of sleep. I was simply writing a newspaper yarn with a longer deadline than usual. The result was Ladies of Leisure."

Quotes:

Kay Arnold: I feel like getting into trouble!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Manhattan Parade (1931)

Soundtrack:

FRANKIE AND JOHNNIE

Only the silent version is available on tape

...which makes us ask the question: why??? In 1930 Columbia Pictures produced Ladies of Leisure in both sound and silent form; probably a way to satisfy audiences who either preferred one or the other. Barbara Stanwcyk was a hot item by this time and was heavily marketed by both Columbia and later by First National, Warner Brothers. Frank Capra directed this early Stanwyck vehicle which gives it more credence to have this tape available to all who wish to see it. I saw this film only once, back in 1974 and to the best of my knowledge, this gem has never surfaced again.

I checked TCM to see if this movie was available on tape and only the silent version is. For some reason (litigation?) this film has not been shown, yet deserves to be. I know that another Stanwyck vehicle, (So Big - 1932) was embroiled in litigation for decades, finally making it's "premier showing" on TV just a couple of years ago! Is this the same problem with Ladies of Leisure? Ladies of Leisure is a great movie for those who are interested in Stanwyck's early career in films. It should be available on VHS/DVD or even televised again.