Paid (1930)

Mary Turner goes up for three years on a crime she didn't commit. Once out she and former prison mates plan a scam in which old men can be sued for breach of promise - the "heart balm" ... See full summary »

Director:

Sam Wood

Writers:

Bayard Veiller (based on the play "Within the Law" by), Lucien Hubbard (adaptation),

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Robert Armstrong, Marie Prevost

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Mary Turner
Robert Armstrong	...	Joe Garson
Marie Prevost	...	Agnes Lynch
Douglass Montgomery	...	Bob (as Kent Douglass)
John Miljan	...	Inspector Burke
Purnell Pratt	...	Edward Gilder (as Purnell B. Pratt)
Hale Hamilton	...	District Attorney Demarest
Robert Emmett O'Connor	...	Cassidy (as Robert Emmet O'Connor)
Tyrell Davis	...	Eddie Griggs (as Tyrrell Davis)
William Bakewell	...	Carney
George Cooper	...	Red
Gwen Lee	...	Bertha

Storyline

Mary Turner goes up for three years on a crime she didn't commit. Once out she and former prison mates plan a scam in which old men can be sued for breach of promise - the "heart balm" racket. After plotting verious ways to get back at the men who set her up initially, she softens and settles down.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | wisecrack humor | female prison guard | hair cut off | slop pail | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 December 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Mulher que Perdeu a Alma

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The lead role was commissioned for Norma Shearer but she had to withdraw owing to pregnancy.

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Connections

Version of Within the Law (1917)

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Soundtracks

"Happy Days Are Here Again"
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Sung by Marie Prevost

User Reviews

Gritty and dynamic performance by Crawford

This is one of Joan Crawford's best pre-code films. It is very hard to find, but worth the effort! Through her character's evolution, Joan is able to show off a wide variety of emotions, proving she did have good acting skill early in her career.

Typical of the early Talkies, most of the acting style is a bit theatrical, so viewers not used to watching early classics may feel it has a dated quality. But if that doesn't bother you, you will find that the story is riveting, the characters are colorful, and the performance by Crawford is fabulous.

Crawford's character, Mary Turner, is by far the most fascinating, and commands attention. We see her begin as a confused, frumpy simple girl unjustly imprisoned for a crime she didn't commit. Then we watch her grow into a hard-boiled, intelligent, sophisticated criminal, hellbent on revenge. She grew to become what she had been wrongly accused of. You can't help but pity her lost innocence and respect her determination, despite its criminal intent.

A must-see for anyone who loves pre-code film, gangster films, or Joan Crawford.