Sin Takes a Holiday (1930)

Dowdy Sylvia accepts her boss' marriage proposal, even though he only asked her to avoid marriage to another woman. As a wealthy wife, Sylvia changes from ugly duckling to uninhibited swan ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul L. Stein

Writers:

Horace Jackson (screen play), Robert Milton (story),

Stars:

Constance Bennett, Kenneth MacKenna, Basil Rathbone

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Constance Bennett	...	Sylvia Brenner
Kenneth MacKenna	...	Gaylord Stanton
Basil Rathbone	...	Reggie Durant
Rita La Roy	...	Grace Lawrence
Louis John Bartels	...	Richards
John Roche	...	Sheridan
Zasu Pitts	...	Annie
Kendall Lee	...	Miss Munson
Muriel Finley	...	Ruth (as Murrel Finley)
Judith Wood	...	Mrs. Graham (as Helen Johnson)
Fred Walton	...	Martin - Stanton's Butler

Storyline

Dowdy Sylvia accepts her boss' marriage proposal, even though he only asked her to avoid marriage to another woman. As a wealthy wife, Sylvia changes from ugly duckling to uninhibited swan and even contemplates having an affair with a man she meets during a trip to Paris.

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Plot Keywords:

paris france | marriage of convenience | divorce | ocean liner | law | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Casada e Sem Marido

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé Exchange

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The print shown on Turner Classic Movies opens with a 1950's RKO Radio Pictures logo, an anachronism because this is a Pathé production, made before the RKO-Pathé merger, but ultimately released to television in the 1950's by C&C Television Corporation in their original RKO feature film package.

User Reviews

Awfully predictable and familiar

SIN TAKES A HOLIDAY is the story of a divorce lawyer who comes up with the idea of having a wife in name only for his convenience. In other words, because he has a wife, it's a lot easier to rebuff the advances of his lonely female clients. He asks his faithful secretary (Constance Bennett) and at first she refuses. Part of this is obvious to the viewer--she secretly loves this lawyer. But when he behaves boorishly towards her, she decides to take him up on it because she can travel and have anything she wants...except her boss.

Unfortunately, there are two major problems with the film. The story has been done many times before in various forms and is very predictable. The other problem is that the "dramatic transformation" of Miss Bennett from a dowdy secretary to a ravishing socialite is just too unbelievable. She looks pretty much the same in both roles other than the clothes. But, like when Clark Kent removes his glasses, you are expected to believe in this miraculous change--it just isn't that miraculous as Bennett just isn't that desirable or different.

Overall, an interesting film where the actors try their best--it's just that the material isn't that interesting and is a disappointment in light of the salacious title! It's a pleasant romantic time-passer and that's about all.