Kept Husbands (1931)

Director:

Lloyd Bacon

Writers:

Louis Sarecky (by), Forrest Halsey (adaptation),

Stars:

Dorothy Mackaill, Joel McCrea, Ned Sparks

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dorothy Mackaill	...	Dorothea 'Dot' Parker Brunton
Joel McCrea	...	Richard 'Dick' Brunton
Ned Sparks	...	Hughie Hanready
Mary Carr	...	Mrs. Brunton
Clara Kimball Young	...	Mrs. Henrietta Post
Robert McWade	...	Arthur Parker
Bryant Washburn	...	Charlie Bates
Florence Roberts	...	Mrs. Henrietta Parker
Freeman Wood	...	Llewllyn Post

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

marriage proposal | honeymoon | allowance | socialite | party | 

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Taglines:

Every Inch a Man--Bought Body and Soul by His Wife.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Maridos Apenas

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"The Wedding March"
(1842) (uncredited)
Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Played at the wedding

User Reviews

Encoded

This is being sold as a pre-code movie, but it has little of what you'd expect.

Its a simple redemption story of a spoiled rich girl who "buys" a lower class but swell guy as a husband. At the very end, and only in the last few seconds, does she come around. Its more leveraged around class than sex.

But there is a really interesting scene: our rich girl is miffed at her husband so goes off with an old friend, almost certainly a former sexual partner. He locks the door and they work through a few role games, him chasing her, and she being coy in order to increase the charm of being caught. All the while they are taking archetypal roles from movies. Now, remember that this is 1931, so the roles are relatively new and unsettled.

What's so amazing about this scene is that you do not know, you are never allowed to see what side she is on, whether she really is running away so as not have sex, or playing the role to enhance the game of seduction. It seems that the actress is carefully in a scintillating state, showing and denying. Its masterful, and very engaging. Its only two minutes or so, but fabulous. Sexy stuff in the story and of the story.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.