Faithless (1932)

Socialite Carol Morgan romps through the depression and her wealth while breaking up with Bill Wade and getting back together with him.

Director:

Harry Beaumont

Writers:

Carey Wilson (screen play), Mildred Cram (novel)

Stars:

Tallulah Bankhead, Robert Montgomery, Hugh Herbert

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tallulah Bankhead	...	Carol Morgan
Robert Montgomery	...	William 'Bill' Wade
Hugh Herbert	...	Mr. Peter M. Blainey
Maurice Murphy	...	Anthony 'Tony' Wade
Louise Closser Hale	...	First landlady
Anna Appel	...	Mrs. Mandel, Second Landlady
Lawrence Grant	...	Mr. Ledyard
Henry Kolker	...	Mr. Carter

Storyline

Socialite Carol Morgan romps through the depression and her wealth while breaking up with Bill Wade and getting back together with him.

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | chicago illinois | self sacrifice | great depression | accident | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 October 1932 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$203,420 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Mr. Ledyard: [on the telephone] But Carol, this bank is your guardian. We're living in 1932, but you persist in spending money as if it were still '29, before the crash. You've forced me to eliminate your charities - even your father's most beloved project - the Morgan Home for Girls.
Carol Morgan: [lounging on her silk sheets] Fine. I don't believe in delinquent girls - silly weaklings.
Mr. Ledyard: But our records show that twenty-nine percent of them went on the street because they didn't have a bed to sleep in.
Carol Morgan: Oh, ...

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Connections

Featured in Complicated Women (2003)

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Soundtracks

"St. Louis Blues"
(1914) (uncredited)
Written by W.C. Handy

User Reviews

Sausages! Sausages! Sausages!

Faithless probably would have been a great film if it were made by any other studio than the artificially glossy MGM. However, the film is still immeasurably good, depending on how much you can take of Tallulah. Personally, I'll take Tallulah any day, and Faithless is an excellent star vehicle for her.

Tallulah's character starts out as a rich, superficial heiress who spends money like water. She intends to marry Robert Montgomery (giving one of his better performances, although my favorite will always be in "Untamed" with Crawford), and proposes to him, only to be discouraged when he insists they live on his meager earnings of $20,000 a year (compared to her millions, not much). She takes her time thinking about it and a couple weeks later finds out she has gone completely broke, spending frivolously for too long in the throes of the great depression! This is where the story takes an interesting turn. Tallulah goes to visit Montgomery, intending to explain her situation and marry him. However, he has some news for her as well. He has lost his job (as a sausage marketer!). As the story continues, there are some interesting and daring twists along the way. It is clear from the beginning the two main characters love each other, but will love be enough to keep them together during hard times? When Montgomery becomes ill, hurt in an incident involving scabs looking for work at a trucking company, Tallulah takes to street-walking in order to earn the money to help him get well again. Will all be forgiven in the end, and will her sacrifice for love be understood? Tallulah, contrary to some reviews, gives a strong performance. We don't quite believe her when she says, early in the film, "I have never smoked cigarettes or drank," but we believe her emotions, when she is on the street searching for food and jobs and suffering for her ailing husband.

The film is significant because Tallulah did not make many films, and so few of them can be viewed today. A stage actress, it is interesting to see her early in her career. Although not beautiful, she was very striking. Her look is similar to Crawford's in this period, with Adrian gowns and flawless lighting. However, she was not quite the beauty Crawford was. What Tallulah lacks in beauty she compensates for with energy, glamour, and charisma. Although not necessarily considered a great star or great actress, her legend has certainly persisted. Who could forget the voice, those eyes, or her pronunciation of "darling"? Catch Faithless when it appears on TCM. It is a very good film and a rare glimpse at the glorious Tallulah Bankhead.