Ex-Lady (1933)

Although free spirit Helen Bauer does not believe in marriage, she consents to marry Don, but his infidelities cause her to also take on a lover.

Director:

Robert Florey

Writers:

David Boehm (screen play), Edith Fitzgerald (story),

Stars:

Bette Davis, Gene Raymond, Frank McHugh

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bette Davis	...	Helen Bauer
Gene Raymond	...	Don Peterson
Frank McHugh	...	Hugo Van Hugh
Monroe Owsley	...	Nick Malvyn
Claire Dodd	...	Iris Van Hugh
Kay Strozzi	...	Peggy Smith
Ferdinand Gottschalk	...	Mr. Herbert Smith
Alphonse Ethier	...	Mr. Adolphe Bauer, Helen's Father
Bodil Rosing	...	Helen's Mother

Storyline

Commercial artist Helen Bauer believes marriage kills romance. She lives with advertising writer Don Peterson. He convinces her to marry him. He later carries on with client Peggy Smith; Helen takes up with Don's competitor Nick Malvyn. In the end, the couple agree to give marriage another chance.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage | artist | free spirit | advertising | commercial artist | 

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Taglines:

So frank . . so outspoken... so true...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amante do Seu Marido

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$93,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vitaphone Corporation, The, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Remake of the 1931 film, Illicit, starring Barbara Stanwyck.

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Quotes

Nick Malvyn: I won't marry you.
Helen Bauer: Is that a promise?

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Connections

Referenced in Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002)

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Soundtracks

"You Know How"
(uncredited)
Written by Henry H. Tobias and Gordon Clifford

User Reviews

Woman's lib before its time.

Bette Davis portrays a woman that does not want to sacrifice her career for a man.She's a very modern woman for the time and the conclusion is rather daring :a couple is not ideally the best thing but for lack of anything better.In "Jules et Jim" ,thirty years later ,François Truffault would say the same.

As for the film itself,it's a big bore.There's nothing really witty or funny in the endless dialog between Davis and her husband .I almost fell asleep while watching it.Bette Davis is a superior actress,but she needs worthy material to work with.One wonders why someone would choose this,among all her great parts.