Havana Widows (1933)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Ray Enright

Writer:

Earl Baldwin (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 November 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Two golddiggers go fishing for millionaires in Havana.

Plot Keywords:

Chorus Girl | Turkish Bath | Show Business | Wedding | New York City

Cast

Joan Blondell	...	Mae Knight
Glenda Farrell	...	Sadie Appleby
Guy Kibbee	...	Deacon R. Jones
Allen Jenkins	...	Herman Brody
Lyle Talbot	...	Bob Jones
Frank McHugh	...	Mr. Duffy, the Lawyer
Ruth Donnelly	...	Mrs. Emily Jones
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Mr. Otis, Invincible Insurance
Ralph Ince	...	G.W. 'Butch' O'Neill
Maude Eburne	...	Mrs. Ryan, the Landlady
George Cooper	...	Paymaster Mullins
Charles C. Wilson	...	Mr. Timberg (as Charles Wilson)

Runtime:

62 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2695-R, 22 September 1936 for re-release)

Company:

First National Pictures

Quotes:

Showgirl: Violet got a Marine's name tattooed on her arm last night.
Sadie Appleby: By this time that arm must read like a regimental roll call.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Complicated Women (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Pretty Lady

Pre-code misfire

It's tempting to imagine this is a taste of the long-lost film CONVENTION CITY, made in the same year, from the same studio, with a similar themes, and some of the same cast (and, if you know Warner Bros, probably some of the same costumes, sets, and extras too).

I'm hoping this is not the case. HAVANA WIDOWS is a snooze, missing the grit and edge of the other Warner Bros films from their amazing 1931-33 output. This studio didn't always fare well with straight comedies--they usually struck gold with the dramas and musicals (and 2 horror movies), where the comedy played supporting role. I find similar problems with BLESSED EVENT: the comedy just has nothing to play against.

Joan Blondell (fresh off of FOOTLIGHT PARADE) and Glenda Farrell con their friend for ticket fare to Havana, in hopes of landing some rich sap. That's a good start, but even these two formidable talents cant put over the unfunny script, which wants to be saucy and naughty but cant seem to figure out how. In fact, there is only a little pre-Code pleasure to be found here, and by the end we descend into a pretty desperate slapstick finale.

This film is rarely shown (it was released on MGM/UA's laserdisc FORBIDDEN Hollywood VOLUME 2, but not on VHS), but there are occasionally copies to be found on ebay.