Ladies They Talk About (1933)

Attractive Nan, member of a bank-robbery gang, goes to prison thanks to evangelist Dave Slade...who loves her.

Directors:

Howard Bretherton, William Keighley

Writers:

Brown Holmes (screen play), William McGrath (screen play),

Stars:

Barbara Stanwyck, Preston Foster, Lyle Talbot

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Nan
Preston Foster	...	David Slade (as Preston S. Foster)
Lyle Talbot	...	Don
Dorothy Burgess	...	Susie
Lillian Roth	...	Linda
Maude Eburne	...	Aunt Maggie
Ruth Donnelly	...	Noonan
Harold Huber	...	Lefty
Robert McWade	...	District Attorney

Storyline

Gun moll Nan Taylor, caught after an otherwise successful bank robbery, falls for radio crusader David Slade and confides her guilt to him. Much to her surprise, he turns her in. As a "new fish" at San Quentin, Nan fits right in, but won't see Slade, who still loves her. Then she learns that her former partners in crime, Don and Dutch, are on the other side of the wall in the men's section...and have an escape plan.

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Plot Keywords:

bank robbery | evangelist | prison | moll | female protagonist | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 February 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Women in Prison

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play had a production in Los Angeles, California, USA, with co-author Dorothy Mackaye in the lead.

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Quotes

Susie: Say, there isn't any punishment bad enough for you!
Nan Taylor: Yeah? Well, being penned up here with a daffodil like you comes awful close.

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Connections

Remade as Lady Gangster (1942)

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Soundtracks

"Are You Lonesome Tonight?"
(1926) (uncredited)
Music by Lou Handman
Lyrics by Roy Turk
Played as background music often as the love theme

User Reviews

Pre-code Stanwyck

Nan Taylor (Barbara Stanwyck) is caught trying to help three men rob a bank. She sweet talks an innocent, powerful man David Slade (Preston Foster) into defending her, but confesses at the last minute. She's sent to prison and plots her revenge. The prison has a lesbian (shown once), a black prisoner who actually has lines (very surprising for the 1930s), a bird that terrorizes the inmates (don't ask), catfights and some pretty elaborate cells for the women. It makes prison seem like a great place to be!

A definite one of a kind with some pretty risque (for 1933) lines and situations. Barbara Stanwyck is just great in the title role. She tears into it and gives it her all--especially at the end. Lillian Roth also is very good as a fellow prisoner. As for Foster--he's tall and handsome...that's about it, but he fulfills his role.

Tough, fun, very quick (69 minutes) pre-Code movie. Definetely worth a look.