Should Ladies Behave (1933)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Harry Beaumont

Writers:

Paul Osborn (play)
Bella Spewack (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

An unhappy couple (Alice Brady, Lionel Barrymore) watch as their daughter (Mary Carlisle) throws herself...

Plot Keywords:

Artist | Dollhouse | Connecticut | Question In Title | Theater

Cast

Lionel Barrymore	...	Augustus Merrick
Alice Brady	...	Laura Merrick
Conway Tearle	...	Max Lawrence
Katharine Alexander	...	Mrs. Winifred Lamont
Mary Carlisle	...	Leone Merrick
William Janney	...	Geoffrey Cole
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Louis

Also Known As:

The Vinegar Tree (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The original play opened in New York on 19 November 1930.

Soundtrack:

Rockabye Baby

Alternating witty and dreadful

By the end of the first 15 minutes, we've been introduced to three couples: Gussie and Laura (Lionel Barrymore and Alice Brady), Leone and Geoff (Mary Carlisle and William Janney), and Max and Winkie (Conway Tearle and Katharine Alexander). Gussie and Laura have an unpleasant-appearing marriage, with Gussie irritable and Laura flightier than a very, very flighty Billie Burke. Leone is dissatisfied with the Callow Geoff. Winkie, who we'll learn is Leone's oft-married sister, is having an affair with artist Max, who is introduced to, and entranced by, Leone.

Winkie arranges a rendezvous for Max and herself at Gussie and Laura's place, where Max falls further victim to Leone's innocent charms while the vapid Laura believes that he has come back to claim her after a promise she recalls him making to her 25 years ago.

Gussie's aggravation with Laura becomes tiresome to the viewer, and Laura's ditziness does so as well. Max's instantaneous enthrallment by the unrealistically child-like Leone (who still retreats to her almost life-sized doll-house under stress) rings as false and stagy as one might expect from something based on an early-20th-century stage play. But through the viewer's frustration there are glimmers of real quality. Winkie is a great character and Alexander does her wonderful justice. Gussie's scenes with Leone, especially when he tries to talk her out of her plans with Max, are very moving--as is Laura's attempt to do the same.

It's difficult to recommend such a spotty film, but it's almost worth it for Geoffrey's solution to his relationship problem and, especially, the wonderful reveal at the very end.

I found myself liking this film far more than it deserved. And the Adrian gowns are fantastic--especially Laura's black gown with the open shoulders.