Wow, is this a strange film. The Gaults are a crazy and disturbing couple. The wife (Ruth Chatterton) craves excitement and goes from one meaningless affair to another--caring very little for the men she beds. As for the husband (George Brent--in a VERY atypical role), he is just fine with all her infidelities--provided she exploit these relationships to get him stock tips! As a result, they are rather rich and, in their own sick way, happy. However, when the Stock Market Crash occurs in 1929, their world is turned upside down and they are now faced with living within their means for a change! As for Ruth, she continues with her whoring--and lets men take care of her in a manner to which she's grown very accustomed. As for the marriage, it is over in all but name and she is out sleeping around in fashionable places while he is back home--trying to rebuild his fortune. Occasionally, and for reasons unknown, she occasionally gets one of her lovers to send the hubby some money! As I said...pretty disturbing! Eventually this weird relationship, however, appears ready to end as Ruth is tiring of this arrangement AND she's met a man who she's actually fallen for! And, uncharacteristically, Ruth decides to finally do something she never thought she'd do....get a job and pay her own way! Yet, as the audience watches, they can't help but think that despite all this, she and Brent might just stay married after all as despite everything there is some sort of super-creepy connection that binds them (what this is, I have no idea). What happens next you'll have to see for yourself.
In many ways, this film is entertaining. Mostly it's because the plot is so wicked and the couple so bizarre that you can't stop watching! In addition, the film is so unusual (even for Pre-Code films) that it keeps you guessing! It's not great...but well acted and interesting despite its warped finale. What a sick little film!! As for Ruth Chatterton, such amoral roles were pretty typical for her and seeing her playing such a vacuous vixen worked. But George Brent, on the other hand, usually played very self-reliant and proud men--nothing like the sinister cuckold he plays here. Once the stronger Production Code was enacted starting in mid-1934, however, such roles were rare for Chatterton and Brent played significantly more manly roles. Promiscuity and amorality of the sort in this film simply wasn't allowed due to the restrictive and more family-friendly Code--so Chatterton's career slowly fizzled.
It also is interesting that Chatterton and Brent married shortly before this film debuted. Their marriage, like the one in the film, wasn't a strong one and only lasted about two years.
In many ways, this film is entertaining. Mostly it's because the plot is so wicked and the couple so bizarre that you can't stop watching! In addition, the film is so unusual (even for Pre-Code films) that it keeps you guessing! It's not great...but well acted and interesting despite its warped finale. What a sick little film!! As for Ruth Chatterton, such amoral roles were pretty typical for her and seeing her playing such a vacuous vixen worked. But George Brent, on the other hand, usually played very self-reliant and proud men--nothing like the sinister cuckold he plays here. Once the stronger Production Code was enacted starting in mid-1934, however, such roles were rare for Chatterton and Brent played significantly more manly roles. Promiscuity and amorality of the sort in this film simply wasn't allowed due to the restrictive and more family-friendly Code--so Chatterton's career slowly fizzled.
It also is interesting that Chatterton and Brent married shortly before this film debuted. Their marriage, like the one in the film, wasn't a strong one and only lasted about two years.