During her four year non-exclusive contract years with Warner Brothers, Barbra Stanwyck defined what made the pre-code movie heroine so interesting. She wasn't afraid of being ashamed of her sins or her schemes or her desires. This is not the scheming murderess Stanwyck of "Double Indemnity" or "Martha Ivers", but a woman raised by her father with the love of cards, and able to swindle a nasty socialite out of her jewelry simply because she wanted to. In this nasty socialite's (Claire Dodd) case, she gets what she's coming to, daring Stanwyck to outshine her in a game of 21 which nearly results in Dodd stripping off her fur lined top. Stanwyck rose up in society the hard way here, going from backroom casinos to Monte Carlo by marrying Joel McCrea whom she had earlier blamed for setting her up at one of those backroom casinos.
Upon being introduced to McCrea's father (the wonderful Sir C. Aubrey Smith), Stanwyck stands up to his test after their re-introduction scene turns into Smith trying to bribe Stanwyck into dumping McCrea. It's playful and sweet, especially after Smith tells Stanwyck that he had been hoping for a fight, so he has no choice but to give in and let her marry Stanwyck. It's clear that Smith is just upset that he's too old to woo her himself, because at heart, his old man is just as much a rascal as Stanwyck is, and it is clear that as a daughter-in-law, he will love the challenge of trying to tame her and keep the marriage intact as well.
Also appearing in the film is Pat O'Brien, but he has little to do as an old co-hort of Stanwyck's who can only watch from the sidelines as Stanwyck and McCrea become closer. The story is trite and predictable, but there are moments in the script that are very funny. Of all of the rivals in her films, Stanwyck finds one of her best in Dodd who may briefly believe that she's won McCrea away from her, but the odds are against her, thanks to Smith who has no intention of allowing his son's marriage to break up. A very funny scene with maid Louise Beavers wraps everything up neatly. This is a typical short (67 minutes) Warner Brothers women's picture, yet one that men can enjoy because of the gambling plotline.
Upon being introduced to McCrea's father (the wonderful Sir C. Aubrey Smith), Stanwyck stands up to his test after their re-introduction scene turns into Smith trying to bribe Stanwyck into dumping McCrea. It's playful and sweet, especially after Smith tells Stanwyck that he had been hoping for a fight, so he has no choice but to give in and let her marry Stanwyck. It's clear that Smith is just upset that he's too old to woo her himself, because at heart, his old man is just as much a rascal as Stanwyck is, and it is clear that as a daughter-in-law, he will love the challenge of trying to tame her and keep the marriage intact as well.
Also appearing in the film is Pat O'Brien, but he has little to do as an old co-hort of Stanwyck's who can only watch from the sidelines as Stanwyck and McCrea become closer. The story is trite and predictable, but there are moments in the script that are very funny. Of all of the rivals in her films, Stanwyck finds one of her best in Dodd who may briefly believe that she's won McCrea away from her, but the odds are against her, thanks to Smith who has no intention of allowing his son's marriage to break up. A very funny scene with maid Louise Beavers wraps everything up neatly. This is a typical short (67 minutes) Warner Brothers women's picture, yet one that men can enjoy because of the gambling plotline.