This could have been a decent society melodrama about a young woman going off the deep edge when she discovers the brutal truth about her birth, but poor direction and acting from usually decent players and capable B picture vet Phil Rosen destroys an otherwise decent script. All starts off okay with the big society party on a nice mansion set for engaged Joan Marsh and Hugh Marlowe.
But then very melodramatic Ann Codee shows up afterwards to spoil the party with blackmail intentions, threatening to go to the press with the revelation that Marsh was adopted, the daughter of a convicted murdereress she was in prison with. Codee is irritating to listen to, her performance hammy and the worst kind of theataricality, and unfortunately, that isn't the end of her time on film.
Soon, Marsh is neglecting Marlowe for reporter Ray Walker whose jealous partner Inez Courtney takes care of the drunken Codee to get info, adding more pain to Marsh and adoptive mother Doris Lloyd's life. Obviously filmed on a deadline, there was no time for real rehearsal or character development. Bit players Dick Elliott, Holmes Herbert and George Cleveland come off better than the leading players, and the film just ends up being a smarmy scandal sheet headline that fails to make a real impact when it could have been so much better.
But then very melodramatic Ann Codee shows up afterwards to spoil the party with blackmail intentions, threatening to go to the press with the revelation that Marsh was adopted, the daughter of a convicted murdereress she was in prison with. Codee is irritating to listen to, her performance hammy and the worst kind of theataricality, and unfortunately, that isn't the end of her time on film.
Soon, Marsh is neglecting Marlowe for reporter Ray Walker whose jealous partner Inez Courtney takes care of the drunken Codee to get info, adding more pain to Marsh and adoptive mother Doris Lloyd's life. Obviously filmed on a deadline, there was no time for real rehearsal or character development. Bit players Dick Elliott, Holmes Herbert and George Cleveland come off better than the leading players, and the film just ends up being a smarmy scandal sheet headline that fails to make a real impact when it could have been so much better.