Manhandled (1924)

Gloria Swanson plays Tessie McGuire, a shopgirl who, when her boyfriend breaks their date one evening, goes to a party with a louche crowd of artists and hangers-on. She wows them with some... See full summary »

Director:

Allan Dwan

Writers:

Frank Tuttle (scenario) (as Frank W. Tuttle), Sidney R. Kent (story)

Stars:

Gloria Swanson, Tom Moore, Lilyan Tashman

Cast

Cast overview:
Gloria Swanson	...	Tessie McGuire
Tom Moore	...	Jim Hogan
Lilyan Tashman	...	Pinkie Moran
Ian Keith	...	Robert Brandt
Arthur Housman	...	Chip Thorndyke
Paul McAllister	...	Paul Garretson
Frank Morgan	...	Arno Riccardi
Pierre Collosse	...	Bippo (as M. Collosse)
Marie Shelton	...	Model
Carrie Scott	...	Boarding House Keeper
Ann Pennington	...	Ann Pennington
Brooke Johns	...	Brooke Johns
Frank Allworth	...	Salesman

Storyline

Gloria Swanson plays Tessie McGuire, a shopgirl who, when her boyfriend breaks their date one evening, goes to a party with a louche crowd of artists and hangers-on. She wows them with some zesty mimicry, and so gains an introduction to a better-paying job, impersonating a high-toned Russian countess to attract snobby customers into a dressmaker's establishment.

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Plot Keywords:

society | 

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Taglines:

What a story! What a star! Gloria at both ends of the fashion ladder. "Manhandled" has it all! Climbing the false social ladder to success, swamped with silks and furs, MANHANDLED, only to find in the end that honesty, even in love, is the best policy.(Print Ad,The Monroe Journal,((Monroe, NC)) 17 February 1925)

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gloria Swanson had never held down a customer service job, or any form of employment outside of acting, so she spent two days at Gimbel's Department Store in New York working as a sales clerk to prepare for her role as Tessie. While there, she managed to successfully remain disguised beneath a blonde wig. She got competitive enough to try and out-sell her co-workers, none of whom recognized her.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood: Swanson and Valentino (1980)

User Reviews

Disappointing comedy with glowing Swanson performance.

Not much plot here as Gloria, the shop girl, attempts to enter high society, only to discover that high society men want only one thing.

Swanson's performance is the only remarkable thing about this ordinary morality tale. She shines - especially in the justifiably renowned subway scene (where she is manhandled in a very different way) and when she impersonates a Russian countess. Gloria learnt more with Mack Sennett than she may have thought - her comic abilities are very strong.

My comments here are based on viewing a very poor print, with a terrible music score, from Nostalgia Family Video. It only ran 50 minutes so I suspect it was cut. Are there better prints around?

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

None English

Release Date:

22 July 1924 (USA)

Also Known As:

Manhandled

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1