The Clinging Vine

Mannish looking Leatrice Joy (as "A.B." Allen) is the brains behind a paint company headed by office putter Robert Edeson (as T.M. "Grandpa" Bancroft). With her suit, tie, and boyish haircut, Ms. Joy makes all the important decisions at the company, including the firing of the boss' grandson, Tom Moore (as Jimmie Bancroft). While she is very successful, Joy is also very sad. Why? For starters, she has never been kissed by a man. At a social gathering on Mr. Edeson's estate, spry old Toby Claude (as "Grandma" Bancroft) directs Joy to pluck eyebrows, bat eyelashes, and dress like a woman. Joy is taught to speak to men by simply interjecting the two phrases "Do go on!" and "Aren't you wonderful!"

The new, womanly "Antoinette" is a bit hit with men, especially Mr. Moore. As "The Clinging Vine" of the title, Joy performs well. Unfortunately, the story is silly and sexist. Most interesting is the fact that Joy dresses much better as a male than a female. Formerly married to superstar John Gilbert, Joy could play the typical attractive leading woman as well as these occasional "mannish" roles. Unlike many famous actresses from the 1920s to the present, she actually looks like a "juvenile young man" of her era. If you think Katharine Hepburn ("Sylvia Scarlett"), Greta Garbo ("Queen Christina"), Julie Andrews ("Victor/Victoria"), and Barbra Streisand ("Yentl") masqueraded well as men, check out Leatrice Joy.

**** The Clinging Vine (9/6/26) Paul Sloane ~ Leatrice Joy, Tom Moore, Robert Edeson, Snitz Edwards