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IMDbPro

Once a Lady

  • 19311931
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
50
YOUR RATING
Ruth Chatterton in Once a Lady (1931)
  • Drama
"Once a Lady" is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Guthrie McClintic and starring Ruth Chatterton, Ivor Novello, and Jill Esmond. The film, produced and distributed by Paramoun... Read all"Once a Lady" is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Guthrie McClintic and starring Ruth Chatterton, Ivor Novello, and Jill Esmond. The film, produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, is a remake of the Pola Negri silent film "Three Sinners" (1928). The film was... Read all"Once a Lady" is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Guthrie McClintic and starring Ruth Chatterton, Ivor Novello, and Jill Esmond. The film, produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, is a remake of the Pola Negri silent film "Three Sinners" (1928). The film was British matinée idol Novello's final attempt to establish himself in Hollywood.
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
50
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Guthrie McClintic
  • Writers
    • Zoe Akins(adaptation)
    • Rudolph Bernauer(play "The Second Life")
    • Samuel Hoffenstein(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ruth Chatterton
    • Ivor Novello
    • Jill Esmond
Top credits
  • Director
    • Guthrie McClintic
  • Writers
    • Zoe Akins(adaptation)
    • Rudolph Bernauer(play "The Second Life")
    • Samuel Hoffenstein(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Ruth Chatterton
    • Ivor Novello
    • Jill Esmond
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos20

    Ruth Chatterton, Ivor Novello, and Theodore von Eltz in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton, Geoffrey Kerr, Claude King, and Ivor Novello in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton and Bramwell Fletcher in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton and Geoffrey Kerr in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton, Geoffrey Kerr, and Gwendolyn Logan in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton and Geoffrey Kerr in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton and Geoffrey Kerr in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton and Geoffrey Kerr in Once a Lady (1931)
    Ruth Chatterton in Once a Lady (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ruth Chatterton
    Ruth Chatterton
    • Anna Keremazoffas Anna Keremazoff
    Ivor Novello
    Ivor Novello
    • Bennett Cloudas Bennett Cloud
    Jill Esmond
    Jill Esmond
    • Faith Penwickas Faith Penwick
    Geoffrey Kerr
    Geoffrey Kerr
    • Jimmy Fenwickas Jimmy Fenwick
    Doris Lloyd
    Doris Lloyd
    • Lady Ellen Somervilleas Lady Ellen Somerville
    Herbert Bunston
    Herbert Bunston
    • Roger Fenwickas Roger Fenwick
    Gwendolyn Logan
    • Mrs. Fenwickas Mrs. Fenwick
    Stella Moore
    • Alice Fenwickas Alice Fenwick
    Edith Kingdon
    Edith Kingdon
    • Caroline Gryceas Caroline Gryce
    Bramwell Fletcher
    Bramwell Fletcher
    • Allen Corinthas Allen Corinth
    Theodore von Eltz
    Theodore von Eltz
    • Harry Cosdenas Harry Cosden
    Ethel Griffies
    Ethel Griffies
    • Miss Bleekeras Miss Bleeker
    Claude King
    Claude King
    • Sir William Greshamas Sir William Gresham
    Lillian Rich
    Lillian Rich
    • Jane Vernonas Jane Vernon
    Susanne Ransom
    • Faith Fenwick as a Childas Faith Fenwick as a Child
    • (as Suzanne Ransom)
    Leonard Carey
    Leonard Carey
    • Butleras Butler
    • (uncredited)
    Adrienne D'Ambricourt
    Adrienne D'Ambricourt
    • Propriétaire - Cafe des Mariniersas Propriétaire - Cafe des Mariniers
    • (uncredited)
    Marilyn Knowlden
    Marilyn Knowlden
    • Little Girlas Little Girl
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Guthrie McClintic
    • Writers
      • Zoe Akins(adaptation) (screenplay)
      • Rudolph Bernauer(play "The Second Life")
      • Samuel Hoffenstein(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was Ivor Novello's only appearance in a Hollywood feature film. Hugely successful in the UK as a film and theatre performer, dramatist and songwriter and lionized as the epitome of modern male beauty, he was signed up by MGM and installed in a house in Malibu. The money was good, but frustratingly the opportunities to work turned out to be few and far between. Producers and directors felt he was too effete for American audiences - they preferred the more rugged masculinity of Gary Cooper - so instead of appearing in front of the camera, he was relegated to back-room work, such as contributing the dialogue for the first Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movie, Tarzan the Ape Man (1932). He is supposed to have come up with the dialogue for the immortal "You Tarzan, Me Jane" scene. There was plenty of time to party and he spent a great deal of it with his Hollywood best friends, Joan Crawford and 'Douglas Fairbanks Jr'. He also mixed with the gay set that included William Haines and Lilyan Tashman. He struck up an enduring friendship with Greta Garbo (he could speak a few words of Swedish after a propaganda visit to Stockholm during WWI) and he may have had a romance with Ramon Navarro among others. Knowing he was keen to appear as an actor in a motion picture, his close friend Ruth Chatterton suggested that Paramount hire him for Once a Lady (1931), in which she was to star. Not long afterwards Novello talked Irving Thalberg into suspending his contract, and he headed back to the UK. In his luggage he had the manuscripts of at least two new plays, written during his spare-time in Hollywood, and soon they would be big hits in London's West End. Once reestablished back in Britain, he embarked on a brand new phase of his career, as the writer, composer and star of spectacular musicals for the Theatre Royal Drury Lane which would make him one of the British Stage's greatest box-office draws of the 30s, 40s and early 50s.
    • Connections
      Version of Three Sinners (1928)

    User reviews4

    Review
    Top review
    3/10
    Chatterton's accent alone sinks this film.
    When the movie begins, Anna Keremazoff (Ruth Chatterton) marries a rich but very weak twit. His fancy family is not at all happy that instead of marrying a society girl he married some common Russian lady...and the family never makes Anna feel welcome in any way. As for her husband Jimmy, since he's so weak and ineffectual, he does nothing to support his wife and actually eventually sides with them against her. Not surprisingly, Anna is miserable and has a brief affair. What's next? See the film.

    Listening to Ruth Chatterton put on a heavy and fake sounding Russian accent strikes the viewer immediately. You can't help but be taken out of the story by this and it's obvious that this is outside her acting range. The stilted dialog sure didn't help either.

    If it sounds like I was not thrilled by the movie, you are right. Its long-suffering mother angle was common back in the day (with films such as "Madame X", which ALSO starred Chatterton, being adored by the public)...and my advice is to see one of them instead. This one is just stilted and silly...and almost exclusively due to the silly Russian character.
    helpful•3
    1
    • planktonrules
    • Jan 12, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 7, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 激流を横切る女
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

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