Complete credited cast: | |||
Virginia Davis | ... | Mary Keaton as a Child | |
Joan Blondell | ... | Mary Keaton | |
Anne Shirley | ... | Vivian Revere as a Child (as Dawn O'Day) | |
Ann Dvorak | ... | Vivian Revere | |
Betty Carse | ... | Ruth Westcott as a Child | |
Bette Davis | ... | Ruth Westcott | |
Warren William | ... | Robert Kirkwood | |
Lyle Talbot | ... | Michael Loftus | |
Humphrey Bogart | ... | Harve | |
Allen Jenkins | ... | Dick | |
Edward Arnold | ... | Ace |
Mary Keaton, Vivian Kirkwood (née Revere), and Ruth Westcott have just run into each other having not seen each other in ten years since they graduated from Public School 62 together, and become friends of sorts in their re-acquaintance. Their intervening lives went much as probably would have been predicted when they were in public school: Mary, the troublemaker who almost didn't graduate with her class, spent some time in a reformatory but went straight and became a showgirl; Vivian, the popular beauty with a charmed life, married wealthy and renowned lawyer Robert Kirkwood, the two with an adolescent son, Robert Jr.; and Ruth, the quiet, hard-working, smart one, who became a stenographer. While Mary's life took a positive turn since her reformatory years, Vivian has come to the realization that she is unhappy with her life, its path a little too easy in its predetermination. She realizes she probably never loved Robert. Her quest for pleasure, with a blessing of sorts from Robert ... Written by Huggo (updated by R.M. Sieger)
This was a fast-paced 63-minute story that was a combination women's film and film noir. With a cast that included Joan Blondell, Warren William, Ann Dvorak, Lyle Talbot, Bette Davis, Edward Arnold and Anne Shirley, you know it isn't going to be boring.
Dvorak has the principal role, playing a "dame" who is bored with her husband and her life and flies the coop. She winds up with a petty crook who needs money to pay off off his evil crime boss. The couple winds up in a kidnapping scheme which goes bad in a scene that is quite shocking.
The lingo of the day is interesting to hear as is Davis' youthful face. Arnold also looks really young, far more than I remember seeing him in other movies. Speaking of young, did I mention Humphrey Bogart and Glenda Farrell were also in this? Yes, it's full of surprises for classic film buffs. In another note: Shirley is billed under the name "Dawn O'Day."
I am glad this is now available on DVD. It looks great!