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Virtue

  • 19321932
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 8m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
829
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Carole Lombard and Pat O'Brien in Virtue (1932)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Romance
A relationship gradually develops between a savvy New York street girl and a good-hearted cab driver, but other matters keep getting in their way, including financial problems and a murder.A relationship gradually develops between a savvy New York street girl and a good-hearted cab driver, but other matters keep getting in their way, including financial problems and a murder.A relationship gradually develops between a savvy New York street girl and a good-hearted cab driver, but other matters keep getting in their way, including financial problems and a murder.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
829
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Edward Buzzell
  • Writers
    • Robert Riskin(screen play)
    • Ethel Hill(story)
  • Stars
    • Carole Lombard
    • Pat O'Brien
    • Mayo Methot
Top credits
  • Director
    • Edward Buzzell
  • Writers
    • Robert Riskin(screen play)
    • Ethel Hill(story)
  • Stars
    • Carole Lombard
    • Pat O'Brien
    • Mayo Methot
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos10

    Carole Lombard and Pat O'Brien in Virtue (1932)
    Carole Lombard in Virtue (1932)
    Carole Lombard and Shirley Grey in Virtue (1932)
    Ward Bond, Carole Lombard, Pat O'Brien, Charles McMurphy, Buddy Roosevelt, Fred Santley, Harry Semels, and Arthur Wanzer in Virtue (1932)
    Carole Lombard, Pat O'Brien, Vance Carroll, Jack Cheatham, Shirley Grey, Lew Kelly, and Mayo Methot in Virtue (1932)
    Carole Lombard and Mayo Methot in Virtue (1932)
    Carole Lombard and Pat O'Brien in Virtue (1932)
    Carole Lombard and Mayo Methot in Virtue (1932)
    Carole Lombard, Pat O'Brien, Jack La Rue, Fred Santley, Harry Semels, and Arthur Wanzer in Virtue (1932)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Carole Lombard
    Carole Lombard
    • Maeas Mae
    Pat O'Brien
    Pat O'Brien
    • Jimmy Doyleas Jimmy Doyle
    Mayo Methot
    Mayo Methot
    • Lil Blaineas Lil Blaine
    Jack La Rue
    Jack La Rue
    • Tootsas Toots
    Shirley Grey
    Shirley Grey
    • Gertas Gert
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Frankas Frank
    Willard Robertson
    Willard Robertson
    • MacKenzieas MacKenzie
    Lew Kelly
    • Magistrateas Magistrate
    Fred Santley
    • Hankas Hank
    Arthur Wanzer
    • Flanaganas Flanagan
    Jessie Arnold
    Jessie Arnold
    • Landladyas Landlady
    Edwin Stanley
    Edwin Stanley
    • District Attorneyas District Attorney
    Vance Carroll
    • Policemanas Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Cheatham
    Jack Cheatham
    • Police Desk Sergeantas Police Desk Sergeant
    • (uncredited)
    Sherry Hall
    • Charlieas Charlie
    • (uncredited)
    Edward LeSaint
    Edward LeSaint
    • Judgeas Judge
    • (uncredited)
    Charles McMurphy
    Charles McMurphy
    • Ryanas Ryan
    • (uncredited)
    Lew Meehan
    Lew Meehan
    • 2nd Detectiveas 2nd Detective
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Edward Buzzell
    • Writers
      • Robert Riskin(screen play)
      • Ethel Hill(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Taxicab driver Jimmy Doyle (Pat O'Brien) marries a girl of the streets, Mae (Carole Lombard and, overlooking her past, sets out to make a honest woman of her. But, during the reformation period, Mae returns to a hotel of ill repute to collect the $200 she once loaned to a street-walking girlfriend. Jimmy mistakenly thinks she has turned pro again and her situation worsens when she is implicated in a murder and jailed awaiting a court trial. —Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
    • deception
    • pre code film
    • street walker
    • proibition era
    • 1920s
    • 74 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • YESTERDAY A LADY WITH A PAST...TODAY THE WIFE OF THE MAN SHE LOVED! (original three-sheet poster-all caps)
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Carole Lombard and the president of Columbia Pictures, Harry Cohn, met for the first time right before production on this film began. Cohn, famous for his opinionated and profanity-laced comments, told Lombard that her hair was too white and made her look like a whore. Not missing a beat, Lombard responded, "if anyone would know a whore it would be you." After this rocky start, the two developed a mutual respect that lasted the rest of their careers.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Flanagan: [at the ticket window at a train station] Pretty soft for you, sister, getting the city to pay your fare to Danbury.

      Mae: Pretty soft for the city I don't live in Australia. C'mon, grandpa.

      Flanagan: [on the train, placing Mae's luggage on the rack] There y'are.

      [to the conductor]

      Flanagan: The lady goes to Danbury, chief.

      [to Mae]

      Flanagan: Now take my advice, sister, and keep out of New York.

      Mae: [snidely] OK, grandpa. I'll remember all your advice: I'll watch my diet, go to the dentist twice a year, keep my nose clean, and pray for you every night - to break a couple of legs.

      [closeup on Mae's gams as she crosses them; fadeout]

    • Alternate versions
      Years later, Columbia reissued the film to capitalize on the subsequent stardom of Lombard and O'Brien. The Breen Office demanded the removal of the opening courtroom scene (which clearly establishes Lombard as a prostitute) to conform to the Production Code. In restoring the film, the original soundtrack was located, but the image is still missing, thus current prints have a slug (blank footage) for the opening scene, leading some viewers to believe the black image was intentional.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Carole Lombard (1961)
    • Soundtracks
      My Gal Sal
      (1905) (uncredited)

      Written by Paul Dresser

      Played on a phonograph in Lil's room, twice

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Good Acting -- Pretty Good Script
    This movie asks that not unusual pre-Code movie question -- can a woman live down her tawdry past by marrying a good-hearted lout? And, while there is the usual collection of misunderstandings and Plot Contrivances, some really sharp acting out of Lombard and (of all people) Pat O'Brien. Also helpful is that this movie never loses sight of its emotional core, the understandably troubled relationship between Lombard and O'Brien. Also interesting is that Mayo Methot (the future battling Bogart) gets a far larger role than is usual -- and is good in it. Ward Bond also appears.

    See this if you want to see Pat O'Brien do perhaps his best take on his urban loud-mouth with a heart of mush character. Maybe he is reacting to the genuine warmth coming off of Lombard's character. But it's unusual to see a Columbia movie of this vintage this well-acted, outside of Capra and Stanwyck.

    Definitely worth a look. But don't really look for surprises in the plot. That is standard order for one of these ex-fallen-woman numbers.
    helpful•13
    4
    • alonzoiii-1
    • Dec 17, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 25, 1932 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Добродетель
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Carole Lombard on TCM: My Man Godfrey, Nothing Sacred, The Racketeer
    Aug 29Alt Film Guide
    Carole Lombard Movie Schedule: Mr. And Mrs. Smith, Vigil In The Night, In Name Only
    Aug 28Alt Film Guide

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