Indiscreta

Indiscreet is a pleasant film in the vein of a P. G. Wodehouse farce with many charming moments. The dialogue is consistently sharp, often amusing, and is similar to the comedic repartee of later films by Preston Sturges, Billy Wilder, and Frank Capra.

The plot revolves around a coquette, Geraldine Trent (Gloria Swanson), who finds the perfect man (Ben Lyon), only to be tempted by an old flame (Monroe Owsley). The choice she makes is easily predictable to connoisseurs of romantic comedy, but the plot is of secondary importance due to the presence of Gloria Swanson.

Prior to viewing Indiscreet, I had never seen Swanson in any other film aside from Billy Wilder's mesmerizing Sunset Boulevard. To see Swanson in this film is to be in awe of her magnetism and talent as an actress. A far cry from some 'one-note' comediennes of the silent era, Swanson imbues an otherwise shallow character with a layered personality. She is truly a forgotten gem of early cinema.

In contrast to Swanson's star power, Ben Lyon is flat and devoid of charm as her love interest. Supposedly one of the more popular stars of Hollywood, I fail to see any justification for such laurels. Indeed, a cardinal sin of any film is when the villain or rival is more charming and attractive than the hero. This film is guilty of that sin with a far more interesting Monroe Owsley cast as the rival.

Despite the lackluster performance of Lyon and some predictable elements, Indiscreet is an entertaining film. At the very least, watch Indiscreet to glimpse a young Gloria Swanson at the height of her powers.