Entre casados

A lot of folks assume that back in the old days, films were super- puritanical and chaste. Well, that might be said about many of the films released after mid-1934, but before that things were a lot different--particularly in the early 30s. The studios had a production code which supposedly mandated 'nice behavior' up until 1934, but the studios routinely ignored it and made films with plots involving adultery, fornication, abortion, prostitution and the like. They also featured cursing and nudity in a few cases...and some of it is pretty shocking when seen today. But the public outcry and loss of revenue eventually resulted in a long list of dos and don'ts and the film soon were highly sanitized.

"Men Call It Love" is one of these Hollywood films that came out before the tough Production Code of 1934. It's pretty obvious, as the theme in this one is adultery--and practically all the folks in this film are either married and cheating on their spouses or single and DEFINITELY playing the field! Subtle, it ain't!

The film features Leila Hyams as Connie...the only married person not cheating in this film. However, when she eventually realizes that her husband is a weak, no-good cheater, she decides to make up for lost time and chases playboy, Tony (Adolph Menjou), like a dog chasing after a pork chop! What's going to become of Connie-- especially because it seems like, down deep, this sort of life isn't for her. Will she be happy with her new lascivious lifestyle-- especially after she proposes to her husband that they adopt an open marriage?

In some ways this is a pretty good film, in other ways it isn't. The plot is certainly unusual and the acting is pretty good. But the film also is incredibly talky and rather slow--and perhaps too subtle. If it had been MORE sensationalistic and sleazy like some of its competition, it probably would have been a lot more entertaining. It also has an oddly confusing message that manages to be both pro-marriage AND pro-adultery (provided you don't get caught).