Dishonored Lady

The play "Dishonored Lady" opened on Broadway at the Empire Theatre on April 30, 1930, running for 127 performances. The play was written by Margaret Ayer Barnes and Edward Sheldon, directed by Guthrie McClintic and starring Katharine Cornell.

District attorney says Lamarr saw victim, went to his home, made love to him all for the purpose of influencing him, but when that failed, she murdered him. He says this is first degree murder. With no prior intent, at best this is manslaughter.

There are two versions of this film, exactly the same length, one with the car crash scene at the opening (possibly the TCM-screened version) which is moved to occur after Hedy's encounter with Courtland at his house (the version is available on Paramount Plus streaming service). Both versions work but it would be interesting to know the backstory about the two major edits. The only clue to the real version seems to support the opening with the car crash scene, because in that version Hedy dances at a club before meeting Courtland and while dancing with character Jack Garet who comments he can attest that she has no broken bones (meaning the opening scene with the car crash is correct). Yet, it is a somewhat strange scene to open with the suicide attempt with no groundwork, while a suicide attempt after her (regretful/guilty) encounter with Courtland at his home (in the Paramount version) is logical as well.

Featured in Dry Run (2010)