Rockabye

I believe this is the earliest Joel McCrea film I've seen thus far, though I am familiar with many of hislater films. By contract, I just discovered Constance Bennett this weekend, watching as I am all her Summer Under The Stars films featured on TCM.

I can now say without reservation that the charm-o-meter pointed entirely in McCrea's direction. He's ridiculously good-looking and has exquisite physical movement. Bennett, while not exactly a dog's behind like, say, Bette Davis, has no s3x appeal, no zip, no nothing. She's just a doll playing dressup. Maybe Depression-Era audiences were thrilled to see her change outfits every scene. Snoozerama for me.

There is one interesting pre-Code scene in the kitchen. Bennett slaps McCrea suggestively. McCrea gives her a playful shove back. They do this a couple more times. All thetime smiling. It's pretty clear what they were going for here. But that's where the thrills end.