Nobody would describe this as a good film but it's actually quite entertaining and fun. What makes it so watchable is that gorgeous, cuddly bundle of joy, that proto-Marilyn Monroe, Alice White.
Like many pictures made in 1929, it looks like a silent film; its exaggerated movements and facial expressions are pure silent cinema. But this has got sound, lots of sound and apart from the stilted vocal delivery (due to poor equipment, not poor acting) it's used to great effect in enhancing the mood and feel of a time even before the Depression. Although this is horribly handicapped by being made using Warner's unwieldy Vitaphone system - which was obsolete as soon as it was invented, Mervyn LeRoy works wonders with the hand he's been dealt. These very early Vitaphone pictures were hampered by the sound recording to often be confined to a static studio set but visually this one is quite impressive with some great cinematography. In terms of storytelling, LeRoy pulls a rabbit out of the bag by making it compelling and honestly quite exciting. It is better than you'd expect because of its decent story and decent director. If you compare his innovative style with that of Edward Cline who made the atrocious SWEET MAMA, again with the lovely Alice White a few months after this, you will understand why Mervyn LeRoy is still remembered today.
The story, which is by Vina Delmar is simple but engrossing - somehow completely unrealistic yet also believable. What's it about: blonde bimbo ditches her dull, dumb idiot boyfriend for a slick, smooth creep whom to everyone but her, is obviously some sort of minor gangster. It's a cracking little plot and I honestly did not see the plot twist coming - I was genuinely surprised! The dialogue is silly but it isn't meant to be taken that seriously, it's delivered straight but it's all very tongue in cheek and works keeping everything light-hearted but still conveying the daft but enjoyable story.
Most people will watch this because of Alice White, lovely Alice White! She might have been a pretty awful actress but she's so adorable that you instantly forgive her lack of talent. Like Marilyn Monroe did twenty years later, she invented a character and became that role: Alice White was created by Alice White because that's what the movies wanted at that point in time. She had never even planned to become an actress; she was a slightly chubby, dark-haired script girl working for Charlie Chaplin with a nick name of Peter Rabbit then one day a cameraman suggested she put on a blonde wig and 'pout like a movie star' to test his equipment. From that moment, Alva White became Alice White. In this picture she really plays up to that dizzy blonde caricature of herself. Obviously she would never win any Oscars but in this one she does put some effort into proper acting and it's considered to be one of her best films.
Inexplicably Alice While isn't to everyone's taste but if she is, this is a must for you. Some of you may find her wide-eyed cuteness and sweet little girl voice unbearable but if you do you clearly are a loathsome spotted reptile with no soul.
