Yes, Joan Barry - what a beautiful woman! That however isn't the only reason to watch this fabulous film. It's got a wickedly irreverent and genuinely funny sense humour throughout. Its story is thoroughly engaging and for 1932 it's remarkably well made.
The first five minutes is a montage of dreary office life in 1930s London - a superb homage to King Vidor's THE CROWD. This establishes the setting of a bored suburban young couple in want of excitement. Then they get it and to quote the old adage: be careful what you wish for because it might come true!
This is so different to most films of this period, certainly compared with American films in terms of story. Possibly because The Depression was so much worse in America, Hollywood pictures tended to be either uplifting aspirational stories or preachy sermons warning of the perils of ambition. In England, life in the 1930s was for most, actually a little better than it was in the 1920s so this picture isn't reacting to the shock of The Depression. In typical English style, this just laughs at those who think they're better than they are. At the time however it was seen as a little bit too cruel and unsympathetic which really harmed its box office appeal.
What makes this so enjoyable today (besides Joan Barry, whom I might have mentioned a few times is gorgeous!) is its glimpse into the life of normal, everyday people in 1932 and how remarkably similar it was to today - except for the weird accents of course! If however it was just a brilliant time capsule it would be interesting but because this is so well made, so naturalistically acted and filmed and edited with such energy it's thoroughly entertaining. Unlike a lot of early thirties pictures, it's not stagey, stationary or slow and the screenplay by Mr and Mrs Hitchcock, basing the characters a little on themselves makes Fred and Emily feel very real and genuine.
Although ultimately the truth that money doesn't buy you happiness is revealed, it's a warm, witty and charming film. It has a refreshingly different vibe to American films of the time with its topless showgirl, it's explicit adultery and disregard for received morality. It's quintessentially English, quaintly 1930s but somehow also feels quite modern......and Joan Barry is lovely!
