Marian Marsh should have had a bigger career - she had a doll-like prettiness, was sweet and when the role called for it (ie "Five Star Final" (1931)) a good little actress. "Under 18" had been given a lot of publicity but failed dismally at the box office and when Marian rebelled, Warners unceremoniously dumped her. She then started the uncertain path of freelancing. It"s not hard to understand why the public stayed away. The theme was typical of a lot of movies at the time - the plight of the poor working girl, faced with mountainous problems and no money - what's a girl to do? The publicity may have talked this up, the title "Under 18" was lurid but a tease and had nothing to do with the plot. Were Warners really going to let their sweet little ingenue, Marian Marsh, find the money she needs (for her sister's divorce) "the easiest way" - not on your life!!! The movie promised much but didn't deliver, anyway Constance Bennett had the market cornered on these types of movies - at least she really sinned before she saw the light!!!
Margie Evans (Marian Marsh) hopes, some day, to find the same happiness as her sister, Sophie (Anita Page) who is about to marry her dream man Alf (Norman Foster). A few years down the track, Alf is a loafer who is allergic to work and if ever a wife could drive her husband around the bend it is Sophie, who has turned into a nagging drudge. They turn up at Margie and her mother's flat and within a few days have turned Margie from a contented, soon to be married (to Jimmie) starry eyed girl to one who desperately wants to escape the drudgery of tenement life. (A weird thing - when Sophie arrives at the flat she is carrying a baby in her arms but the next morning the baby has turned into a toddler!!!)
When all the girls are at lunch, Margie, who is a seamstress, is asked to model a fur coat for playboy about town, Raymond Harding (Warren William makes the most of a supporting role) and his latest flame (Claire Dodd). Nothing comes of it but when Sophie announces she is fed up with Alf and wants a divorce, Margie remembers Raymmond's kindness (he sent her mother some flowers) and goes to him for a loan (the lawyer has asked for a $200 fee). She goes to his penthouse - he happens to be throwing a pool party and after a few "suggestive" scenes including bathing suits and peignoirs, Jimmie (Regis Toomey) bursts in. He is angry and goes to give Margie a good slap, then decides to hit Raymond instead. Raymond falls to the ground and suddenly it looks as though Jimmie is facing a murder charge!!
The movie juggles it's moods between high drama and hijinks. For a movie made before the code it did not deliver on it's promises. For every scene of Marsh in a moral conflict, the next shows her snuggling contentedly up to Jimmie in the front seat of his bread van, whistling "Happy Days Are Here Again". Talking pictures showed up Page's limitations as an actress. The hysteria and dramatics that worked so well and got her noticed in "Our Dancing Daughters" and "Our Modern Maidens", didn't seem to work in "Under Eighteen". I also recognised beautiful, but uncredited Lillian Bond as a disheveled girl in an elevator.
Recommended.
Margie Evans (Marian Marsh) hopes, some day, to find the same happiness as her sister, Sophie (Anita Page) who is about to marry her dream man Alf (Norman Foster). A few years down the track, Alf is a loafer who is allergic to work and if ever a wife could drive her husband around the bend it is Sophie, who has turned into a nagging drudge. They turn up at Margie and her mother's flat and within a few days have turned Margie from a contented, soon to be married (to Jimmie) starry eyed girl to one who desperately wants to escape the drudgery of tenement life. (A weird thing - when Sophie arrives at the flat she is carrying a baby in her arms but the next morning the baby has turned into a toddler!!!)
When all the girls are at lunch, Margie, who is a seamstress, is asked to model a fur coat for playboy about town, Raymond Harding (Warren William makes the most of a supporting role) and his latest flame (Claire Dodd). Nothing comes of it but when Sophie announces she is fed up with Alf and wants a divorce, Margie remembers Raymmond's kindness (he sent her mother some flowers) and goes to him for a loan (the lawyer has asked for a $200 fee). She goes to his penthouse - he happens to be throwing a pool party and after a few "suggestive" scenes including bathing suits and peignoirs, Jimmie (Regis Toomey) bursts in. He is angry and goes to give Margie a good slap, then decides to hit Raymond instead. Raymond falls to the ground and suddenly it looks as though Jimmie is facing a murder charge!!
The movie juggles it's moods between high drama and hijinks. For a movie made before the code it did not deliver on it's promises. For every scene of Marsh in a moral conflict, the next shows her snuggling contentedly up to Jimmie in the front seat of his bread van, whistling "Happy Days Are Here Again". Talking pictures showed up Page's limitations as an actress. The hysteria and dramatics that worked so well and got her noticed in "Our Dancing Daughters" and "Our Modern Maidens", didn't seem to work in "Under Eighteen". I also recognised beautiful, but uncredited Lillian Bond as a disheveled girl in an elevator.
Recommended.