SHE HAD TO SAY YES (First National Pictures, 1933), directed by Busby Berkeley and George Amy, reunites Loretta Young and Winnie Lightner, having teamed together in PLAYGIRL (1932). With Lightner's name above Young's in PLAYGIRL, as with SHE HAD TO SAY YES, both films belong to Loretta Young, with her name this time around over Lightner's. Being the directorial debuts of dance director, Busby Berkeley, and film editor, George Amy, it is also notable for being the final Warner Brothers production for its leading female players, as well as a chance for both directors in showing they are capable of doing more than their titled professions. Interestingly, Lightner, whose popularity in THE GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY (1929) landed her a series of starring roles for the next few years (1930-1932), including a similar titled drama of SHE COULDN'T SAY NO (1930), for this production, she was obviously being phased out by being given little to do in both plot summary and comedy relief.
Set in New York City, Florence "Flo" Denny (Loretta Young), works for the garment industry of Sol Glass and Company Cloaks and Suits. She is engaged to Tommy Nelson (Regis Toomey), a salesman for the same company. At the staff meeting, its company president, Sol Glass (Ferdinand Gottschalk), who finds stiff competition is forcing his business to be losing sales. Daniel's suggests by having the stenographers acting as customer girls to entertain the out-of-town buyers to obtain new accounts and commissions. With Birdie Reynolds (Suzanne Kilbourn) the first to volunteer, Daniel makes certain that the clean-cut Florence not to become one of them. When Birdie is unavailable to entertain Daniel Drew (Lyle Talbot), an important client arriving from Chicago, Flo volunteers her services, unaware that by doing this, Tommy will be free to spend more time with Birdie. With the help of her close friend and roommate, Maizee (Winnie Lightner), Florence breaks off her engagement with Tommy and finding herself seeing more of Daniel instead. Wanting to earn back her respect by wanting out as a customer's girl, Florence is dismissed from the company, and later finds herself accused of resorting to cheap tactics tin getting Daniel Haines (Hugh Herbert), to sign an important contract for Daniel, leading to misunderstandings regarding her reputation. Co-starring Helen Ware (Mrs. Haines); Harold Waldridge (The Office Boy); Charles Lane (Mr. Bernstein); Harry Holman, Jed Prouty and Fred Kelsey.
For a movie with directorial credit by two men, it is hard to determine which parts of the story were directed by Busby Berkeley and George Amy. The only scenes pertaining to Berkeley's directorial style would probably be the ensemble fashion sequence featuring chorines from his earlier musicals playing models as Renee Whitney, Toby Wing and Barbara Rogers, along with a one girl night club dance segment. George Amy might been responsible for some of the dramatic sequences, but this only a guess on my part.
While Loretta Young carries much of its 64 minute material, Winnie Lightner is limited and virtually forgotten she's was even in the movie by the time the THE END closing title reaches the screen. Regis Toomey and Lyle Talbot do what's expected of them, but nothing more than showing men to be no different from any other male when accusing Flo for the very sin they are most guilty themselves. Hugh Herbert plays it straight, with little of his trademark buffoonery for which he is famous. Scenes move swiftly, but become a little distorted later on.
Never distribute on video cassette, SHE HAD TO SAY YES, a forgotten pre-code battle of the sexes theme quite common for its time, is available for purchase on DVD and viewing on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. (**)
