She Had to Say Yes

Yikes, when they said precode, they weren't kidding.

What a great social studies movie.

Loretta Young, Regis Toomey, and Lyle Talbot star in "She Had to Say Yes," from 1933. To keep major buyers purchasing from their clothing company, an organization has its models entertain the out-of-town customers. Dinner, a show, and there's a heavy implication of some after-show activity to bring in the big accounts. But the buyers are tired of the same old models.

One of the firm members, Tommy (Regis Toomey) suggests that instead of the models, they open these grand opportunities (which have bonuses attached) to the fresh, wholesome stenographic pool. One of the stenographers is his own fiancée Florence (Young), but she's off limits. However, one of the customers is desperate to go out with her, and with a big commission in the offing, Florence agrees. Florence is a complete innocent and thinks when it's dinner and theater, it's dinner and theater.

It goes from there, with Tommy fooling around on the side, and being caught by Florence. One of the buyers (Talbot) is truly interested in her, but some misunderstandings cause problems.

The problem here is that neither Toomey nor Talbot is what you'd call a good guy. But we're given to understand that all men are the same, so beautiful Florence's options are limited.

What a message. But you have to love Loretta Young, so gorgeous and so natural.

We're often given to believe, in films such as Waterloo Bridge, Baby Face, and countless others, that there were few opportunities for women to advance. They were often at the mercy of men who were their fathers, their bosses, their husbands. Since it's presented that way in film after film, I think, sadly, particularly during hard times, this was true.

This is really an interesting film. Depending on your age, think about your grandmother or great-grandmother watching this type of film and what it told them. The code was too limiting and ridiculous; I guess a happy medium just wasn't found.