Sin Takes a Holiday

In a precode marriage, sylvia (constance bennett) agrees to marry her boss. But only under his terms... she promises to toot off to europe immediately, so he can fiddle around without the danger of having to marry his girlfriends. Which is so similar to the plot of the modern film "cactus flower"! So sylvia dutifully heads to paris, and meets the dashing durant. Which complicates things. Rathbone had done a couple silents and talkies prior to this, one of which is the fun "last of mrs. Cheyney", the first version. And so famous for playing sherlock holmes. Bennett is probably best known for "topper" and "merrily we live", both so much fun. Zasu pitts is in here as well. The movie is pretty good, if predictable. What happens when someone wants to change the terms of the agreement? Directed by paul stein. Died at 59.

Today, I discovered Basil Rathbone. Yes, I know he's been around, I'm familiar with the Sherlock Holmes series...but, today I saw him in a new light thanks to TCM and 24 hours of his films. His elegance, dark beauty and subtle sexuality struck a chord in me today. Sin Takes A Holiday is a delightful film. Categorized as a drama, in the beginning we are led to believe it will be light and airy, however, as we are drawn to the characters, such as Constance Bennett's seemingly light facade and Kenneth MacKenna's and Rathbonne's dawning realizations...the underlying moral dilemma of the situation awakens a timeless knowledge in all of us.

Not sure what to call this oldie, but I guess drawing-room comedy might answer the mail. The plot centers around a rather interesting or curious love triangle. Girl marries Boy 1, arguably for the wrong reasons. Due to the unique nature of their union, she sets sail for Europe and encounters Boy 2, who, of course, knows Boy 1. On the Continent, Boy 2 becomes quite taken by her. What's a girl to do? Well, to give away the ending would not be nice, so suffice it to say it all gets resolved back in New York, though the ending might not please all viewers. Constance Bennett gets lead billing, but I was much more entertained by the performance of Basil Rathbone, who is just grand. Considering that the film probably takes place at the onset of the Depression, the lifestyles depicted are quite startling.

All in all, a rather delightful film.

This pre-Code comedy is more interesting for its decor and reflection of the morals of the day than for its acting or story. The plot revolves around three characters, each in love with the one who isn't in love with her or him. Things work out in a way--two characters find each other and the third is left to move on. All this happens in an atmosphere of wealth, where amoral dalliance is both expected and titillating. An unfortunate effect is that the three characters come off as facile and, ultimately, unlikeable, the comedic talents of Bennett and the imposing presence of Rathbone notwithstanding. Despite the dismissal of a group of morally repugnant friends at the end, I didn't believe in the couple's future happiness--nor in the morally bankrupt world they inhabit and seem to enjoy. And I felt sorry for the one left out. He seemed the only character with a conscience. The always delightful presence of Zazu Pitts should be noted, though she plays a small role in the plot development. Enjoy this film for the marvelously fantastic Art Deco sets and wonderful period gowns. But ultimately, the resolution of the plot leaves one unsatisfied.

"Sin Takes a Holiday" stars Constance Bennett as a secretary in love with her boss - how's that for a novel plot line? Well, perhaps in 1930, it was, and there is more to it than that. It's an early talkie, so the timing is a little off as the actors get used to the technique. It's also pre-Code, so anything goes. And does. In this film, everybody cheats on their spouses. The boss, however, is unmarried, but his girlfriend wants to get married to him right away. So he marries Bennett and sends her abroad so he can have his cake and eat it too. While there, Bennett is escorted about by Basil Rathbone, in a delightful performance. He falls in love with her, but Bennett needs to find out if she can have a real marriage with her husband.

Having read some of the comments, I'm unsure if people think that Bennett was amoral. The marriage for opportunity plot was used over and over - "Mannequin" is just one example - and Bennett marries her boss to do him a favor, not so much for the money. Plus, the title is "Sin Takes a Holiday" and it does seem that she avoids a dalliance with Rathbone while abroad. So while I find the crowd her boss runs with fast and loose, I did feel Bennett was a very likable character. Not to mention, a great beauty.