A Salvation Army worker recruits a suicidal cafe dancer.A Salvation Army worker recruits a suicidal cafe dancer.A Salvation Army worker recruits a suicidal cafe dancer.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win total
Henry Armetta
- Tony
- (uncredited)
Jack Baxley
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
Clara Blandick
- Salvation Army Woman
- (uncredited)
Sherry Hall
- Poker-Playing Salesman
- (uncredited)
Tenen Holtz
- Poker-Playing Salesman
- (uncredited)
Mary Ann Jackson
- Betty
- (uncredited)
Karen Morley
- Estelle Seldon (photo in newspaper)
- (uncredited)
- Director
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Featured reviews
One of those movies about fallen women who reform that were common in pre-Code Hollywood, LAUGHING SINNERS, also known as COMPLETE SURRENDER, comes less as a movie of quality as standard fare that features the two leads, Crawford and Gable -- she already a star, he a rising actor -- coming together and making early music to the viewer's eyes. Before Hepburn and Tracy, these were the ones the public wanted to see together even if the movie in itself was less than memorable, and MGM gave it to them 8 times.
Also a feature where one can get to see Crawford dance, sing, and indirectly, essay what would become a breakout role in RAIN only a year later.
Also a feature where one can get to see Crawford dance, sing, and indirectly, essay what would become a breakout role in RAIN only a year later.
Like a lot of early '30s film, I found this a pretty interesting short (72 minutes) story. This one is about a chorus girl-type who gets jilted, hooks up with a Salvation Army man, then is enticed back to the old sinful ways for a night with the man who jilted her and finally realizes she is better off with the good guy and the good morals.
This is an early look at Joan Crawford, who is blonde here with huge eyes. Clark Gable is sans mustache and really looks young. Neil Hamilton, the third lead, is the same man who went on to play Commissioner Gordon in the Batman TV series three decades later. In here, he's the pagan bad guy.
This film goes a long way in portraying traveling salesmen as morally bankrupt people. Now why would they do that?!!
This is an early look at Joan Crawford, who is blonde here with huge eyes. Clark Gable is sans mustache and really looks young. Neil Hamilton, the third lead, is the same man who went on to play Commissioner Gordon in the Batman TV series three decades later. In here, he's the pagan bad guy.
This film goes a long way in portraying traveling salesmen as morally bankrupt people. Now why would they do that?!!
This may not be the greatest of the Crawford/Gable pairings, but their affinity for each other is obvious, and as always what is unsaid between them speaks volumes about their off-screen relationship. The film's other highlights include Joan's singularly eccentric "farmer" dance, for which she sports a false nose and beard! This was surely the inspiration for the Soggy Bottom Boys' "disguises" and dancing in the climax of 'O Brother Where Art Thou?'. In any event, the phenomenal originality of her performance provides another dimension to Crawford's enduring film legacy.
Interesting early talkie with Joan as a laughing sinner who is then cast aside by her love interest and saved by Clark Gable and the Salvation Army. Having seen Cary Grant previously as a temperance league type (`She Done Him Wrong'), I was able to accept Gable in this same role. Good moral messages as we see how traveling men use `loose' women in small towns and the good that is done by organizations like the Salvation Army.
Aside from that, the best part of the movie is watching Joan dance made up to look like a farmer with a long noses and a long goatee. She sings and dances as well as anyone. Of course switching later into Adrian-designed gowns makes for an interesting contrast. Early in the movie, there is a great facial shot of Joan as she anticipates meeting her boyfriend upstairs in the cabaret. This is a good story and makes for a pleasant hour and a quarter entertainment. Recommended.
Aside from that, the best part of the movie is watching Joan dance made up to look like a farmer with a long noses and a long goatee. She sings and dances as well as anyone. Of course switching later into Adrian-designed gowns makes for an interesting contrast. Early in the movie, there is a great facial shot of Joan as she anticipates meeting her boyfriend upstairs in the cabaret. This is a good story and makes for a pleasant hour and a quarter entertainment. Recommended.
"Laughing sinners" was a pleasant surprise to me. I never knew what a good actress Joan Crawford was until I saw this film. I saw her rather exaggerating performance in "Grand Hotel", and a better performance in 1931's "Possessed", but here she is totally convincing and real. There are moments of great beauty, especially the scenes between Crawford and Clark Gable, moments when the film shows a timeless quality. Gable and Crawford are completely believable as the Salvation Army officers : sincere, vulnerable and intense. Clark Gable in a very unusual role - wise, calm, sensitive and understanding - It makes him powerful in a subtle way. Neil Hamilton is terrific especially in the scene - a very long uninterrupted take ! - when he tries to persuade and seduce Joan Crawford - for a night of bliss. Can he offer her salvation ?
Did you know
- TriviaModern sources state that a preview of the film had such a bad reception that M-G-M production head Irving Thalberg decided to re-shoot part of the picture, dropping Johnny Mack Brown as Carl and re-shoot it with Clark Gable. At that point, Brown's career in mainstream feature films at MGM ended and he transitioned to 'B' westerns.
- GoofsOne year after Howard marries his wealthy boss's daughter he is still a traveling salesman, staying in cheap hotels. The only reason for him to do so is in order for him to meet Ivy again, but it is absurd that his socialite wife would want her husband doing such a job. He could have encountered Ivy in some other way.
- Quotes
Man Boarding Train: [annoyed and impatiently waiting to get by a kissing Ivy and Howdy] Well, anytime you get through.
Ivy 'Bunny' Stevens: Mister, we never get through.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Fast Workers (1933)
- Soundtracks(What Can I Do?) I Love That Man
(uncredited)
Music by Martin Broones
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung by Joan Crawford at the cabaret
Details
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- Also known as
- Complete Surrender
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $338,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 12m(72 min)
- Color
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