Kept Husbands

This film begins with a rich guy announcing to his family that he's bringing home a worker from his factory. As his family is made up of spoiled rich folks, they assume this guy would be a bumpkin. However, Dick (Joel McCrea) turns out to be well-mannered, quite humble and an All-American football player! He doesn't tell them about the football--the boss' daughter, Dorothy (Dorothy Mackaill) recognizes him. And, although she sure seemed pretty snobby, now she suddenly is VERY interested in Dick (take that how you might) and later announces to her father that she is going to marry that working man. However, even if she does hook him, can it even work out? After all, they are as unlike as can be--he's a decent, hard-working man and she's just a seemingly vacuous rich girl.

Unfortunately, soon after the marriage, it becomes apparent that Dorothy feels that because she comes from money, she should make all the decisions in the marriage. And, for a while, Dick is emasculated (again, take that how you might). Eventually, however, he gets near the breaking point--he has a great opportunity and she wants him to give it up so he can stay home by her side. Soon, the marriage fizzles. Is there any hope for this couple?

All in all, the best way to describe Dorothy's behavior throughout the film is...well,...IMDb won't let me use language like this! She is too awful, as it makes you wonder how a guy like Dick could put up with her for ANY length of time. I wish her part have been a bit more subtle. Because of this, the film is severely impacted. Had she been likable and less one-dimensional, the film would have been significantly better. As for McCrea and his part, he was quite good and this sort of piffle didn't significantly mar his career. Overall, a decent idea for a film but it was in need of a significant re-write.

By the way, get a load of the Christmas tree (about 20 minutes into the film). It's pretty amazing. And, about three minutes later, watch the ridiculous acting of Dorothy's mother--it made me chuckle. Also, the current image on IMDb seems to imply that this is some sort of saucy Pre-Code film. Well, since it came out before mid-1934, of course it's Pre-Code--but it is NOT a sexy film nor one that would have violated the toughened Production Code. It looks like a case of false advertising.

This is the story of Dick, he plays a football hero turned steel worker. He is of humble (poor) beginnings, but has drive an ambition. He saves some workers at the plant and does not accept the thousand dollar reward for doing so, garnering an invitation to his admiring boss's home for dinner. At dinner, he meets his boss' daughter, Dot. She is selfish and spoiled and while initially prepared to mock and make fun of this poor blue collar steel worker...happens to glance the fob on his pocket watch realizing he is a well-know man local football hero! This changes everything for her and suddenly she is throwing herself at him.

These two are completely unsuited for one another.

"There isn't a man in the world that a woman can't land if she wants to."-Dot

"She's about as useful as a little silky kitten. That's what they should have called her-kitten."-Dick

This doesn't stop Dot from aggressively pursuing Dick even to the point of proposing, at which time she agrees to live on his salary and everything. A promise she clearly never intended as immediately upon their marriage they go on a European honeymoon where she is buying fur coats and dresses that are far, far beyond Dick's means. When back home the partying lifestyle and spending doesn't end. It really hits the fan when she tries to prevent Dick from going on a business trip her father is sending him on (and he wanted her to go with...but she didn't want to miss out on the local parties!!!!)

"There is only one thing I'll keep-my self respect!"-Dick

I am glad it had the ending it did...but I was a little surprised at his mother:

"All women keep their husbands, some with money others with love."-Mrs. Brunton

It was clear this was not a live match at least on Dot's part which made this whole film a bit depressing for me. Mixed feelings if I would recommend. I would say proceed at your own risk.

Dorothy Mackaill, ex-Ziegfeld star-turned-actress, did some great early talkies in the 1930's, this being one of them. She's pouty and childish as 'Dot', the rich bride of blue-collar worker Joel McCrea--who hates being married to money! Very fresh, fast and funny showcase for 'Dot', a great actress who was perhaps before her time.

Nearly a century old, this romantic dramedy starring Dorothy Mackaill and Joel McCrea is surprisingly fresh and heartwarming, thanks to the utter sincerity of the performances, and a terrific commitment to tried and true dramatic arcs. What a breath of fresh air compared to current facetious and downright silly trends in rom-coms.

McCrea is one of the great actors who is taken for granted, no cult for him, and not a name bandied about among Hollywood legends. I suppose his sin was being hard-working and rising to the occasion when cast in great roles -at least the '30s through '60s filmmakers knew his talent, ranging from Preston Sturges all the way to Sam Peckinpah.

The revelations here for me were the actresses: Mackaill as his wife and Mary Carr as his mother. The vivacious and rather amazing performance by Dorothy - captivating in the early reels, then downright hissible with her selfishness later on, on;y to bring a tear near the end - that's a style that would be worth bringing back -she really poured her heart into it. And in a sentimental role, I was with Carr 100% as the bedrock underneath all the film's frivolity.

This is surefire Depression Era entertainment (with a solid director of that era, Lloyd Bacon, in charge). One can't help but immediately identify with Joel's all-American boy character and live vicariously in the glamour of the upper class during the Depression, while the script carefully makes clear their shortcomings. Dorothy's bad behaviour and comeuppance are expertly delineated, and the lack of censorship only adds to the power of certain risque scenes, such as their wedding night and her dalliance with a scoundrel at Joel's lowest moment.

Long forgotten, Dorothy Mackaill was a Ziegfeld girl who was big in pictures in the late silent and early talkie periods. Then she disappeared. Kept Husbands is a great little film that showcases her talent as an actress. It also boasts a very young Joel McCrea. Racy for its time, it's the story of a spoiled rich girl who proposes to a working man and then runs rampant over his life until the big blowup. Fast paced and funny in spots, this little gem is sure worth watching. The stars are terrific and attractive. Supporting cast includes Robert McWade as the indulgent father, Florence Roberts as the snooty mother, Ned Sparks as comic relief, Mary Carr as McCrea's mother, former silent great Clara Kimball Young in an embarrassing turn as the bitchy society woman, and Bryant Washburn as the creep.

Filled with funny lines and double meanings, this is a swell little pre-Code film. Mackaill is terrific as the spoiled "kitten" and was a solid actress (see her in Safe in Hell also); McCrea is also very good as the bewildered husband; Mary Carr is also noteworthy as the doting mother. Clara Kimball Young was a sensational star of the teens. She was 41 when she made this film and is just AWFUL. She worked for another decade.

NOTE: The IMDb lists Llewellyn as being played by Freeman Wood. I think it was Lucien Littlefield, who was also listed in the film's opening credits.