The Naughty Flirt

While not a particularly good film, "The Naughty Flirt" does have some enjoyable moments. Traces of director Cline's comedy short background can be found in several scenes--most of the comedy being visual. Myrna Loy is good as the scheming one, with her best movie years still ahead. Alice White does well in a role more suited to her talents. The studio tried to turn her into this big song and dance star with the advent of talkies but she was much more comfortable in comic roles, as she displays in this movie and later ones. This was her last First-National film and by this time nobody cared. She did make a reasonably successful comeback a few years later, in comedy roles, which she should have been given from the start. The supporting players also do well but the film, as a whole, does not. The cast tries hard but is overcome by weak material. Still, it's worth a peek.

Spoiled rich girl Kay Elliott (Alice White) can't settle down, or even settle on one guy. In Naughty Flirt, she battles with Alan Ward (Paul Page -only made a few films) and Linda Gregory (Myrna Loy, three years before the Thin Man series) Alice White made many films, but none seem to be well known. She had been in the original, silent "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" 1928. White appeared in more than her share of movies with suggestive names (Naughty Baby, Hot Stuff, Lingerie, Playing Around) This is a good story, but you can tell it was made just as sound was coming in play - they were heavy on the eye makeup, and they even use subtitle cards several times. Also a music track playing under most of the dialogue. Keep an eye out for Fred Kelsey as the cop at the beginning - made a career out of playing the policeman (the Man Who Came to Dinner, Larceny Inc, the Bride Walks Out)

I just wanted to see this film because of Myrna Loy. I love Myrna Loy. But Myrna doesn't have much to do in this film. Most of the spotlight is on little, vivacious, cute Alice White. I became a fan of her. She's the ultimate flapper. She reminds you of a Clara Bow or Toby Wing. She's very natural- even though many say she didn't like talkies and feel uncomfortable. She didn't seem like it. This is a pre-code picture about a flirtatious woman which is played by Alice White who makes bet too see which guys she can hook, line, and sinker. But with one of the guys she ends up falling in love. Myrna Loy in this picture is coming into her own trademark acting in this film. Her aloof, snotty, sophisticated comedy/acting would be noticed and loved not along after this picture. If you can find it, you'll treasure it.

Minor but amusing comedy starring that little kewpie doll, Alice White.

For a few years in the late 20s and early 30s White was a big name and starred in a series of comedies and musicals.

In THE NAUGHTY FLIRT she plays a spoiled rich girl who travels in a fast set of country club kids. She runs across a staid lawyer in night court when the "gang" has been hauled in for disturbing the peace at a local dive. He works in her father's law firm.

Because he ignores her she floods him with invitations and finally lures him to a party where he continues to ignore her and pay attention to her rival, Myrna Loy. Of course this drive the little flirt crazy. The "Cinderella Dance" is interesting to say the least.

Myrna and her brother are almost broke (it's 1931) and they have a scheme for him to marry White with her $100,000/year income. So there are some more complications before the final clinch.

Alice White was the Goldie Hawn of her day, a delightful actress who could sing a little and dance a little. She was a rival to Clara Bow and was probably the last of the flappers. She's very good in this comedy. Myrna Loy has fun as the bitchy rival who schemes for money. Paul Page (looking like Fredric March) plays the lawyer. Robert Agnew is Wilbur, George Irving is the father, Douglas Gilmore is Jack, Fred Kelsey is the cop, and Lloyd Ingraham is the judge.

Cute film.

.... that showcases her comedic skills and vibrant personality is eventually sunk by poor script and blah costar Paul Page (who resembles Fredric March). Miss White and Myrna Loy, however, are fun. White was saddled with lousy scripts in her brief starring career. She could have and should have been a rival to Clara Bow or Jean Harlow. She was terrific in Employees' Entrance but continued to slide anyway. Such is Hollywood. Catch her in Show Girl in Hollywood---she's good in that one too!!