A wealthy, proper society girl finds that she's much more popular with men when she pretends to be a "bad" girl.A wealthy, proper society girl finds that she's much more popular with men when she pretends to be a "bad" girl.A wealthy, proper society girl finds that she's much more popular with men when she pretends to be a "bad" girl.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 2 wins total
Don Dillaway
- Jerry
- (as Donald Dillaway)
Blanche Friderici
- Nora
- (as Blanche Frederici)
William Begg
- Bill DuVal
- (uncredited)
Florence Britton
- Rene's Lover
- (uncredited)
Sheila Bromley
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Bruce Cabot
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Mathilde Comont
- Waitress
- (uncredited)
Thomas A. Curran
- Undetermined Supporting Role
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
6.1457
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Featured reviews
That's the Story and She's Sticking To It
This is a charming, subtle little pre-code in which everything is implied and little actually shown.
Constance Bennet is a good girl from a good New York family and no one finds her interesting. In Paris she finds Ben Lyon, an indigent American who bums a beer from her. She hires him as a gigolo and he shows her how to be fascinating to men, using frequent kicks to the shin to encourage her education.
Lyon is particularly good in his fast-talking role and Miss Bennet is at her most charming. The two have real chemistry together and Edward Griffith directs with a gracefully moving camera under the control of the under-rated Hal Mohr. All of these combine to produce a comedy that is knowing without being cynical.
Constance Bennet is a good girl from a good New York family and no one finds her interesting. In Paris she finds Ben Lyon, an indigent American who bums a beer from her. She hires him as a gigolo and he shows her how to be fascinating to men, using frequent kicks to the shin to encourage her education.
Lyon is particularly good in his fast-talking role and Miss Bennet is at her most charming. The two have real chemistry together and Edward Griffith directs with a gracefully moving camera under the control of the under-rated Hal Mohr. All of these combine to produce a comedy that is knowing without being cynical.
Gorgeous Constance Bennett, Breezy Ben Lyon
What a surprising delight this film is. Constance Bennett plays a rich wallflower who just can't get the guys in her set interested. She's also has a crush on boozy and shallow David Manners. One night when he is drunk he asks her to marry him and meet him on a boat to Europe the next morning. Of course he sobers up, and she ends up going alone.
In Paris Bennett meets a charming and broke guy (Ben Lyon)whom she hires as her "gigolo" so that he can show her around and meet people. Lyon hits on the idea of making up stories about her "past" so that men will be interested. They get along great and their plan is wildly successful until a surprising event occurs.
Bennett is quite good underplaying her sympathetic role. Lyon is terrific as the cynical but honest guy. Manners is also good as the callous boozer. Cast also includes Nella Walker, Albert Conti, Astrid Allwyn, Don Alvarado, Blanche Frederici, Bruce Cabot, and Merna Kennedy.
The ending is quite a surprise.
In Paris Bennett meets a charming and broke guy (Ben Lyon)whom she hires as her "gigolo" so that he can show her around and meet people. Lyon hits on the idea of making up stories about her "past" so that men will be interested. They get along great and their plan is wildly successful until a surprising event occurs.
Bennett is quite good underplaying her sympathetic role. Lyon is terrific as the cynical but honest guy. Manners is also good as the callous boozer. Cast also includes Nella Walker, Albert Conti, Astrid Allwyn, Don Alvarado, Blanche Frederici, Bruce Cabot, and Merna Kennedy.
The ending is quite a surprise.
Preposterous
A woman as beautiful, rich and well-read as Constance Bennett's character can't get any men to pay attention to her???
If true, she should have dumped her social circle and found a new one.
From the audience's perspective, who was sitting around in The Depression, eating soup made of unwashed socks, thinking, ''What I really want to see this Saturday for my 5c is a rich, beautiful, smart woman mope around because the dopey men around her don't appreciate her charms."
And then to escape to Paris to work up a reputation as a sk2nk?
Puh-lease.
It's insidious garbage like this that taught a generation or more of smart women to hide their brains and flaunt their inner floozy to attract a worthless man.
Now THAT'S depressing.
If true, she should have dumped her social circle and found a new one.
From the audience's perspective, who was sitting around in The Depression, eating soup made of unwashed socks, thinking, ''What I really want to see this Saturday for my 5c is a rich, beautiful, smart woman mope around because the dopey men around her don't appreciate her charms."
And then to escape to Paris to work up a reputation as a sk2nk?
Puh-lease.
It's insidious garbage like this that taught a generation or more of smart women to hide their brains and flaunt their inner floozy to attract a worthless man.
Now THAT'S depressing.
Only for die-hard Constance Bennett fans
In a recent biography of the Bennetts, the author implied that Constance Bennett was in movies only for the money with which to lead a luxurious lifestyle. However, her work in this film would make one believe that she really could act.
In this film, the usually glamorous Bennett convinces you that she is a wallflower, despite looking just as attractive as ever. Perhaps it's the way she carries her body, or the inflection in her voice.
The film may have been fresh in its day, but now seems trite and contrived. Nevertheless, if you're a Constance Bennett fan, you'll enjoy this film.
In this film, the usually glamorous Bennett convinces you that she is a wallflower, despite looking just as attractive as ever. Perhaps it's the way she carries her body, or the inflection in her voice.
The film may have been fresh in its day, but now seems trite and contrived. Nevertheless, if you're a Constance Bennett fan, you'll enjoy this film.
cute but the premise is hard to buy
In order to find this film believable, you have to buy the premise that Constance Bennett, one of the most beautiful and glamorous Hollywood stars ever, is unattractive to men. Does her character, Venice Muir (her parents honeymooned in Venice) wear glasses, frumpy clothes, have dull hair? Uh, no, she looks like Constance Bennett, it's just that she's playing an intelligent woman who likes to read. Meanwhile, the woman who may have poisoned her husband gets all the attention at parties.
One night, while roaring drunk, a man with whom Venice is in love, Donnie Wainwright (David Manners), proposes and wants her to sail with him to France to be married. The next day, he's sober. So Venice travels alone.
In Paris, she meets a man Buy (Ben Lyons) whom she hires as a gigolo to bring her to parties and get her into the right circles so that she can meet someone. He has the idea that if he creates a "past" for her, she will be more exciting to men.
This is a nice film, but I didn't believe it for a second. Venice has intelligence, money, glamor, beauty, and guys want to date a woman who might have killed her husband? If it had been another actress, someone like Anna Lee, Sylvia Sidney, good-looking but perhaps not a knockout, it would have been more realistic.
For Constance Bennett fans. She is always a joy, and the performances are good, particularly from Ben Lyons.
One night, while roaring drunk, a man with whom Venice is in love, Donnie Wainwright (David Manners), proposes and wants her to sail with him to France to be married. The next day, he's sober. So Venice travels alone.
In Paris, she meets a man Buy (Ben Lyons) whom she hires as a gigolo to bring her to parties and get her into the right circles so that she can meet someone. He has the idea that if he creates a "past" for her, she will be more exciting to men.
This is a nice film, but I didn't believe it for a second. Venice has intelligence, money, glamor, beauty, and guys want to date a woman who might have killed her husband? If it had been another actress, someone like Anna Lee, Sylvia Sidney, good-looking but perhaps not a knockout, it would have been more realistic.
For Constance Bennett fans. She is always a joy, and the performances are good, particularly from Ben Lyons.
Did you know
- TriviaWas about to start filming with rising star Robert Williams in the role of Guy when Williams died from a sudden attack of appendicitis and peritonitis. Ben Lyon replaced him in the role.
- Goofs(at around 9 mins) Venice mentions to Donnie that her drink is strong. When he offers to taste it, she hands him a glass that has less liquid than when it cuts to him tasting the cocktail.
- Quotes
Guy Bryson: You look like a ... good girl.
Venice Muir: Oh, do I?
Guy Bryson: You are a good girl, aren't you?
Venice Muir: Yes, I'm afraid that may be my trouble.
- SoundtracksYou're Driving Me Crazy
(1930) (uncredited)
Written by Walter Donaldson
Played as dance music at Lola's partry
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Una mujer con pasado
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $541,075 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 20m(80 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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