Three Wise Girls

Three Wise Girls (1932)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Jean Harlow plays the good girl who moves from a small town to New York City to make some big cash to help give her mom a better life. Once in the big city she quits three jobs because the bosses keep wanting more than just work. She meets an old friend (Mae Clarke) and is disgusted to learn that she is dated a married man. Soon Harlow meets a man (Walter Byron) of her own but after falling in love she finds out that he too is married. This is a rather strange Pre-Code from Columbia that pretty much tries to explain why it's okay to date married men. This topic certainly wouldn't be made into movies within the next couple years as the Hayes Office would put their foot down on any type of subject like this one. What makes the film work are the performances, which are pretty good with Harlow stealing the film as the naive blonde who doesn't really know what all life has to offer. Harlow is quite believable as the innocent, sweet girl and it shows she could play more than just vamps. Byron is also quite good as the poor sap stuck in a worthless marriage. He brings quite a bit of charm to the role and makes for a very like able character. Clarke is decent but pretty much wasted in the supporting role as is Marie Prevost as the "third" girl. Andy Devine is also wasted in a small supporting role, although he manages to get a couple nice laughs. The sexual innuendo is certainly on display her certainly early on as Harlow is undressing and constantly bending down with a rather loose top on. The film is certainly very predictable but director One Shot keeps things moving at a nice pace. The ending is one you'll see from a mile away but it's handled very well.

Jean Harlow plays a nice girl who is not willing to sell herself to get ahead. When her bosses try to sexually harass her, she quits--she's just not that sort of girl. So, in light of this, it's surprising when she meets and dates a nice guy--only to discover that he's already married and his estranged wife won't give him a divorce. At the same time, Harlow's friend (Mae Clark) is in a similar situation but her married boyfriend is less than honorable.

The idea of a girl dating a married man is something you just wouldn't have seen two years later--after the Production Code was strengthened and eliminated plot elements such as adultery, premarital sex or extreme violence (among others). However, despite the film trying to justify Harlow's dating a married man, the film is not nearly as salacious as some of the more notorious Pre-Code films, such as Harlow's RED-HEADED WOMAN--a film you just need to see to believe.

Overall, this is a pretty good little film despite the less than stellar and inconsistent message about morality that the film delivers. Good acting, a decent story and enough twists and turns to keep it interesting make this a good Pre-Code film.

By the way, the other "wise girl" is Marie Prevost who was included mostly for comic relief. Also, if you really care, Chillocothe is a small town in rural southern Ohio. It's best known today as a town with prisons!

Jean Harlow had top billing and gave a good performance in this one, playing a small-town girl who goes to New York to seek her fortune. I found it refreshing to see her in a more virtuous role; she not only shows her range, but her character is strong, and stands up for herself when hit on by men. At the same time, her magnetism and sex appeal shine through, helped along by some modeling and pre-Code lingerie scenes. She finds out the rich guy she's been seeing is married and wants to end it, particularly after having seen what a similar situation has done to her friend, played well by Mae Clark (who you might remember as having been with Harlow the previous year in 'The Public Enemy', and getting a grapefruit stuffed in her face by James Cagney). The last of the 'wise girls' is Marie Prevost in the role of her roommate, who points out the flipside, hey, it's nice to eat something other than liverwurst by seeing a guy with some money, and breaks off a few other funny lines in the film. The movie is quite brisk at 68 minutes, maybe too brisk in a couple of ways (such as Mae Clark's fate), but it's worth watching, particularly if you're a Harlow fan.

Cassie (Jean Harlow) works in a coffee shop, but is sick of putting up with the drunks that come in....its only 1932, so things are still allowed to be a little on the rough side. She leaves that job and goes to visit her friend Gladys, who may be able to get her a job as a model at Andre's (Armand Kaliz) dress shop. Gladys introduces Cassie to the dashing "Arthur" (Jameson Thomas) and "Jerry" (Walter Byron), where things start to heat up. Good story, good acting by all. The story really isn't that original, but with such a professional job done by all involved, its quite enjoyable to watch. Viewers will catch Andy Devine in one of his early CREDITED roles as the chauffeur.. he will go on to play larger, funnier roles. Shortie from Columbia Pictures, at just 68 minutes. The only really risqué part is when one of the girls spends some time talking about a weenie that's cooking on the stove. I guess at the time, seeing a married man was also a huge taboo subject for films, or would be when the film code started being enforced. Story by Wilson Collison, who had also written the "Maisie" series, and "Mogambo", which starred Clark Gable. "Three Wise Girls" is directed by William Beaudine, who had been making films since 1915... he must have been standing there when the camera was invented; his bio says he was assistant to D.W. Griffith, so he certainly learned from the best. Lots of little connections here... Harlow and Gable would make six films together in the 1930s.

Bored with her small-town job as a "soda jerker," sexy platinum blonde Jean Harlow (as Cassie Barnes) moves to exciting New York City. For obvious reasons, Ms. Harlow is treated like a sex object. Propositioned by boss number three, Harlow is rescued by drunken Walter Byron (as Jerome "Jerry" Wilson). After sobering up, Mr. Byron seems like the perfect mate for Harlow. He's wealthy, proper and attentive. Unfortunately, Byron is also married. Harlow is soon reacquainted with childhood friend Mae Clarke (as Gladys Kane), who models underwear (and other clothing). She is having a relationship with a married man. Harlow's roommate Marie Prevost (as Dot) is looking for a man...

"Three Wise Girls" focuses on one Jean Harlow, but the other women have the better roles. Harlow commands the screen when she undresses - and director William Beaudine gets in several scenes with Harlow and Ms. Clarke in stages of undress. Harlow's figure is generously displayed. A "silent" star said to be victimized by the microphone, Ms. Prevost is noteworthy in a character role. Able to command the screen without taking off her clothes, Prevost sounds fine. She's looking for a plumber, but will settle for chauffeur Andy Devine. Clarke's subplot is the dramatic highlight. Unfortunately, Harlow's figure and her scene-stealing supporting cast don't make the main story more engaging.

***** Three Wise Girls (1/11/32) William Beaudine ~ Jean Harlow, Mae Clarke, Marie Prevost, Walter Byron