Indiscreet (1931)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Indiscreet |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1931 |
| length | 92 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Leo McCarey |
| script |
Buddy DeSylva Lew Brown Ray Henderson Leo McCarey |
| production | Buddy DeSylva Lew Brown Ray Henderson Samuel Goldwyn Joseph Schenck |
| music | Alfred Newman |
| camera |
Ray June Gregg Toland |
| cut | Hal C. Kern |
| occupation | |
and without naming: Jay Eaton , Sam Lufkin and Harry Watson | |
Indiscreet is a 1931 American romantic comedy directed by Leo McCarey . The main role was played by Gloria Swanson .
action
Fashion designer Gerry Trent breaks up with wealthy boyfriend Jim Woodward because of his infidelity. Even a marriage proposal does not save him.
Gerry, who is reading the book "Obey That Impulse" with enthusiasm, receives a call from her friend Buster Collins. He tells her that Tony Blake, the author of the book, wants to meet her. When she enthusiastically tells her aunt Kate, she first sends her into the shower. Tony, who turns out to be a neighbor, asks for her hand during the first conversation and repeats it, so that the two are soon engaged. However, Gerry, who describes herself as "a modern girl with an old-fashioned conscience," has one more job she fears: she has to tell Tony that he is not the first man in her life. She brings the subject up shortly after Tony wrote her a declaration of love as a dedication in one of his books, which she really likes. This leads to a somewhat difficult conversation that ends well. Gerry goes right after and forgets the book. By the time she picks it up, Tony has written an update in it that confirms the original statement.
Gerry's sister Joan is back from a long stay in Europe. Buster, who has long been hoping to marry Joan, is treated very cautiously by her. Gerry gives him the tip to throw a little party for Joan, which he does immediately and to which he invites everyone including Aunt Kate. Also Tony, whom Joan met there. Jim Woodward arrives soon, as Joan's friend. Tony announces his engagement to Gerry. Joan persuades Jim to invite everyone to a party at his parents' house in preparation for Joan and Jim's wedding, with Jim indicating that there is still time.
Gerry, who had promised her late mother to take care of Jane, and Aunt Kate want to turn Joan against Jim. Even a warning about Jim's character is useless. When Tony cancels for professional reasons, Gerry decides to break up Joan and Jim at the party. After Buster told Jim's parents that Joan and Gerry's family were a little crazy, Gerry gave Jim's father an introduction. Then she goes to her room to change. Jim, who has already been approached by his father, follows her. Gerry plays crazy to him too, but Jim steps up her actions and enjoys it. He admits that the only thing he really likes about Joan is her resemblance to Gerry, whom he still loves. Gerry agrees, but lures Joan over with a song sung extra loud. This finds the two kissing. Jim tells her that he and Gerry have been together before, and she runs away crying. Before she can break away from Jim, Gerry notices that Tony is surprisingly there too, has noticed everything and is now angry. She runs after him, but he doesn't want to hear anything.
Back at Gerry's apartment, Buster is happy that he's getting closer to Joan, and Joan understands Gerry's behavior and thanks her for it. Gerry himself misses Tony very much. Aunt Kate called Tony. She says Tony wants Gerry back, but he has to go to Europe. Gerry should travel with him and Kate has already packed for her. Gerry leaves, but she has no ticket for the ship, which she can be lifted onto by a crane, hidden in a car. When she is caught, Tony can sort it out. Tony and Gerry will be married by the captain while on the ship.
production
After her own production company ran into economic difficulties, Gloria Swanson had signed a lucrative contract for two films with Joseph Schenck . Indiscreet was the first of these two films. Rewritten and renamed at short notice (before that the film should be called Obey That Impulse ). Director Leo McCarey had to keep his involvement in it secret from Samuel Goldwyn , the responsible producer of the film.
Barbara Kent , who had admired Swanson before filming began, was disappointed with her idol; she did not find Gloria Swanson unfriendly, but she did make the star out of it.
Richard Day was the set designer for the film .
music
Indiscreet was originally conceived as a musical by Buddy DeSylva , Lew Brown and Ray Henderson . Gloria Swanson was not very enthusiastic about the songs. It was also said that the audience was tired of musicals. So more and more songs were canceled until only two remained, namely If You Haven't Got Love and Come to Me , both written by Henderson (music), DeSylva and Brown (text). They were sung by Gloria Swanson, one of them as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, while she was taking a bath. In fact, she sings If You Haven't Got Love while combing her hair after the shower, with her fully clothed. She sings Come to Me with Barbara Kent at the piano shortly after Joan has returned and a second time in the scene in which she pretends to get back together with Jim. She sings it loudly to lure Joan into the room.
Premiere
Indiscreet premiered on April 25, 1931. The film was distributed by United Artists . Indiscreet was released on DVD on March 15, 2005.
reception
Reviews
Contemporary critics found Indiscreet to be very funny and well done. An exception, however, was the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops , which described the role of Gerry as "flat and unattractive" and saw little comedy. She classified the film as "only for adults" and pointed to "sexual scenes and innuendos". It should be noted that Indiscreet came at a time when the Hays Code was to be enforced.
Later critics found the film less funny, with exceptions. The film is tiring. The Art Deco sets and the two songs sung by Gloria Swanson couldn't make up for that.
Financial success
Indiscreet was "one of the more successful sound films with Gloria Swanson" and made a big enough profit to help United Artists in a financial crisis.
classification
Indiscreet is mostly classified as a romantic comedy or romantic drama . Some writers see the film as an early form or even an early example of a screwball comedy .
Web links
- Indiscreet in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Indiscreet In: Archiv.org
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Hal Erickson : Indiscreet (1931). In: All Movie. Retrieved May 13, 2018 .
- ↑ a b c d Tricia Welsch: Gloria Swanson: Ready for Her Close-Up . University Press of Mississippi, Jackson 2013, ISBN 978-1-61703-750-4 , pp. 266–267 (English, limited preview in Google Book Search [accessed May 13, 2018]).
- ↑ a b Indiscreet (1931). In: American Film Institute. Retrieved May 13, 2018 .
- ↑ a b Indiscreet. In: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved May 13, 2018 .
- ^ Indiscreet (1931). In: Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 13, 2018 .
- ^ Mordaunt Hall : THE SCREEN; A Merry Miss Swanson. In: The New York Times . May 7, 1931, p. 30 (English, restricted preview [accessed on May 13, 2018]).
- ↑ a b Indiscreet. In: Variety.com. Retrieved May 13, 2018 .
- ↑ a b Indiscreet (1931). In: Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 13, 2018 .
- ↑ a b Fernando F. Croce: Indiscreet (Leo McCarey / US, 1931). In: Cinepassion. Retrieved May 13, 2018 .