Ladies’ Man (1931)

Ladies’ Man
Directed by Lothar Mendes
Written by Herman J. Mankiewicz from a novel by Rupert Hughes
1931/US
Paramount Pictures
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel

‘The bigtime for you is just around the corner.’ They told me that first in 1952 – boy, it’s been a long corner. If I don’t hit the bigtime in the next 25 or 30 years, I’m gonna pack in the music business and become a full-time gigolo.– Ronnie Hawkins

Paramount could also be a glamor studio and this film shows off its stars.  Herman J. Mankiewicz wrote the snappy screenplay.

Jamie Darricott  (William Powell) is a man-about-town.  He finances his lavish lifestyle by romancing wealthy ladies who return the favor by giving him expensive jewelry originally given to them by their husbands.  Currently, Jamie is having an affair with the wife (Olive Tell) of a workaholic banker, who has little time for her.  Their daughter Rachel (Carole Lombard) is also crazy about Jamie and he takes up with her as well.  Rachel is extremely jealous and has marriage on the mind.

When Jamie meets Norma Page (Kay Francis) by chance at a party, everything changes. He rapidly falls in love with her.  In the meantime, the banker has found out about his wife’s affair.  How will Jamie extricate himself from his situation so he can marry Norma?  I was not expecting that ending!

This movie is only 70 minutes long, not nearly enough time to give it any time to really develop the characters.  But the gowns are to die for and the actors are all in their prime.  I enjoyed it.

Tribute to Kay Francis