Sadly Over-hyped

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Copyright 7 February 1933 by Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Palace: 4 March 1933. U.S. release: 24 February 1933. 61 minutes. (Formerly vailable on a good VintageFilmBuff DVD).SYNOPSIS: Showgirl's rich father-in-law seeks custody of her son.COMMENT: Director Lanfield starts this one with a wow of an extended one-take bang, and then winds slowly - very slowly - downhill. But as the film only runs for one hour (not two or three), our attention is still pretty high at the climactic power-packed courtroom encounter in which Joan crosses swords with an expertly aggressive Donald Crisp. Despite her prominence in the billing, Ginger not only has a small part but is barely recognizable as the RKO Rogers we all know and love. Ricardo Cortez likewise drops out for a long period. In fact, the plot is as flimsy as the lingerie - but in this delightfully overloaded with showgirls case, only a misogynist would even dream of making a complaint.

This very little known pre-code is quite a find. While it is a bit creaky it also pretty amazing. I stumbled upon it while searching for a decent print of another PD film ( The Hitler Gang 1944). As I am always on a quest to see Warner Brothers material (I estimate I have seen every WB "A" of the Classic Era and 70% of the "B"s still known to exist) I read the cast with growing excitement:Joan Blondell Ricardo Cortez Ginger Rogers Donald CrispHas to be Warners! So I got it and when the credits rolled I was astounded to learn that this 1933 cast of WB contract players was somehow loaned to (William) Fox Pictures! It is going to be another of my quests to find out how this came about. There was certainly no love lost between Jack Warner and William Fox (for that matter between anyone and Fox) Production values at Fox weren't on par with Warners and it shows in this picture. That would change just a few years later when Warners brilliant Production Chief Darryl F. Zanuck, having had JL try to pull a fast one on him defected and partnered with Fox which then became 20th Century-Fox). On to the picture in question. If you are a Joan Blondell fan you will love her here. Instead of a brassy sidekick she gets to be the romantic lead for probably the only time in her career (and to the earlier reviewer who reviles her, you Sir, are an ass). Ricardo Cortez, who had been born Jakob Krantz came to Hollywood in the '20's a Warners poor mans Valentino. He survived well into the sound era and was one of WB early leading men in talkies. He would later play hard and evil men (See Wonderbar 1934 if you can find it). Here he is perfectly cast as a wealthy wooer (and user) of beautiful women, but who turns out to have a heart of gold.Ginger Rogers is also, as usual, good as Joans sidekick just before her own breakout role in "42nd Street" Donald Crisp is seen only briefly in a forgettable role through no fault of his own. The rest of the cast is adequate and for some reason IMDb lists Victor Jory in the cast, which has to be a mistake.Summation? It's the best pre-code sizzler Warner Brothers never made. What I like to call a"Nugget".

A soap opera about chorus girls, Broadway BAD features a strong cast with star Joan Blondell, male lead Ricardo Cortez, and supporting actress Ginger Rogers, who was just about to hit the big-time. The opening shot is rather elaborate, and there's a very nice scene in a dressing room that centers on Joan and Ginger, but that's about it. The rest is a lachrymose story about mother love, not unusual for the times and not particularly well done. Blondell doesn't get to do much, if any, wisecracking, Cortez is not particularly sleazy for a change, and Rogers has only a small role as the best friend, though she's spirited as usual. 3/10.

Covered in gold coin like attachments on a dress that could have been one of the chorus girl outfits in the "We're in the Money" production number in "Gold Diggers of 1933", glamorous Joan Blondell is definitely looking to make off of the bread and chorus lines and onto the social register on this delightful pre-code drama. Fellow gold digger Ginger Rogers is along for the ride, and they aren't taking any prisoners.Perhaps they are just tired of the stage door Johnny's taking advantage of them, but in Blondell's case, she is hiding a divorce and a child, and this infuriates both the ex and the current. Rogers is fine support as a character named Flip, while Ricardo Cortez is pleasant as the man Blondell might reform over. This is pre-code drama at its best, mild on wisecracks but clever enough to be original.