Female 1933 - Fast and amusing comedy with a modern plot

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IMDB rating: 6,8

Directors: Michael Curtiz, William Dieterle, William Wellman
Main Cast: Ruth Chatterton, George Brent, Lois Wilson, Johnny Mack Brown, Ruth Donnelly

"A fast-paced, funny, and surprisingly frank comedy about sex and power from a woman's point-of-view, Female was one the pictures that helped put director Michael Curtiz on the map early in his career. The screenplay by Gene Markey and Kathryn Scola gets into some very truthful territory in its treatment of Ruth Chatterton's character, Alison Drake, an automobile company president with a libidinal side every bit as pronounced as her considerable professional skills. Drake is all business, and good at it, except when she's at home, and then she's the complete hedonist, right down to the succession of lovers that she recruits from the ranks of her employees. Chatterton is convincing as this brilliant and supremely sensuous woman, presenting those two sides in a compelling portrayal, through which she dominates the entire picture from beginning to end. It's a mark of George Brent's ability as an actor that he rises to the challenge of convincing us that he's her equal, even though he's in barely half the movie. The brisk pacing, the extraordinary art deco design of Drake's home, and the beautifully staged party scene are other highlights in this hour-long jewel of a picture, which is every bit as striking in its way as George Cukor's The Women." - www.allmovie.com

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Sarah and son 1930 - Miss Chatterton rises above the average plot

IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021335/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
IMDB rating: 6,0

Director: Dorothy Arzner
Main Cast: Ruth Chatterton, Fredric March

"Ruth Chatterton was a wonderful actress who, although coming to movies at an older age (36), proved she could master most genres. In 1931 Movie Fan readers voted her the 'Finest Actress on the Screen' and she was often referred to as the First Lady of the Screen (until Ann Harding came along). She scintillated in 'Charming Sinners' and 'The Laughing Lady', witty drawing room comedies that were all the rage in those early talkie days. She then returned to mother love tear-jerkers - in 1929 she had starred in MGM's 'Madame X' and it had proved a big hit.
Sarah Storm (Ruth Chatterton) has ambitions to go on the stage and with hard work and determination she succeeds - and even drags her lazy, shiftless boyfriend, Jim (Fuller Mellish Jnr.), along with her. Just as things are looking brighter she gets word that her little sister has died and in a weak moment she agrees to marry Jim. With a little baby to feed, Jim has reverted to his lazy ways and is forever telling her to put the baby into a home - until Sarah is pushed to breaking point!!! When Jim goes to a family acquaintance to borrow money, the man expresses envy that Jim has a child - he and his wife have never been able to have children. A plan then hatches in Jim's drunken brain - he joins the Marines, but before he sails he sells the baby to the childless couple.
Four years later Sarah is entertaining wounded soldiers in a hospital when she finds Jim dying, but before he does he repents and tells her the name of the family - Ashmore - where he left the baby. When the family is traced they are adamant that the baby is theirs - Frederic March plays Howard Vanning, their lawyer, who over the years becomes suspicious that, maybe, Bobby isn't their son. Bobby (Phillipe De Lacy) is growing up extremely unhappy - his parents are over protective and have wrapped him in cotton wool. Sarah, meanwhile, has studied music and become a world class opera singer but she has never given up on her quest to find her son. Howard organises for Sarah to meet Bobby but the Ashmores, who know all too well that Bobby is not their son, substitute the maid's son, who is the same age, for the inspection. The real Bobby has run away and "thumbs" his way to his Uncle Howard's, who has just turned up with Sarah. The stage is set for a very teary ending, involving a speedboat accident and a near drowning.
Despite it's early-talkie limitations, this film is really very good. It features Oscar nominee Ruth Chatterton and a pre-stardom Fredric March."

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