Many, many years ago I read an article about Sidney Fox in "Film Fan Monthly". Not much was known about her then, but from interviews gathered from people who knew her and fan magazines at the time, comes a portrait of a tiny (4'11") pretty, kittenish girl whom men were most eager to protect. A friend of Sidney's, from her Art School days, said "Sidney knew how to convert her air of helplessness to her own advantage - which means she was not at all helpless"!!!
"Strictly Dishonorable" was Universals prize of 1931 - based on Preston Sturges' Broadway hit of 1929 - Lewis Stone was borrowed from MGM, Paul Lukas from Paramount and it was supposedly the last word in sophisticated sexual innuendo. And, of course Sidney Fox landed the plum role of Isabelle Perry, the southern belle - well, she was Junior Laemmles' "protege".
Beautiful southern belle Isabelle is getting a lesson in the facts of life as she and her fiancée drive to their hotel - he has just informed her that all the "lovey dovey" stuff was just for the courtship and things are going to be different after their marriage. They go to a bar and encounter a philosophising Judge (Lewis Stone) and Henry (George Meeker) gets him offside instantly with his rude and boorish behaviour. "There must be something about your manner that must be fascinating to some people" Stone remarks. Ladies man Gus (Paul Lukas) drops in and is completely enchanted by Isabelle's charms, so when she and Henry have a falling out, she finds herself spending the night in the Count's suite.
The film is a complete recreation of the stage play but the film dragged for me, I'm afraid. There was a "shocking" scene at the start about the fact that Isabelle and Henry were living together without being married (shock, horror!!!) but, oh yes, his parents lived with them so that was alright. There was also a scene in the Count's room where he was looking for Isabelle's size in pajamas and slippers from a wardrobe full of women's attire. But these scenes fizzled out - I didn't find it very scintillating. Sidney Fox did what she could with her part and she did look adorable but she was playing a "sweet innocent", so there was no trading of witty wisecracks if say Kay Francis or Lilyan Tashman were the star. The best part I thought was the bar scene where all the different personalities could shine. When Henry left (even though he was horribly obnoxious) the life went out of the film.
By the end of the shooting, rumours were flying thick and fast about Fox and Laemmle and even though it was only her 4th film she was already getting a reputation for being difficult and "snooty". "Strictly Dishonorable" had a gala Hollywood premiere and both the film and Fox received glowing reviews. But, after all, the role was tailor made for her - it was a role she had been playing in real life - a delicious little flirt who could wrap most men around her little finger.
"Strictly Dishonorable" was Universals prize of 1931 - based on Preston Sturges' Broadway hit of 1929 - Lewis Stone was borrowed from MGM, Paul Lukas from Paramount and it was supposedly the last word in sophisticated sexual innuendo. And, of course Sidney Fox landed the plum role of Isabelle Perry, the southern belle - well, she was Junior Laemmles' "protege".
Beautiful southern belle Isabelle is getting a lesson in the facts of life as she and her fiancée drive to their hotel - he has just informed her that all the "lovey dovey" stuff was just for the courtship and things are going to be different after their marriage. They go to a bar and encounter a philosophising Judge (Lewis Stone) and Henry (George Meeker) gets him offside instantly with his rude and boorish behaviour. "There must be something about your manner that must be fascinating to some people" Stone remarks. Ladies man Gus (Paul Lukas) drops in and is completely enchanted by Isabelle's charms, so when she and Henry have a falling out, she finds herself spending the night in the Count's suite.
The film is a complete recreation of the stage play but the film dragged for me, I'm afraid. There was a "shocking" scene at the start about the fact that Isabelle and Henry were living together without being married (shock, horror!!!) but, oh yes, his parents lived with them so that was alright. There was also a scene in the Count's room where he was looking for Isabelle's size in pajamas and slippers from a wardrobe full of women's attire. But these scenes fizzled out - I didn't find it very scintillating. Sidney Fox did what she could with her part and she did look adorable but she was playing a "sweet innocent", so there was no trading of witty wisecracks if say Kay Francis or Lilyan Tashman were the star. The best part I thought was the bar scene where all the different personalities could shine. When Henry left (even though he was horribly obnoxious) the life went out of the film.
By the end of the shooting, rumours were flying thick and fast about Fox and Laemmle and even though it was only her 4th film she was already getting a reputation for being difficult and "snooty". "Strictly Dishonorable" had a gala Hollywood premiere and both the film and Fox received glowing reviews. But, after all, the role was tailor made for her - it was a role she had been playing in real life - a delicious little flirt who could wrap most men around her little finger.