STRICTLY DISHONORABLE (Universal, 1931), directed by John M. Stahl, stars Paul Lukas (courtesy of Paramount Pictures), Sidney Fox and Lewis Stone (on loan from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer), in this screen adaptation from the original stage play by Preston Sturges, years before winning fame as a comedy director for Paramount Pictures in the 1940s. With the screenplay by Gladys Lehman, which was reportedly said to have stuck close to the play and mood, this screen adaptation, virtually a filmed stage play, comes to life through much of its then risque dialogue that would never have gone passed the production code of 1934.
Plot summary: Isabelle Parry (Sidney Fox) is a Southern gal engaged to marry the bespectacled stuffy bond salesman, Henry Greene (George Meeker). While driving down the crowded New York City streets of Broadway (with movie marque of Maurice Chevalier starring in "The Smiling Lieutenant" visible) on their way home to New Jersey, the couple decide to stop at a speakeasy. Managed by Tomasso (William Riccardi), the bar also consists of a former judge, Dempsey (Lewis Stone) having a few "old fashions." While Dempsey befriends Isabelle, he gets turned off by Henry's arrogance. Also entering the scene is Gus Di Ruva (Paul Lukas), a famed opera singer better known by his stage name of Tino Caraffa. Like the kindly judge, who lives in the apartments above, he also gets turned off by Henry's unlikable personality. As Officer Mulligan (Sidney Toler) asks the owner (Henry) whose car is parked next to a fire hydrant to have it moved, during his absence, Isabelle and Gus become better acquainted during their dancing to the record playing tune of "It Happened in Monterey," Discovering this, Henry's jealousy and rude remarks force Isabelle to call off their engagement. Wanting to have Mulligan arrest Gus and Tomasso for the abduction of Isabelle, Henry ends up jailed instead. In the meantime, with no place else to go, the free-spirited Isabelle, who has been living with Henry and his parents under the same household, is offered a place to stay - being Gus's apartment on a "strictly dishonorable" basis. While the judge feels Isabel to be immoral and that she's be better off staying at the Martha Washington Hotel instead, Gus comes to the conclusion of buying her train tickets back to where she came from, but begins to have second thoughts. Situations occur when Henry, released from jail, returns to the scene.
In general, STRICTLY DISHONORABLE is a showcase for Sidney Fox. She not only gets enough camera closeups, but is virtually in every scene. Her Southern accent comes similar to her performance in THE MOUTHPIECE (Warners, 1932), for which she once more plays a girl from the South. Lewis Stone, who interestingly was featured in a similar sounding movie title, STRICTLY UNCONVENTIONAL (MGM, 1930), is perfect as the moral-minding judge, a role no different from his Judge Hardy portrayal in the "Andy Hardy" family series (1937-1946) for his home studio of MGM. The top-billed Paul Lukas is perfectly cast as the accented-speaking opera singer whose character is hinted as one being a ladies man and no stranger of having women living in his quarters. His girlfriend, Lilli (never seen) is passed off as his cousin to Isabel.
One interesting aspect for STRICTLY DISHONORABLE is the camera tracking through windows and stairways to keep this 91 minute production from being virtually stage-bound. Maybe not as amusing as it was back in 1931, STRICTLY DISHONORABLE comes as surprising through its frankness as the Isabelle character showing no shame in saying she lives with her fiance. This dark-haired beauty with a male-sounding name, Fox proves herself worthy in what might be considered her best screen performance to her short-lived movie career. Situations move briskly throughout the story, especially how one could fall in love and want to marry a total stranger the very same evening of their first encounter. George Meeker is strictly obnoxious in character while William Riccardi (reprising his stage role) is strictly available throughout for comedy relief gestures involving both judge and opera singer friends.
Unavailable for viewing due to the 1951 MGM remake starring Enzio Pinza and Janet Leigh, which has been softer in tone, this 1931 original, which has never been distributed to either video cassette and DVD, has been rediscovered to a new generation of movie lovers in 1997 on cable television's Turner Classic Movies. Though broadcasts for the original STRICTLY DISHONORABLE have been limited, the film in general is strictly worth viewing mainly out of curiosity. (***)
Plot summary: Isabelle Parry (Sidney Fox) is a Southern gal engaged to marry the bespectacled stuffy bond salesman, Henry Greene (George Meeker). While driving down the crowded New York City streets of Broadway (with movie marque of Maurice Chevalier starring in "The Smiling Lieutenant" visible) on their way home to New Jersey, the couple decide to stop at a speakeasy. Managed by Tomasso (William Riccardi), the bar also consists of a former judge, Dempsey (Lewis Stone) having a few "old fashions." While Dempsey befriends Isabelle, he gets turned off by Henry's arrogance. Also entering the scene is Gus Di Ruva (Paul Lukas), a famed opera singer better known by his stage name of Tino Caraffa. Like the kindly judge, who lives in the apartments above, he also gets turned off by Henry's unlikable personality. As Officer Mulligan (Sidney Toler) asks the owner (Henry) whose car is parked next to a fire hydrant to have it moved, during his absence, Isabelle and Gus become better acquainted during their dancing to the record playing tune of "It Happened in Monterey," Discovering this, Henry's jealousy and rude remarks force Isabelle to call off their engagement. Wanting to have Mulligan arrest Gus and Tomasso for the abduction of Isabelle, Henry ends up jailed instead. In the meantime, with no place else to go, the free-spirited Isabelle, who has been living with Henry and his parents under the same household, is offered a place to stay - being Gus's apartment on a "strictly dishonorable" basis. While the judge feels Isabel to be immoral and that she's be better off staying at the Martha Washington Hotel instead, Gus comes to the conclusion of buying her train tickets back to where she came from, but begins to have second thoughts. Situations occur when Henry, released from jail, returns to the scene.
In general, STRICTLY DISHONORABLE is a showcase for Sidney Fox. She not only gets enough camera closeups, but is virtually in every scene. Her Southern accent comes similar to her performance in THE MOUTHPIECE (Warners, 1932), for which she once more plays a girl from the South. Lewis Stone, who interestingly was featured in a similar sounding movie title, STRICTLY UNCONVENTIONAL (MGM, 1930), is perfect as the moral-minding judge, a role no different from his Judge Hardy portrayal in the "Andy Hardy" family series (1937-1946) for his home studio of MGM. The top-billed Paul Lukas is perfectly cast as the accented-speaking opera singer whose character is hinted as one being a ladies man and no stranger of having women living in his quarters. His girlfriend, Lilli (never seen) is passed off as his cousin to Isabel.
One interesting aspect for STRICTLY DISHONORABLE is the camera tracking through windows and stairways to keep this 91 minute production from being virtually stage-bound. Maybe not as amusing as it was back in 1931, STRICTLY DISHONORABLE comes as surprising through its frankness as the Isabelle character showing no shame in saying she lives with her fiance. This dark-haired beauty with a male-sounding name, Fox proves herself worthy in what might be considered her best screen performance to her short-lived movie career. Situations move briskly throughout the story, especially how one could fall in love and want to marry a total stranger the very same evening of their first encounter. George Meeker is strictly obnoxious in character while William Riccardi (reprising his stage role) is strictly available throughout for comedy relief gestures involving both judge and opera singer friends.
Unavailable for viewing due to the 1951 MGM remake starring Enzio Pinza and Janet Leigh, which has been softer in tone, this 1931 original, which has never been distributed to either video cassette and DVD, has been rediscovered to a new generation of movie lovers in 1997 on cable television's Turner Classic Movies. Though broadcasts for the original STRICTLY DISHONORABLE have been limited, the film in general is strictly worth viewing mainly out of curiosity. (***)