As a sophisticated New York writer, the middle-aged Lowell Sherman certainly has a way with words. Perhaps that's why he has a much younger woman in love with him as well as a sophisticated woman not quite his age but appreciative of who he is. any middle-aged man would be flattered by the attention, but it's all too much for Sherman who may know women but she knows nothing about youngwomen who are mentally still girls. Francis Dade is the young Monica who believes herself to be in love with Sherman all the while as he tries to pair her with the younger even wealthier David Manners. The fourth member of this party is Alice Joyce as a wealthy woman truly in love with Sherman and unconditionally so. it's all very stagy, as well as it should be. This was a play written for the Lunts, and shortened down to just over an hour (a standard of early talkies) which means if it does not outwear its welcome.
I've been fascinated by Lowell Sherman ever since seeing him in "What Price Hollywood?", basically the first version of "A Star is Born". Considered by some to be a poor man's John Barrymore, Sherman was certainly dashing and urbane, and his wit is obvious. That being said, he's also a bit effete on the screen which makes his romantic lothario older character in several films somewhat unbelievable. In this film however, he is the best of the four with Dade directed to be in fish and silly and demanding, unable to see the truth as Sherman presents it to her in a realistic fashion. Manners does fine with a character that isn't really well developed, and unfortunately, Joyce is underused. This is more of a philosophical comedy of an era that has gone with the wind, more memorable for how Sherman recites some great lines than the film as a whole.
I've been fascinated by Lowell Sherman ever since seeing him in "What Price Hollywood?", basically the first version of "A Star is Born". Considered by some to be a poor man's John Barrymore, Sherman was certainly dashing and urbane, and his wit is obvious. That being said, he's also a bit effete on the screen which makes his romantic lothario older character in several films somewhat unbelievable. In this film however, he is the best of the four with Dade directed to be in fish and silly and demanding, unable to see the truth as Sherman presents it to her in a realistic fashion. Manners does fine with a character that isn't really well developed, and unfortunately, Joyce is underused. This is more of a philosophical comedy of an era that has gone with the wind, more memorable for how Sherman recites some great lines than the film as a whole.