dwingate108 Review of Beauty for the Asking

Beauty for the Asking (1939)

An early, 1939, "women for women" plot, in contrast to the jungle bitchery of 1939's classic THE WOMEN

[10/10 · 3 July 2019]

I just watched this in 2019, and was struck by the very modern concept that women CAN support each other, without a man. It's a convoluted but fun plot that relies on some unusual serendipity, and also with some of the same unpleasant but apparently commonplace "bitchery" found in the more famous classic film. THE WOMEN, also released in 1939. Different times, different standards. Most women of that time frame had the simple and primary ambition of marrying a good breadwinner. But the two lead women in this B-picture are excellently different. The top-billed star played by Lucille Ball doesn't use her patented ditzy persona that later made her America's best-loved clown, but instead she very sympathetically plays a beauty chemist who has brains, honesty and beauty to boot. She is contrasted by a wealthy but desperate and plain Jane rival who unwittingly steals away Lucy's gold-digging fiancee. Both characters happily are women of honesty and common sense, except when it comes to the Patric Knowles character that misuses both of these worthy women. Fortunately, Patric gets his well-deserved comeuppance and our two misused and well-intended lead women ultimately prevail in amusing fashion.