For admirers of early Hollywood talkies this movie fields an impressive cast list; Ruth Chatterton, George Brent, Guy Kibbee, Frank McHugh and an uncredited Mayo Methot for good measure. It is, of course, pure meller and crammed with plot and subplot that shows just how anaemic today's johnny-one-note plots are. Director Wellman keeps the whole thing bubbling so that the absurdities don't have time to take root. To nutshell it Chatterton falls for a wronggo, marries him and lives to regret it; he ankles one step ahead of the sheriff leaving her pregnant; all this is against the backdrop of a carney where they all work. With hubby out of the picture lush Frank McHugh offers marriage, she accepts and loses the child. Enter George Brent representing True Love but before they can walk off into the sunset McHugh is badly beaten (don't ask) so the plays the martyr card. End of story. interesting rather than memorable.
Review of Lilly Turner
