This is a really, really weird film. Although I've seen Janet Gaynor in quite a few sound films, here her voice in her first talking picture is just plain weird! Perhaps she later had voice lessons and that might account for some of it, but I think the primitive sound system they were using also worked to make Gaynor and the rest of the cast sound like they had been sucking in helium! In fact, Gaynor sounded almost exactly like Betty Boop! The movie also makes the mistake of trying way too hard to exploit the novelty of sound. Gaynor and co-star Charles Farrell were NOT known for their singing or dancing, and yet they jammed sounds into the film that just seemed out of place. What people loved about the Gaynor/Farrell films and why they made so many of them was because they were incredibly sweet and romantic--not because of the music! About 25 minutes into the film, another sequence was included that just seemed intended to show off the new medium of sound. Janet Gaynor, for no decent reason, begins play acting by herself in her apartment. It was very talky and went on and on. Then, about 38 minutes into the film, there is a seemingly impromptu talent show where there is singing and dancing. Why? I have absolutely no idea--and the film really seemed to lose its way and seemed more like a sound experiment than anything else--and clearly the previous silent pairings of Gaynor and Farrell were much better films.
The plot, though seemingly incidental to the film, concerns rich-guy Farrell and his lousy relationship with a society débutante. However, when you see him meet Gaynor you know exactly where the film is going. There really isn't much more to it than this, as the singing and other gimmicks ARE the film! Now I am sure some who love their films would disagree, but I think this is a pretty bad film--even compared to other 1929 films. Now I love Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell films--just not this one. I read through the other reviews and apparently I am in the distinct minority about this film.
The plot, though seemingly incidental to the film, concerns rich-guy Farrell and his lousy relationship with a society débutante. However, when you see him meet Gaynor you know exactly where the film is going. There really isn't much more to it than this, as the singing and other gimmicks ARE the film! Now I am sure some who love their films would disagree, but I think this is a pretty bad film--even compared to other 1929 films. Now I love Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell films--just not this one. I read through the other reviews and apparently I am in the distinct minority about this film.