"Love 'Em and Leave 'Em" was the best and last of Louise Brooks movies to be filmed in New York and when she arrived on the set she was furious. She was married to Eddie Sutherland but she hadn't spent much time with him. She finished filming "Just Another Blonde" in New York, raced out to California for a second honeymoon with Eddie, which lasted two days and she immediately got a call to report to Paramount's New York Astoria studio to start on "Love 'Em and Leave 'Em". Even though Evelyn Brent was the star, Paramount publicity went into over-drive with Louise, describing her as "like the crazy flapper you fell for last year". Based on the long running play (152 performances) by Weaver and Abbott, Paramount liked it well enough to remake it in 1929 as "The Saturday Night Kid" with Clara Bow in Brent's role and Jean Arthur as Janie the flirt but as usual the original was the best.
"Mame promised her mother to take care of Janie - and she has been thankful ever since that Janie isn't twins"!! Mame (Brent) find's it a full time job keeping tabs on her gad about sister Janie (Brooks). They both work at Ginsberg's Department Store, along with their go-getter (well, he thinks he is) neighbour, Bill (Lawrence Gray). Out of all the employee's in the store, it is Janie who is treasurer for the Welfare League dance - a big accident waiting to happen!!!
Meanwhile Mame has had a bright idea to make the window display eye catching. It involves a fan and the manager is pleased - with Bill!! He thinks it is his idea and Bill doesn't put him wise!! Behind every successful man there is a woman and Mame is behind Bill, giving him good ideas - like a hunch she has about putting a kitten in the window display to add a homey touch. Bill is not convinced but it gets him a promotion.
When Mame goes on holidays she convinces Bill to let Janie help him and give her a chance to make good - talk about asking for trouble. Janie is a maneater and with the aid of a powderpuff and some fake tears soon has Bill eating out of her hand. Mame comes home to a different Bill - a love sick Bill who only has eyes for Janie!! Mame becomes the "love 'em and leave 'em" girl - of course it is all an act but worse is to follow!! Janie lives beyond her means and to make extra money she bets on the horses with a pretty unsavoury book maker (Osgood Perkins). When he asks her for the money she owes - you guessed it, out comes the Welfare money!! And when the Welfare League asks for their money - no worries!! as Janie "puts the blame on Mame"!! (sounds like a great title for a song)!!
Evelyn Brent may have been working towards stardom for years but this role wasn't the type to showcase her talents. She was much better suited to shady lady, wronged women parts where her sultry/sulky looks were not out of place. One thing the inferior 1929 remake had in it's favour was Clara Bow, who as Mame gave the role heart and emotion. It was too easy for Louise Brook's charisma to over whelm Evelyn Brent in my opinion.
Highly Recommended.
"Mame promised her mother to take care of Janie - and she has been thankful ever since that Janie isn't twins"!! Mame (Brent) find's it a full time job keeping tabs on her gad about sister Janie (Brooks). They both work at Ginsberg's Department Store, along with their go-getter (well, he thinks he is) neighbour, Bill (Lawrence Gray). Out of all the employee's in the store, it is Janie who is treasurer for the Welfare League dance - a big accident waiting to happen!!!
Meanwhile Mame has had a bright idea to make the window display eye catching. It involves a fan and the manager is pleased - with Bill!! He thinks it is his idea and Bill doesn't put him wise!! Behind every successful man there is a woman and Mame is behind Bill, giving him good ideas - like a hunch she has about putting a kitten in the window display to add a homey touch. Bill is not convinced but it gets him a promotion.
When Mame goes on holidays she convinces Bill to let Janie help him and give her a chance to make good - talk about asking for trouble. Janie is a maneater and with the aid of a powderpuff and some fake tears soon has Bill eating out of her hand. Mame comes home to a different Bill - a love sick Bill who only has eyes for Janie!! Mame becomes the "love 'em and leave 'em" girl - of course it is all an act but worse is to follow!! Janie lives beyond her means and to make extra money she bets on the horses with a pretty unsavoury book maker (Osgood Perkins). When he asks her for the money she owes - you guessed it, out comes the Welfare money!! And when the Welfare League asks for their money - no worries!! as Janie "puts the blame on Mame"!! (sounds like a great title for a song)!!
Evelyn Brent may have been working towards stardom for years but this role wasn't the type to showcase her talents. She was much better suited to shady lady, wronged women parts where her sultry/sulky looks were not out of place. One thing the inferior 1929 remake had in it's favour was Clara Bow, who as Mame gave the role heart and emotion. It was too easy for Louise Brook's charisma to over whelm Evelyn Brent in my opinion.
Highly Recommended.