I have to say, "The Naughty Flirt" is a "Chick Flick", although when it was made(1931), the term was not invented yet. As a guy, I am not into chick flicks (Although Alice White (Katherine Constance 'Kay' Elliott), and Myrna Loy (Linda Gregory) are great to look at). Here is the good news. Seeing Myrna as a real nasty sophisticated character, is interesting, because you will see a nicer version soon enough in "The Thin Man" and countless other films (Basically toned down Myrna is better than over the top (Like in "The Face of Dr. Fu Manchu"). As for Alice White, she was very interesting because she played dumb, but was not. For example: The scene where she told Alan Joseph Ward (Paul Page), that she is aware of "How many men want to marry her for her money." As mentioned earlier, she is great to look at (People compare her to Clara Bow, but I think Clara was hotter, and a better actress)). Now onto the problems: 1: The film was not funny. Spoilers: There are none to laugh about except maybe where Ward punches out John Thomas 'Jack' Gregory (The nasty brother of Linda who wants to marry Kay for her money (Interestingly enough, he takes his marching orders from Linda)) and he gets laughed at, by his friends. 2: There is not great dialog between the characters (If you see Powell/Loy Films such as "Libeled Lady" you always find that). 3: Nothing negative happens to the bad guys. In an effective comedy, bad guys should pay (Jail, money, getting beaten up, losing something of value, anything). Would it have hurt to have Kay rough up Linda a bit. Keep in mind, Myrna's rich, sophisticated, Connie Allenbury, got down with Jean Harlow's Gladys in "Libeled Lady", and gave it out and took it. She paid no price whatsoever, for her actions. 3: Last but not certainly not least, the men were pathetic. When Ward tells Kay "He is afraid of her", and her father (George Irving) who is his boss helps trap him into marrying her, you know his life just ended the second he said "I Do." Essentially he became a poodle (Even work is no break), and he ended up the BEST of the male characters. Kay's father, gets ruled by her, Thomas gets ruled by Linda, and Wilbur Fairchild (Robert Agnew) was shown as nothing but a bank to pay fines for rich people (Which is what Kay did to him). Basically 4/10 stars. 2 each for Myrna and Alice.
Review of The Naughty Flirt
