Through much of the 1930s and into the 40s, Jean Arthur was a big box office draw and a very popular actress. However, if you watch 1929's "The Saturday Night Kid", you'll see nothing that would indicate she would ever be a star. In fact, she's just awful! While IMDB says that the director hated Clara Bow's voice, it's practically gorgeous compared to Arthur's very high-pitched whining...and she whines through most of the picture. I can only assume that the director was somehow also at fault, as Ms. Arthur became an accomplished and likable actress....but here you just want to see someone slap her character and yell "Shut up!".
The film is about a couple of sisters. The older sister, Mayme (Clara Bow), is the responsible one who takes care of her younger sister, Janie (Jean Arthur). However, Janie is an adult and Mayme too often makes excuses for her. In fact, she helps enable Janie...and as a result, Janie is a sneaky god-awful creature...one who whines incessantly and who is so transparent...too transparent that you wonder how ANYONE would put up with her.
This is the problem with the film....Janie is such a whiner and is so obvious that it really destroys the movie. Clara Bow, despite some complaints about her acting, was actually just fine....but Arthur puts on one of the worst performances of her day. Thank goodness she learned to be more subtle, less whiny and truly endearing in future films.
The film is about a couple of sisters. The older sister, Mayme (Clara Bow), is the responsible one who takes care of her younger sister, Janie (Jean Arthur). However, Janie is an adult and Mayme too often makes excuses for her. In fact, she helps enable Janie...and as a result, Janie is a sneaky god-awful creature...one who whines incessantly and who is so transparent...too transparent that you wonder how ANYONE would put up with her.
This is the problem with the film....Janie is such a whiner and is so obvious that it really destroys the movie. Clara Bow, despite some complaints about her acting, was actually just fine....but Arthur puts on one of the worst performances of her day. Thank goodness she learned to be more subtle, less whiny and truly endearing in future films.