Ruth Chatterton was one of a handful of Paramount stars poached by
Warners - she was becoming more despondent at the films Paramount
was asking her to do and when she saw how much money the studio
was spending promoting Marlene Dietrich she let it be known that she
was thinking of signing with Warners. Which was considered bad form as
she still had two movies left!! The Warner movies weren't much better
although their reputation has been much enhanced over the years and
MGM who were very interested in her lost interest!! William Wellman saw
something there - he used her in "Frisco Jenny" and "Lilly Turner". As a
play "Lilly Turner" had opened on Broadway in 1932 and ran for 24
performances - which should have rang alarm bells!! Ruth Chatterton
just cemented her reputation as an actress who, no matter what was
thrown at her, could turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.
Here she initially plays a starry eyed newly wed who should have listened to her mother as she finds herself facing life and motherhood alone when her husband skips out!! Worse, she finds out she was never married when police arrive at the door to charge him with bigamy!! Far from the bright lights of New York he had promised her, they had been working in a seedy carnival and the sadder but wiser Lilly is quickly married to the drunken but kindly Dave (Frank McHugh in a very sensitive role). The film takes a dramatic turn as Fritz, the "loose cannon" strong man goes completely bonkers when his beseeching advances are rejected by Lilly. (Robert Barratt, usually playing cool, calm and collected types pulls out all stops with this one - he has the time of his life).
This leaves the way clear for George Brent (still married to Ruth at the time but soon to be divorced) - he plays affable Bob, a taxi driver but because of his strength in calming Fritz is very soon roped in to take his place as the carny strong man. Both he and Lilly fall for each other but there is surprising opposition in the person of Marjorie Gateson as the carnival manager's (Guy Kibbee) wife - she doesn't see why Lilly should be the lucky recipient of Bob's affections.
It's not a great Warner's movie but Chatterton gives her scenes emotion and depth.
Here she initially plays a starry eyed newly wed who should have listened to her mother as she finds herself facing life and motherhood alone when her husband skips out!! Worse, she finds out she was never married when police arrive at the door to charge him with bigamy!! Far from the bright lights of New York he had promised her, they had been working in a seedy carnival and the sadder but wiser Lilly is quickly married to the drunken but kindly Dave (Frank McHugh in a very sensitive role). The film takes a dramatic turn as Fritz, the "loose cannon" strong man goes completely bonkers when his beseeching advances are rejected by Lilly. (Robert Barratt, usually playing cool, calm and collected types pulls out all stops with this one - he has the time of his life).
This leaves the way clear for George Brent (still married to Ruth at the time but soon to be divorced) - he plays affable Bob, a taxi driver but because of his strength in calming Fritz is very soon roped in to take his place as the carny strong man. Both he and Lilly fall for each other but there is surprising opposition in the person of Marjorie Gateson as the carnival manager's (Guy Kibbee) wife - she doesn't see why Lilly should be the lucky recipient of Bob's affections.
It's not a great Warner's movie but Chatterton gives her scenes emotion and depth.