I wonder what it was like for young 20-somethings watching the film during its first release in the summer of 1933. How did it resonate with contemporary viewers?
After the film ended I imagined what sort of life Dora (Arline Judge) would have after letting Michael (Richard Cromwell) go back to Betty (Dorothy Wilson). During stretches of the film, Betty wasn't very likable, and one can't help but suspect she'd eventually cheat on Michael after they were married. She has supposedly learned to value her relationship with Michael, but I think she's the kind that likes to be validated by all men. Dora just wanted to be validated by Michael.
We don't even get a scene with Michael and Dora at the end. Michael is too busy watching Duke (Eric Linden) die and too busy tending to Betty. Dora's only consolation is her father (Reginald Barlow), which frankly, doesn't seem like much!
A thought I had reflecting on the film is that Dora's the only character whose parent is shown. We don't know anything about Betty's family or Duke's family (except that Duke's family is rich enough to buy him a fancy car). And all that is said about Michael's background is he had a grandfather or great-grandfather who had drafted some law, and was probably an attorney.
I suppose John Halliday's character is meant to function as a surrogate father for Duke and Michael; and Aileen Pringle's character is a surrogate mother for Betty. But it was a bit strange that when Duke lay dying in a hospital bed, none of his actual family was there. Where were his parents when he died?
Of course the emphasis of the film is mostly on youth and their struggle with right versus wrong. But we don't get a complete picture of these people. We're not even told what type of job Michael's going to take in California. Also, the film seems to champion the notion that people don't need a college education, which is counter to what a lot of people think today.
After the film ended I imagined what sort of life Dora (Arline Judge) would have after letting Michael (Richard Cromwell) go back to Betty (Dorothy Wilson). During stretches of the film, Betty wasn't very likable, and one can't help but suspect she'd eventually cheat on Michael after they were married. She has supposedly learned to value her relationship with Michael, but I think she's the kind that likes to be validated by all men. Dora just wanted to be validated by Michael.
We don't even get a scene with Michael and Dora at the end. Michael is too busy watching Duke (Eric Linden) die and too busy tending to Betty. Dora's only consolation is her father (Reginald Barlow), which frankly, doesn't seem like much!
A thought I had reflecting on the film is that Dora's the only character whose parent is shown. We don't know anything about Betty's family or Duke's family (except that Duke's family is rich enough to buy him a fancy car). And all that is said about Michael's background is he had a grandfather or great-grandfather who had drafted some law, and was probably an attorney.
I suppose John Halliday's character is meant to function as a surrogate father for Duke and Michael; and Aileen Pringle's character is a surrogate mother for Betty. But it was a bit strange that when Duke lay dying in a hospital bed, none of his actual family was there. Where were his parents when he died?
Of course the emphasis of the film is mostly on youth and their struggle with right versus wrong. But we don't get a complete picture of these people. We're not even told what type of job Michael's going to take in California. Also, the film seems to champion the notion that people don't need a college education, which is counter to what a lot of people think today.