Leading lady Irene Purcell who brought her role from the hit Broadway play to this MGM screen version was signed by the studio based on the strength of her stage performances. She would only make two more pictures at Metro, then freelance briefly at other studios the following year. So, with only a two year tenure in Hollywood resulting in just six motion pictures, she has the leanest of filmographies for a studio star. But she made an indelible mark regardless, before returning to Broadway.
For all intents and purposes this is not a vehicle for newcomer Purcell, though; it's a project for Metro's leading man William Haines, the only member of the cast to have his name above the title in large lettering. Haines' flamboyant personality suits this story of an irresponsible youth with a devil-may-care attitude, shunning convention at every turn. When his uncle (C. Aubrey Smith) decides something must be done about the nephew's reckless behavior, our main plot kicks into gear.
The two men wage a bet that if Haines is not able to prove that the gal (Purcell) Smith has chosen to be Haines' wife isn't immoral like many women seem to be, then Haines will give up his gigolo antics and settle down to marriage. Smith has help from the girl's aunt (Charlotte Granville, recreating her stage role) who would also like to push Haines & Purcell together.
At first, there is a lot of silliness with Haines leading Purcell on, and Purcell rejecting him, which is new territory for Haines with women. Then things turn predictably serious when Haines realizes he's falling in love with Purcell and almost wouldn't mind losing the bet to uncle and ending up married to Purcell after all. But when it seems there will be a happily ever after, Purcell learns the truth about Haines who has been impersonating a dance teacher (code for gigolo) and that he's really a titled British lord.
The last sequence has Purcell deciding to turn the proverbial tables and teach Haines a lesson, by letting him think she's a loose woman, so that his ideal of the perfect woman is shattered. Of course, he finds out it's all just a gag, and she's leading him on as he had led her on earlier. They do finally settle down at the end, but we know theirs won't be a conventional marriage.
While the two stars do not radiate a ton of sexual chemistry, they perform opposite each other with great panache and we root for them as a couple. Helped by pros like Smith and Granville, the whole thing ends up a merry affair, one of the more delightful precode romps that come to mind.
For all intents and purposes this is not a vehicle for newcomer Purcell, though; it's a project for Metro's leading man William Haines, the only member of the cast to have his name above the title in large lettering. Haines' flamboyant personality suits this story of an irresponsible youth with a devil-may-care attitude, shunning convention at every turn. When his uncle (C. Aubrey Smith) decides something must be done about the nephew's reckless behavior, our main plot kicks into gear.
The two men wage a bet that if Haines is not able to prove that the gal (Purcell) Smith has chosen to be Haines' wife isn't immoral like many women seem to be, then Haines will give up his gigolo antics and settle down to marriage. Smith has help from the girl's aunt (Charlotte Granville, recreating her stage role) who would also like to push Haines & Purcell together.
At first, there is a lot of silliness with Haines leading Purcell on, and Purcell rejecting him, which is new territory for Haines with women. Then things turn predictably serious when Haines realizes he's falling in love with Purcell and almost wouldn't mind losing the bet to uncle and ending up married to Purcell after all. But when it seems there will be a happily ever after, Purcell learns the truth about Haines who has been impersonating a dance teacher (code for gigolo) and that he's really a titled British lord.
The last sequence has Purcell deciding to turn the proverbial tables and teach Haines a lesson, by letting him think she's a loose woman, so that his ideal of the perfect woman is shattered. Of course, he finds out it's all just a gag, and she's leading him on as he had led her on earlier. They do finally settle down at the end, but we know theirs won't be a conventional marriage.
While the two stars do not radiate a ton of sexual chemistry, they perform opposite each other with great panache and we root for them as a couple. Helped by pros like Smith and Granville, the whole thing ends up a merry affair, one of the more delightful precode romps that come to mind.