User Reviews

And that's thanks to Corky the cute country dog that Ben Alexander brings into the big city (Manhattan) and promptly loses him because of a flirtation. The girl that he Texas shining to is Jeanette Loff, a chorus girl in a burlesque show (footage with seems to be an outtake from another movie) who happens to have a baby. Finding out that her mother (Emma Dunn) is coming to visit, good hearted Alexander pretends to be her husband. But desperate to find Alexander, Corky escapes from the person who "adopted" him and makes his way to the exact neck of the woods where Alexander and Loff reside.

Beyond preposterous but without a doubt irresistible, this film features cameos or Walk-On's by such familiar character actors as Hattie McDaniel, Franklin Pangborn and Mary Gordon. Loff and Alexander are actually sincere in their roles and don't come off as amateurish. Dunn, best known for playing Dr. Kildare's mother, is equally motherly here, and tugs at the heartstrings without abandon. Certainly it's cheap, and the prints are in major need of restoration (at one point a big white cloud looking object follows Dunn from one room into another), but that won't stop your enjoyment of it.

I know Jeanette Loff had a blonde beauty similar to Ann Harding and Josephine Dunn and she was shown to advantage in "King of Jazz" but the reason to see this movie is the stunning art direction of Willy Pogany. Originally from Hungary he was one of the foremost illustrators in the Art Nouveau movement and he created art masterpieces for "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1910), "Tanhauser"(1911) and "Parsifal"(1913). He may have been Art Director on only a few films but they were the "crème de la crème" - "Fashions"(1934), "Dames"(1934). How he came to be mixed up with an exploitation quickie like "Flirtation" is a real mystery.

That's why the beginning features a beautiful pastoral scene worthy of an MGM special - also intriguing is how some of the shots are viewed through Corky's eyes. Which makes it quite mystifying that young Dudley (Ben Alexander) is keen to go to the city but there is no question about whether mischief making Corky, a scruffy little dog will go or not, Corky has the most interesting story line (he is a born scene stealer!!) whether falling for a dishevelled poodle, causing mayhem at a pet's beauty parlour or rescuing some puppies from being drowned - all before being captured by a dog catcher!! It was also clear that there wasn't much chemistry between Dudley and the dog (maybe Corky was a bit "high hat"!!) because as soon as he saw Nancy (Loff) looking in a department store window, Corky is left to find his own way in the big city!!

Nancy is a burlesque dancer (and Loff looks distinctly uncomfortable in the scenes where she has to parade around in her underwear). Poor Jeanette didn't even get a chance to put her marvellous singing voice on display - her song was cut after a few lines. The film was under an hour in length and Arthur Tracy, the street singer (he was very popular on radio at the time) was on hand to warble the film's songs (and what dreary songs they were)!!

The main story line was Nancy and Dudley's efforts to fool her mother (Emma Dunn, everybody's favourite mother) into thinking that not only are they married but they also have a baby, courtesy of Nancy's friend who is not too pleased about the deal!! Things are pretty ho hum but there is always Corky to liven things up

which he does when he escapes from the pound and is then taken for a mad dog.....

Ben Alexander had been in films since he was a child, appearing in "Hearts of the World" and the Penrod series, but it was not until the early 1950s when he found fame as Sgt. Joe Friday's laid back side kick on "Dragnet".

Flirtation is a little gem of a movie from 1934. It's definitely a low budget B-film but it's a lot of fun to watch and the cast is terrific. The story is about Dudley (Ben Alexander), a naive country boy who goes to the city to find his dog (played by the adorable scene stealer Corky). He meets a burlesque dancer named Nancy (Jeanette Loff) and ends up getting her fired. When Nancy's mother comes to town he agrees to pretend to be her husband.

*** Spoilers ***

Of course Dudley falls in love with Nancy, reunites with his dog, and we get a happy ending. Jeanette Loff gives a wonderful performance as Nancy. She's gorgeous, funny, and she even gets to sing a little. It's hard to believe this was her last film and that she died so tragically young. The rest of the cast is great too especially Emma Dunn as Nancy's protective mother. Flirtation has a little bit of everything - romance, songs, funny dogs, and a lingerie cat fight! Since this is a public domain film you can watch it anytime online for free.

If you want to learn more about the beautiful Jeanette Loff check out her site at JeanetteLoff.com