Star of the Month: Loretta Young.

Employees' Entrance (1933). Pre-Code film. Cast: Warren William and Loretta Young.

The ruthless general manager Kurt Anderson, of Monroe department store, puts Garfinkle out of business after he tells him that part of the large first order will be delayed three days because of a labor disbute.

Later that night, Anderson finds Madeline Walters hiding in the store, planning to apply for a job at Monroe's when they open for business in the morning. When she finds out who he is, she sleeps with him, in hopes she will be hired as a model in the clothing department.

With the Depression hurting the store's business, Anderson is looking for new ideas. When Martin West comes up with some ideas for the men's department, Higgins, the longtime manager of men's clothing does not approve, but Anderson likes his ideas and fires Higgins. He is very happy when he finds out that he is single. But, the truth is.. Martin is in love with Madeleine, they do get married but, decide to keep it a secret.

The very distraught Higgins, tries to try to get his job back with no success and commits suicide, by jumping out of the ninth floor of the store. Martin, can not believe it when Anderson, does not show any compassion.

After, Martin and Madeline get into a fight at the company party, Anderson finds Madeleine alone and when she decides it is time to leave, he invites her to his hotel suite. Once again, he takes advantage of the situation and spends the night with her.

The next day, Madeleine insists that he leave her alone and she lets slip that she is married to Martin. After she quits she also threatens to take her husband with her. Anderson tries to get Polly to seduce Martin, but she refuses.

Up to his old tricks, he has Martin eavesdrop on the intercom while he calls Madeleine to his office. Martin learns that Madeleine slept with Anderson. When Madeleine tries to kill herself, Martin threatens to kill Anderson, who dares him to do it. Will Martin be able to go through with it and get rid of Anderson once and for all?

 

Heroes For Sale (1933). Is a Depression-era film directed by William Wellman. Cast: Richard Barthelmess, Aline MacMahon and Loretta Young.

Tom and his friend are on a mission to gather intelligence by capturing a German soldier, but Tom's friend refuses to leave the fox-hole, so.. Tom goes alone. He captures a German, but is wounded and taken prisoner. His friend returns with the captured German soldier and is called a "hero".

During Tom's captivity, German doctors treat his pain with morphine and he becomes addicted to the drug.

After Tom returns from the war, his friend feeling guilty offers him a job at his father's bank.

Born to Be Bad (1934). A drama film directed by Lowell Sherman. Cast: Loretta Young and Cary Grant.This film was rejected by the Hays Office twice before it was finally approved. Young's character, an unwed mother who entertains wholesale buyers to secure contracts for her friend, had to be re-written and re-filmed, so that her occupation is only hinted at.

Midnight Mary (1933). A film that reveals in flashbacks a woman on trial for murder. Cast: Loretta Young, Ricardo Cortez, and Franchot Tone.

They Call It Sin (1932). With time on his hands during a business trip, Jimmy Decker (who's engaged to his boss's daughter) romances Marion Cullen, who follows him to New York only to learn the truth about Jimmy.

Marion, needing a job finds one with theatrical producer Ford Humphries. Will she succumb to her boss, take up with now-married Jimmy, marry honest suitor Tony Travers...or become a full-fledged gold digger?

Please click here to read past They Call It A Sin movie review.

The Hatchet Man(1932). Pre-Code film directed by William A. Wellman. Cast: Edward G. Robinson and Loretta Young. Made during the few years before the Production Code, The Hatchet Man has scenes that would not be allowed: adultery, drugs and a the graphic use of a flying hatchet.

Wong Low Get, is well known hatchet man of his Tong and cannot turn down an order, even one to kill his best friend Sun Yat Ming . His friend forgives him just before his execution, but.. he also makes Wong promise to raise his daughter Toya San, as his own. Wong, keeps his promise, but after shes grown, they get married, but a younger gangster, Harry En Hai, gets her to leave Wong, disgracing him which leads to a shocking ending.

Full length movie:

Play Girl (1932). Cast: Loretta Young and Norman Foster.

Buster Green's mother died while giving birth to her and her plan is to work hard to achieve the good life. But, when she meets Wallie Dennis, they quickly get married, only to find out on their honeymoon that he makes his "living" as a gambler.

He promises to reform, but.. he can not seem to change his ways. So, when she finds herself pregnant she feels she can no longer trusts him and moves on. Faced with raising her child in alone, she also turns to the gambling life.

The Ruling Voice(1931). A famous gangster has a soft spot for his grown-up daughter.

She Had to Say Yes(1933). A Pre-Code film directed by George Amy and Busby Berkley. It was Berkley's directorial debut. It was part of a series of movies that showcased the compromises working girls made during the Great Depression. Women of that time often had to deal with sexual harassment, on the job.

Born to Be Bad(1950).

Born to Be Bad(1950). Melodrama directed by Nicholas Ray. Cast: Joan Fontaine and Robert Ryan. It is based on the novel.. All Kneeling, by Anne Parrish.

On the same day that Donna Foster, is planning on hosting a party for artist, Gabriel, her boss John Caine's niece, Christabel, arrives to attend the local college.

 

When Christabel first meets Donna's fiance, wealthy Curtis Carey, she immediately begins making plans to take him away from Donna. Nick Bradley, a friend of Donna's becomes very attracted to Christabel. Even though.. Nick sees her has very opportunistic.

Later, when Christabel, is having her portrait painted by Gobby, Curtis calls, asking her to meet him at a jewelry store. After breaking her date with Nick, Christabel, is disappointed to find out that he only wants her to help him buy an engagement present for Donna. Christabel, tries to talk Curtis into giving Donna a cameo, but.. Curtis chooses a beautiful sapphire necklace instead. Donna, loves the necklace until Christabel says " that she is very surprised that she would want such a expensive gift". Donna, later tells Nick "that she is worried that Curtis may think she is marrying him only for his money".

Later, at Gobby's art opening, Curtis shares with Christabel his fears that Donna is a gold digger. Christabel, then suggests that Curtis have a pre-nuptial agreement with Donna written up. When Curtis mentions Christabel's idea to Donna, she is deeply hurt.

Later that night, after Curtis buys Christabel's portrait, Donna informs Chistable that she broke off her engagement with him. Seeing her opportunity, Christabel asks her uncle to please allow her to stay in San Francisco, just to attend the charity ball.

At the ball, Christabel sets her sights on Curtis, who is also attracted to her. When Christabel tells Nick, that she is marrying Curtis, he tells her that she will never be happy married to him. After Christabel and Curtis marry, Christabel throws herself into charitable committees and planning balls. Christabel, comes up with a plan to have Clara, who has been living with her since her marriage, shipped back to Santa Flora, because she is worried that she will have too much influence on Curtis.

Christabel's, social plans causes Curtis to question her love for him and worries that she is still in love with Nick and suggests that they go for a weekend get away. Christabel, slips away from the resort, leaving a note claiming that Clara, needs her back in Santa Flora. Christabel meets secretly with Nick, to rekindle their romance. Nick, soon realizes that Christabel only wants to have an affair with him and turns her down. When Christabel returns home, she finds out that Clara died earlier that afternoon. Curtis, now knowing that Christabel is only using him for his money, insists that she leave with only her furs.

She is not down for long.. Christabel, has a car accident and ends up in a hospital. She soon becomes involved in a love affair with her surgeon, whose wife sues her for alienation of affection. Later, after Curtis and Donna reunite, Christabel sees a lawyer about the lawsuit which turns into another scandal.

I thought it was a wonderful film, with perfect casting, stylish sets and costumes. One scene that really surprised me is when, Fontaine returns home after her love scene with Robert Ryan and takes a bath just before husband Zachary Scott returns home. Whew!! A must see film for all Fontaine and Robert Ryan fans.

Joan Leslie, a talented young actress soon signed a contract with Warner Bros. In 1941, Leslie got her first major role in the thriller High Sierra with Humphrey Bogart, playing a crippled girl under her new billing as "Joan Leslie". She also starred in Sergeant York and The Wagons Roll at Night in that same year. Later in 1942 she appeared as James Cagney's wife in Yankee Doodle Dandy, and at the age of 18 in 1943, she starred in The Sky's the Limit with Fred Astaire. In 1946 exhibitors voted her the most promising "star of tomorrow". She starred in many more movies until 1950, when she married Dr. William Caldwell. Her last movie role was in The Revolt of Mamie Stover in 1956, and she eventually retired from acting altogether to look after her identical twin daughters Patrice and Ellen. She has appeared in several television commercials since then, and also made guest appearances in the TV shows Murder, She Wrote and Charlie's Angels. She also provided commentary as extras on the Yankee Doodle Dandy, Sergeant York, and High Sierra DVDs. Joan was a regular volunteer at the Hollywood Canteen where she danced with the servicemen and granted hundreds of autographs. In 1944, she starred with Robert Hutton in the Warner Bros. film, Hollywood Canteen.