This B-film stars Carole Lombard and Pat O'Brien. He is a cabbie with ambitions of buying a gas station. She works at a lunch counter...but also has a secret. Soon, they meet and fall in love. However, on their wedding night, he finds out her secret---she had been a prostitute! His reaction, though seemingly brutal (he slaps her) is certainly understandable but is probably NOT something you would see in later films after the Production Code was strengthened and adopted in mid-1934. In fact, her having been a prostitute also would never have been allowed just a few years later.
Despite working through this major bump in their marriage, there is always a bit of doubt in his mind. You know this because later in the film, he assumes (incorrectly) that she's returned to her old career (and I don't mean waitressing!). What he doesn't know is that she is working hard to get back much of the money for his gas station--as it had been stolen. But, he stomps off and doesn't realize that she is true. This stinks, because she is soon accused of murder and he's one of the only one that knows she wasn't guilty and that there was a "mystery man" in the room. How all this resolved is pretty interesting and the film ends on a very nice but somewhat predictable note.
As far as the film goes, it was intended as a minor film. At the time, O'Brien and Lombard were not top stars and this is a B-film. And, in this sense, the movie is very successful. The story is very gritty but also very entertaining. The acting and direction were also outstanding as well. For lovers of Pre-Code films, in particular, it's well worth seeing and nearly scores an 8.
Despite working through this major bump in their marriage, there is always a bit of doubt in his mind. You know this because later in the film, he assumes (incorrectly) that she's returned to her old career (and I don't mean waitressing!). What he doesn't know is that she is working hard to get back much of the money for his gas station--as it had been stolen. But, he stomps off and doesn't realize that she is true. This stinks, because she is soon accused of murder and he's one of the only one that knows she wasn't guilty and that there was a "mystery man" in the room. How all this resolved is pretty interesting and the film ends on a very nice but somewhat predictable note.
As far as the film goes, it was intended as a minor film. At the time, O'Brien and Lombard were not top stars and this is a B-film. And, in this sense, the movie is very successful. The story is very gritty but also very entertaining. The acting and direction were also outstanding as well. For lovers of Pre-Code films, in particular, it's well worth seeing and nearly scores an 8.