Many precode films focus on female protagonists who might have a criminal past. But because they are mostly uplifting dramas, the women in these stories strive to overcome past mistakes and live a more productive life. Before I dive into this particular review, I should mention a bit of background about the production. Carole Lombard was locked into a long-term contract at this time with Paramount Pictures. However, she was fighting boss Adolph Zukor about the sort of scripts that would best serve her talents.
At an impasse, Zukor placed Lombard on suspension. She promptly went to Columbia where she struck up a friendship with Harry Cohn. Cohn was eager to use Lombard to bring more prestige to his then-poverty row studio. He offered Paramount money to borrow Lombard, which meant her suspension was lifted. Lombard was able to get away from her home studio for awhile, and she was able to do material that interested her. She made several films for Columbia during the next few years. One (TWENTIETH CENTURY) firmly established her reputation as a screwball comedienne.
In VIRTUE, she is playing a much more dramatic part. And she handles the role with ease. Her character Mae is a down-on-her-luck prostitute that meets a brash but vulnerable taxi driver named Jimmy (Pat O'Brien). And from there, a rather interesting relationship- and sudden marriage- occurs. Both Lombard and O'Brien deliver their lines quickly. There are no drawn out pauses or belabored moments. This gives their scenes a lot of energy.
O'Brien's character is a bit tough at the beginning. Jimmy's charmed by Mae, but he's also a bit skeptical. Probably because while driving cab around town, he's met other gals like her before. He doesn't intend to get burned. However, she does get a ride from him without paying.
Of course, we know our two main characters will cross paths again. Or else there wouldn't be a love story, right? I like how the writers contrive to throw them back together. It's because Mae has developed a conscience, and decides she needs to pay Jimmy for the fare, after all.
We should point out that while he might initially suspect she is a prostitute, Mae doesn't ever confirm this to Jimmy in the beginning stages of the relationship. So he's a little gullible and chooses to believe she's a good girl. Maybe because he's hooked on her, and he can't admit he's falling for a prostitute. When they impulsively marry, she must definitely give up her former occupation.
This is where the soap opera aspects of the plot kick into gear. We know that she won't be able to totally disengage from her old friends, and some of them are quite dangerous. This will cause a huge disruption in the marriage.
The big twist occurs when Mae gets scammed by a guy named Toots (Jack La Rue) and a female pal named Gert (Shirley Grey). She borrows money from funds Jimmy is saving to open his own garage. Then goes to confront Gert, which lands her in even bigger trouble since Toots has accidentally killed Gert during an argument. Mae is found at the scene of the crime and is arrested.
I didn't expect there to be a killing. But certainly knew there would be some sort of trouble, some sort of violence. Jimmy becomes Mae's staunchest supporter through all of this.
As the drama plays out, important social issues are depicted on screen. How women struggle to support themselves; how a couple struggle to make a marriage work; friends who have their own problems; references to prostitution, economics and abortion. There's a murder. Etc. Ordinarily, a film like this might seem heavy handed. But in this case, it doesn't. The two leads draw us into what is a sincere story of love and redemption.
At an impasse, Zukor placed Lombard on suspension. She promptly went to Columbia where she struck up a friendship with Harry Cohn. Cohn was eager to use Lombard to bring more prestige to his then-poverty row studio. He offered Paramount money to borrow Lombard, which meant her suspension was lifted. Lombard was able to get away from her home studio for awhile, and she was able to do material that interested her. She made several films for Columbia during the next few years. One (TWENTIETH CENTURY) firmly established her reputation as a screwball comedienne.
In VIRTUE, she is playing a much more dramatic part. And she handles the role with ease. Her character Mae is a down-on-her-luck prostitute that meets a brash but vulnerable taxi driver named Jimmy (Pat O'Brien). And from there, a rather interesting relationship- and sudden marriage- occurs. Both Lombard and O'Brien deliver their lines quickly. There are no drawn out pauses or belabored moments. This gives their scenes a lot of energy.
O'Brien's character is a bit tough at the beginning. Jimmy's charmed by Mae, but he's also a bit skeptical. Probably because while driving cab around town, he's met other gals like her before. He doesn't intend to get burned. However, she does get a ride from him without paying.
Of course, we know our two main characters will cross paths again. Or else there wouldn't be a love story, right? I like how the writers contrive to throw them back together. It's because Mae has developed a conscience, and decides she needs to pay Jimmy for the fare, after all.
We should point out that while he might initially suspect she is a prostitute, Mae doesn't ever confirm this to Jimmy in the beginning stages of the relationship. So he's a little gullible and chooses to believe she's a good girl. Maybe because he's hooked on her, and he can't admit he's falling for a prostitute. When they impulsively marry, she must definitely give up her former occupation.
This is where the soap opera aspects of the plot kick into gear. We know that she won't be able to totally disengage from her old friends, and some of them are quite dangerous. This will cause a huge disruption in the marriage.
The big twist occurs when Mae gets scammed by a guy named Toots (Jack La Rue) and a female pal named Gert (Shirley Grey). She borrows money from funds Jimmy is saving to open his own garage. Then goes to confront Gert, which lands her in even bigger trouble since Toots has accidentally killed Gert during an argument. Mae is found at the scene of the crime and is arrested.
I didn't expect there to be a killing. But certainly knew there would be some sort of trouble, some sort of violence. Jimmy becomes Mae's staunchest supporter through all of this.
As the drama plays out, important social issues are depicted on screen. How women struggle to support themselves; how a couple struggle to make a marriage work; friends who have their own problems; references to prostitution, economics and abortion. There's a murder. Etc. Ordinarily, a film like this might seem heavy handed. But in this case, it doesn't. The two leads draw us into what is a sincere story of love and redemption.