A socialite begins a shipboard romance with a wealthy man, but is blackmailed by a former lover.A socialite begins a shipboard romance with a wealthy man, but is blackmailed by a former lover.A socialite begins a shipboard romance with a wealthy man, but is blackmailed by a former lover.
Sidney Bracey
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
Edward LeSaint
- Dr. Sanders
- (uncredited)
Edgar Norton
- Darrow's Butler
- (uncredited)
Lee Phelps
- Dennis, Darrow's Chauffeur
- (uncredited)
Harry Stubbs
- Ship's Steward
- (uncredited)
Charles Williams
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film, one of the seminal works of the pre-Code era, has been unavailable commercially since January 17, 1936, when a federal court ruled that MGM's script too closely resembled the play "Dishonored Lady" without having acquired the rights or given proper screen credit. The play, written by Edward Sheldon and Margaret Ayer Barnes for leading lady Katharine Cornell, opened on Broadway at the Empire Theatre on April 30, 1930, running for 127 performances. The U.S. copyright of the play will expire in 2025.
- Quotes
District Attorney Haney: Lawyers with brains are scarce.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002)
Featured review
The hype is true...
... unlike so many lost or unavailable films. The plot initially seems not so unusual, especially for a Joan Crawford MGM vehicle of the 1930's. Joan plays a fabulously wealthy playgirl living in South America who decides to return home for a multitude of reasons - she wants to turn over a new leaf, she wants to make up with the mother (May Robson) who has been pushing her away all her life, but most of all she wants to get out of the grasp of a possessive lover (Nils Asther) that is smothering her and objectifying her to the point that she is frightened. She takes a ship home to New York, and on the way there falls in love with the charming heir Hale Darrow (Robert Montgomery). The two become engaged with the press waiting to snap their pictures as the boat docks, but as the picture is snapped, what does Letty see but the possessive lover she thought she left in South America, literally licking his chops for her and waiting for her to land.
Young Darrow knows nothing of Letty's past, Letty's mom still wants nothing to do with her, and as for her old lover, he's demanding she continue the affair or else he will publicize some torrid love letters she wrote. How does this all turn out? Quite unexpectedly, I'll tell you that much and I'll also tell you, thank goodness for precode where justice in the movies - as in life - didn't always have the predictable nature of a form letter like it did after 1934.
MGM threw its A-list talent at this one including Joan's gowns by Adrian, Lewis Stone with a short but important part at the end, and some first class character actors. The only thing that doesn't ring quite true is May Robson as Joan's mother. Robson's acting and characterization are perfect, but she was almost 50 years older than Joan, looks it, and it just doesn't seem plausible that they could be mother and daughter with that age difference staring you in the face. Still it's a minor quibble and I'd highly recommend watching it if you ever get the opportunity.
Young Darrow knows nothing of Letty's past, Letty's mom still wants nothing to do with her, and as for her old lover, he's demanding she continue the affair or else he will publicize some torrid love letters she wrote. How does this all turn out? Quite unexpectedly, I'll tell you that much and I'll also tell you, thank goodness for precode where justice in the movies - as in life - didn't always have the predictable nature of a form letter like it did after 1934.
MGM threw its A-list talent at this one including Joan's gowns by Adrian, Lewis Stone with a short but important part at the end, and some first class character actors. The only thing that doesn't ring quite true is May Robson as Joan's mother. Robson's acting and characterization are perfect, but she was almost 50 years older than Joan, looks it, and it just doesn't seem plausible that they could be mother and daughter with that age difference staring you in the face. Still it's a minor quibble and I'd highly recommend watching it if you ever get the opportunity.
helpful•70
- AlsExGal
- Mar 11, 2012
- How long is Letty Lynton?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 24 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content