Lilly Turner

This Pre-Code moves along at a crackling pace. Lilly Turner is a gal from Buffalo who marries a fast-talking actor Rex Durkee (Gordon Westcott) after a whirlwind courtship and finds out on her honeymoon that he is not exactly the answer to her maiden's prayer. Rather than a successful vaudevillian he is a third-rate carnival performer whose poverty forces her into the carnival scene too. He cheats on Lilly and sponges off of her until she announces her pregnancy, then he skips town. And, believe it or not, things just go downhill for Lilly from there. And this is only twelve minutes into this 65-minute film.

Like "Heroes For Sale", there are no sustained bright spots in this one - they both end on a depressing note. But it doesn't exactly enumerate the widespread problems of the Great Depression like "Heroes does, other than that the only attractive nice guy in the film - Bob Chandler (George Brent) - is a bright young man with a recent degree in civil engineering who has to drive a taxi because of the lack of jobs in his chosen field.

Many compare this movie to "Freaks", and although I don't really agree with that assessment, it does have a kind of Tod Browning vibe going for it. I'd recommend this one, just realize it is not going to lift your spirits.

That's a line from Paddy Chayefsky.

Poor Lilly, all I can say.

Ruth Chatterton was 40 passing as 22 when she starred in 1933's Lilly Turner. It's possible she met husband George Brent during the filming. The film also stars Frank McHugh. William Wellman directed.

This is precode. Lilly starts off married to an actor. Once on the train, he tells her vaudeville has no work for him. She winds up as his assistant for his magic tricks.

It's not much of a marriage. She finds friendship from a drunk on the circuit, Dave Dixon (McHugh). Her husband - who turns out to be a bigamist - disappears when Lilly becomes pregnant, so she marries Dixon, only to lose the baby.

She becomes the perfect female physical specimen for one of the acts; the male specimen Fritz (Robert Barrat) is in love with her. He turns out to be crazy and is institutionalized. His replacement is Bob Chandler (a mustacheless Brent), and he and Lilly fall in love.

I'm a fan of Chatterton's. I love the way she played these leading ladies past 40. She's wonderful as Lilly with all these men, including the carnival owner, crazy about her. She pulls it off. Wellman's direction is very good, with a few very noir scenes with crazy Fritz.

With the Great Depression in mind, Brent as an engineer who cannot find work is believable. More believable is attitude of the times, about responsibility. People's values were less self-centered. Just an opinion.

Lilly Turner (1933)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Ruth Chatterton plays the title role, a woman who gets married but then loses her husband when it turns out he is already married to another woman. She loses her baby and then joins a traveling medicine show where she meets another man (George Brent) but her pass might catch up with her. Here's another Pre-Code from William A. Wellman but the screenplay doesn't do anyone justice. The performances are all very good with Chatterton really stealing the show as the tough as nails woman. Brent also turns in a fine performance as does Frank McHugh, Robert Barrat and Ruth Donnelly. The screenplay is full of cliché material from the wrong men falling for Lilly up to the ending, which anyone will see coming from a mile away. The bigamy plot twist might have been shocking for the day but it too is pretty watered down even for the era.

This film deals mainly with a woman named Lilly Turner, (Ruth Chatterton) who is involved with a carnival magician who deserts her because she is pregnant and then marries the carnival barker who is a drunk. Lilly becomes very interested in a young attractive engineer named Bob Chandler, (George Brent) who falls head over his heels in love with Lilly and has no idea just what her secret past has been and in some ways keeps him in the dark. Bob Chandler is hired as a strong man and lifts some 300 pounds as a performer because he has not found his break in his professional career as an engineer. Ruth Chatterton and George Brent gave an outstanding performance in this great William Wellman film, don't miss this film.

Ruth Chatterton (as Lilly Turner) impulsively marries handsome actor Gordon Westcott (as Rex Durkee). Soon, Ms. Chatterton learns Mr. Westcott is a two-timer, who can't keep a job. Additionally, Westcott beats up Chatterton's pal Frank McHugh (as Dave Dixon), who shows a fondness for alcohol. When Westcott's previous wife makes a surprise appearance, Chatterton learns he is a bigamist; but, Westcott has taken off for parts unknown. Chatterton, left pregnant, accepts Mr. McHugh's marriage proposal; and, the two try to make ends meet as carnival workers. Then, Chatterton falls for down-on-his-luck engineer George Brent (as Bob Chandler), who soon replaces carnival strongman Robert Barrat (as Fritz). Mr. Barrat has gone insane with love for Chatterton; and, she is torn between her love for Mr. Brent and her loyalty for McHugh…

Less than spectacular, but competent, star vehicle for superstar Chatterton, ably directed by William A. Wellman. During this film, Brent and Chatterton were real-life husband and wife. Brent co-starred with the most popular actresses of the time; though, he oftentimes comes across as rather ordinary, but is most appealing opposite Chatterton. McHugh gives an excellent supporting performance as Chatterton's alcoholic friend. Guy Kibbee and Marjorie Gateson are also highly watchable, as the amorous McGills.

****** Lilly Turner (5/13/33) William A. Wellman ~ Ruth Chatterton, George Brent, Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee