Big Business Girl

Loretta Young stars with Ricardo Cortez and Frank Albertson in "Big Business Girl," a pre-code from 1931.

Beautiful Claire McIntryre (Young) goes to New York to find a job, leaving behind her new husband Johnny (Albertson) who has a band that is going to be working in Paris. Thanks to a mismanagement fluke in an office, she is hired to work for Robert Clayton (Cortez) as a secretary in an advertising firm. Ambitious, she writes some ad copy, which Clayton finds passable and gives her an office. Actually it's excellent work, but he low-balls her salary and over the intercom, she hears he thinks she's got a good chassis.

'Mac' as she is known, doesn't mention she's married and plays the game, flirting with Clayton and dazzling the clients. Then Johnny shows up unexpectedly.

This movie is a real blah except for a couple of things. One is one of the secretaries saying she had ambitions at one time to make a "man's salary" - and just think, 86 years later, in some fields, you can still say that. However, she continues, a big career won't keep you warm at night.

The other item of interest is Joan Blondell, hired when people need to prove adultery before getting a divorce. She's hilarious as the no nonsense, down to earth Pearl, and she's the biggest spark in the film, other than Loretta's clothes.

Cortez is smooth and Albertson is dull. Loretta here was about 18. She's stunning and natural.

All in all, not much.