Kept Husbands

Joel McCrea is a steel worker whose valor moves his boss to invite him to dinner. The boss's wife and daughter are terrible snobs and think this a hilarious idea. It turns out he was a star football player from Harvard, despite his humble origins. And the daughter sets her sights on them.

(All this occurs in the first 15 minutes.) McCrea, one of my great favorites, is not the star he was soon to become. He's a fine actor and looks good but his image is not yet set.

The daughter is a very disagreeable character, in my view. What better catch could anyone want than McCrea? And she doesn't always appear to appreciate him.

Long forgotten, Dorothy Mackaill was a Ziegfeld girl who was big in pictures in the late silent and early talkie periods. Then she disappeared. Kept Husbands is a great little film that showcases her talent as an actress. It also boasts a very young Joel McCrea. Racy for its time, it's the story of a spoiled rich girl who proposes to a working man and then runs rampant over his life until the big blowup. Fast paced and funny in spots, this little gem is sure worth watching. The stars are terrific and attractive. Supporting cast includes Robert McWade as the indulgent father, Florence Roberts as the snooty mother, Ned Sparks as comic relief, Mary Carr as McCrea's mother, former silent great Clara Kimball Young in an embarrassing turn as the bitchy society woman, and Bryant Washburn as the creep.

Filled with funny lines and double meanings, this is a swell little pre-Code film. Mackaill is terrific as the spoiled "kitten" and was a solid actress (see her in Safe in Hell also); McCrea is also very good as the bewildered husband; Mary Carr is also noteworthy as the doting mother. Clara Kimball Young was a sensational star of the teens. She was 41 when she made this film and is just AWFUL. She worked for another decade.

NOTE: The IMDb lists Llewellyn as being played by Freeman Wood. I think it was Lucien Littlefield, who was also listed in the film's opening credits.

This is the story of Dick, he plays a football hero turned steel worker. He is of humble (poor) beginnings, but has drive an ambition. He saves some workers at the plant and does not accept the thousand dollar reward for doing so, garnering an invitation to his admiring boss's home for dinner. At dinner, he meets his boss' daughter, Dot. She is selfish and spoiled and while initially prepared to mock and make fun of this poor blue collar steel worker...happens to glance the fob on his pocket watch realizing he is a well-know man local football hero! This changes everything for her and suddenly she is throwing herself at him.

These two are completely unsuited for one another.

"There isn't a man in the world that a woman can't land if she wants to."-Dot

"She's about as useful as a little silky kitten. That's what they should have called her-kitten."-Dick

This doesn't stop Dot from aggressively pursuing Dick even to the point of proposing, at which time she agrees to live on his salary and everything. A promise she clearly never intended as immediately upon their marriage they go on a European honeymoon where she is buying fur coats and dresses that are far, far beyond Dick's means. When back home the partying lifestyle and spending doesn't end. It really hits the fan when she tries to prevent Dick from going on a business trip her father is sending him on (and he wanted her to go with...but she didn't want to miss out on the local parties!!!!)

"There is only one thing I'll keep-my self respect!"-Dick

I am glad it had the ending it did...but I was a little surprised at his mother:

"All women keep their husbands, some with money others with love."-Mrs. Brunton

It was clear this was not a live match at least on Dot's part which made this whole film a bit depressing for me. Mixed feelings if I would recommend. I would say proceed at your own risk.

Yeah, as the above quote indicates, this is an old, old movie. But it's a darling one, starring Dorothy Mackaill and Joel McCrea. McCrea plays football star Dick Brunton, who now works for Mackaill's dad. Dad brings Dick home for dinner one night, which doesn't make anyone very happy - after all, they're filthy rich and he's just filthy, i.e., a working man. Mackaill can't take her eyes off of him - and who can blame her? McCrea is gloriously handsome and shy. After a month has gone by, Mackaill, a spoiled brat, has proposed marriage and bought herself an engagement ring. She tells dad they'll need $50,000 a year to live on. Since poor Dick only makes $180 a month, Dad says he'll make up the difference. Dick soon begins neglecting what little work he has to do as Vice President of the family company and starts feeling like a kept man.

There are several "kept" men in this movie, the difference here being that Dot and Dick are truly in love. Mackaill does a beautiful job of being a manipulative daughter and wife, but we're able to see the vulnerable woman underneath who finally realizes what's important in life. McCrea, only 26 here, is at his natural, adorable, hunky best.

Mary Carr gives a sweet performance as Dick's mom, the one who offers the summary comment quote. Ned Sparks is on hand with some funny lines and great delivery.

All in all, a delightful movie, if dated, though I'm sure there are still some people today who think that keeping your man is all that matters.

KEPT HUSBANDS (1931) tells the story of Dot Parker (Dorothy Mackaill), a wealthy young socialite who sets her sights on the hard working Dick Brunton (Joel McCrea), a supervisor at her father's steel plant. She bets with her father that she can get him to agree to marry her within four weeks. When she does, she uses her father's wealth to treat Dick to a life of luxury. Dick, however, begins to feel unfulfilled and trapped by luxury, longing for a simpler life, and tensions arise between the two. Directed by Lloyd Bacon.

This pre-Code film shows an assertive young woman who isn't content to wait for the man to propose to her; she takes the initiative in the relationship. While this may seem rather tame now, it was revelatory to audiences in the 1920s and 1930s. It sends a mixed message about this, though, since Dot's character is eventually shown as a spoiled girl who will resort to manipulative and dramatic behavior to get her way. The title refers to Dick and another character, who both come to feel useless and unfulfilled because they live off of the wealth of their wives and family rather than the sweat of their brow, and are helpless victims of controlling women. So what are we supposed to take away from this, exactly? It seems to extol assertive women as modern while villainizing them as controlling at the same time.

It also touches on the clash between the idle wealthy and the working class, with the rich portrayed as elegant yet superficial, and the working class as rustic yet wise and loving (via Dick's parents). The characters aren't really defined that well. The script gets really silly in the last act, settling for a pat, forced conclusion

Dorothy Mackaill and Joel McCrea both do fine work in their respective portrayals. Mackaill shows intelligence and humor in her portrayal, and McCrea is refreshingly low-key and naturalistic. The supporting players also do effective work here, although I found Dick's dad a little on the stiff side. The sets are appropriately well furnished and luxurious. The cinematography and editing are well executed, not really outstanding but quite professional. It's somewhat entertaining as a pre-Code look at gender roles, but it sends a mixed message and is rather simplistic. SCORE: 6/10