Just a Gigolo

Just a Gigolo is a movie best appreciated by those who are 45 and older and who enjoy older films. It is not a prime time movie. It is probably best enjoyed late at night or on a rainy afternoon. I found the acting in the movie mostly to be, put it lightly, atrocious. However, that was the style in the early films. Watch the lifestyles of the rich and famous in 1931. The best thing about this movie is that it is fairly short, just a little over an hour in length, and will fill empty time and create empty noise. I am most grateful for the short movie. Wine and cheese are on the menu for snacks for this film. Popcorn is okay. The movie may even be a cure for insomnia if it were not for the screeching female voices in the film, particularly the French accented one. It's not so bad to rate it as really bad. It's just bad and I enjoy older films. Not a total waste of time though.

M.G.M. film adaptation of 1930 Stage Play that featured Irene Purcell, who co-stared with William Haines in the Cinema translation. Neither would find much success in the future Hollywood. Ms. Purcell, though attractive did not translate well to the Silver Screen. Mr. Haines had other problems in the eyes of Studio Heads Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg. He would not keep his personal life 'private' and they felt he was a disposable asset.

THE NUTS; Lord Robert Brummel (Haines) doubts that anybody will love him for himself and not his Dollar$, Pound$ and Title. 'Uncle' Lord George Hampton (C. Aubry Smith) despairs he will never settle down, marry and give the Family a heir. He keeps setting up possible mates which 'Lord' Robert keeps shooting down. Finally meeting Roxana Hartley (Irene Purcell) who proves too be his match and there is a happy ending. The film features several amusing incidents and the song JUST A GIGOLO.

Mr. Haines gives a appealing performance. Dropping his usual 'Gay Blade' and 'Prissy Ham' act. Showing the natural acting and comedic talents that were well illustrated in films like TELL IT TO THE MARINES (1926) and SHOW PEOPLE (1928). Fortunetly for him after his screen career ended he continued as a successful interior decorator, with many of Hollywood's elite seeking his services.

Normally, in his sound films, William Haines would be constantly chattering and go for the broad laughs with over the top often hammy humor. Here he plays it cool pretty much throughout. Haines plays the playboy nephew of Lord George Hampton (C. Aubrey Smith). Lord Hampton has had it with paying for his nephew Robert's scandalous and expensive ways and threatens to cut off his allowance and his inheritance unless he marries. He even names the girl - one from a wealthy family that has never met him and therefore doesn't know what he looks like. At first Robert says no - he's had too many married women to want to wind up playing the fool himself once he is married. Robert's experience has led him to believe all women cheat. Thus Robert makes a bargain with his uncle - if he can bed his wife-to-be in 30 days without her knowing who he actually is, he does not have to marry her. The uncle agrees and the fun begins. Of course the bet between Robert and his uncle isn't put quite as plainly as I put it. This may be the precode era but there were some things you couldn't just come out and say even then. Still this film is pretty sexually bold for its time and is cleverly done. Highly recommended for the precode fan.

One thing that puzzles me is whatever happened to Irene Purcell, who plays Robert's possible fiancée here? She's been just perfect in the MGM films I've seen her in - this one and "The Passionate Plumber". She was great at playing high society types in comedies, but it was just three films and then out for her over at MGM. She did three more films at smaller studios in much smaller parts and left the industry entirely in 1932. I wonder what happened?

Pleasant William Haines pre-Code comedy has Haines as a playboy who thinks all women (especially wives) are cheats. When he learns his uncle (C. Aubrey Smith) has arranged for him to meet the daughter (Irene Purcell in her stage role) of his old friend, he devises to masquerade as a dance gigolo to prove she's a cheat also. Haines and Purcell are a nice couple, and Haines is not a "gay" here as he is in some other talkies. And Smith is of course always good.

Charlotte Granville, Henry Armetta, Albert Conti, Maria Alba, George Davis, Lillian Bond, Yola d'Avril, Lenore Bushman, and a very young Ray Milland co-star.

Haines was a major star when this slight MGM comedy was released. It was a big hit, ensuring that Haines remained a top box office attraction in talkies. He was a top 10 star from 1926 (Brown of Harvard) until 1932, when Louis B. Mayer scuttled his career. It's a shame he's forgotten now. William Haines was a unique talent, and terrific comic actor, and a gay icon.

Purcell is very bright and pretty (despite a lisp) and had a very minor starring career. Seems like she should have made more films.

The American nephew of an English nobleman is appalled at the prospect of an arranged marriage. To prove to his uncle that all girls are not sweet & innocent, he disguises himself as his intended's paid dancing companion, to see if she'll have an affair with him. To his surprise, he falls in love with her. When she catches on to the trick, will she acknowledge her hidden love for him, or will she continue to treat him as JUST A GIGOLO?

William Haines, always enjoyable to watch, sparks this little pre-Production Code comedy, in which his silly-billy antics are toned down a bit. He's particularly fun in the climaxing scenes at the San Sebastian Inn, when he thinks Irene Purcell has surrendered a wee bit too far to his charms. Miss Purcell gives a pert performance as a spoiled young noblewoman in need of firm handling. Wonderful old Sir C. Aubrey Smith is excellent as a crusty lord who has much to learn about modern youth, circa 1931.

Haines was one of the art directors on this picture. The following year, with his dismissal from MGM, he would start a new & very successful career as a Hollywood interior decorator.