Sin Takes a Holiday

SIN TAKES A HOLIDAY is the story of a divorce lawyer who comes up with the idea of having a wife in name only for his convenience. In other words, because he has a wife, it's a lot easier to rebuff the advances of his lonely female clients. He asks his faithful secretary (Constance Bennett) and at first she refuses. Part of this is obvious to the viewer--she secretly loves this lawyer. But when he behaves boorishly towards her, she decides to take him up on it because she can travel and have anything she wants...except her boss.

Unfortunately, there are two major problems with the film. The story has been done many times before in various forms and is very predictable. The other problem is that the "dramatic transformation" of Miss Bennett from a dowdy secretary to a ravishing socialite is just too unbelievable. She looks pretty much the same in both roles other than the clothes. But, like when Clark Kent removes his glasses, you are expected to believe in this miraculous change--it just isn't that miraculous as Bennett just isn't that desirable or different.

Overall, an interesting film where the actors try their best--it's just that the material isn't that interesting and is a disappointment in light of the salacious title! It's a pleasant romantic time-passer and that's about all.

"Sin Takes a Holiday" stars Constance Bennett as a secretary in love with her boss - how's that for a novel plot line? Well, perhaps in 1930, it was, and there is more to it than that. It's an early talkie, so the timing is a little off as the actors get used to the technique. It's also pre-Code, so anything goes. And does. In this film, everybody cheats on their spouses. The boss, however, is unmarried, but his girlfriend wants to get married to him right away. So he marries Bennett and sends her abroad so he can have his cake and eat it too. While there, Bennett is escorted about by Basil Rathbone, in a delightful performance. He falls in love with her, but Bennett needs to find out if she can have a real marriage with her husband.

Having read some of the comments, I'm unsure if people think that Bennett was amoral. The marriage for opportunity plot was used over and over - "Mannequin" is just one example - and Bennett marries her boss to do him a favor, not so much for the money. Plus, the title is "Sin Takes a Holiday" and it does seem that she avoids a dalliance with Rathbone while abroad. So while I find the crowd her boss runs with fast and loose, I did feel Bennett was a very likable character. Not to mention, a great beauty.

Gaylord (Kenneth MacKenna) quickly arranges a marriage of convenience to his secretary, Sylvia (Constance Bennett) to avoid the advances of his socialite friend, Grace (Rita le Roy). Gaylord draws up a 1 year contract with Sylvia so that there is an understanding about how they can both behave and he encourages her to travel to France and do her own thing. However, after spending time in France with Reggie (Basil Rathbone), Sylvia returns to Gaylord to ask what he truly feels....

This is a fun film. No-one is correct - everyone behaves atrociously. The men are ultimately revealed as cads or blind to their actions while the women are calculating and far more deliberate and nasty in their actions. It's interesting to watch to see who Sylvia will end up with........she ain't no angel.....don't be fooled by her apparent innocence. She's just as much of a bitch as Grace as her behaviour demonstrates. We have a confrontation at the end between all the characters involved which is what we have been anticipating and the dialogue is very entertaining.

A mention about the character Gaylord. Well..........there's his name first of all...and then there is the fact that he doesn't seem interested in any women.....GAY....or maybe not, eh? I also think that they needed to make Constance Bennett far more plain in the first half of the story so that her transformation into a babe is believable. As it is, she looks good before and after. No change there.

An enjoyable film.

In a precode marriage, sylvia (constance bennett) agrees to marry her boss. But only under his terms... she promises to toot off to europe immediately, so he can fiddle around without the danger of having to marry his girlfriends. Which is so similar to the plot of the modern film "cactus flower"! So sylvia dutifully heads to paris, and meets the dashing durant. Which complicates things. Rathbone had done a couple silents and talkies prior to this, one of which is the fun "last of mrs. Cheyney", the first version. And so famous for playing sherlock holmes. Bennett is probably best known for "topper" and "merrily we live", both so much fun. Zasu pitts is in here as well. The movie is pretty good, if predictable. What happens when someone wants to change the terms of the agreement? Directed by paul stein. Died at 59.

This pre-Code comedy is more interesting for its decor and reflection of the morals of the day than for its acting or story. The plot revolves around three characters, each in love with the one who isn't in love with her or him. Things work out in a way--two characters find each other and the third is left to move on. All this happens in an atmosphere of wealth, where amoral dalliance is both expected and titillating. An unfortunate effect is that the three characters come off as facile and, ultimately, unlikeable, the comedic talents of Bennett and the imposing presence of Rathbone notwithstanding. Despite the dismissal of a group of morally repugnant friends at the end, I didn't believe in the couple's future happiness--nor in the morally bankrupt world they inhabit and seem to enjoy. And I felt sorry for the one left out. He seemed the only character with a conscience. The always delightful presence of Zazu Pitts should be noted, though she plays a small role in the plot development. Enjoy this film for the marvelously fantastic Art Deco sets and wonderful period gowns. But ultimately, the resolution of the plot leaves one unsatisfied.