Vanity Fair

There have been a few Hollywood adaptations of the classic Vanity Fair, but one that is particularly interesting to watch is the pre-Code 1932 version starring Myrna Loy. Because there were no constrictions, it could be as naughty as it wanted to be - and it was! With Myrna's side-eye, smirk, and bold gestures, she's completely believable as Becky Sharp. Becky wants to advance in society and soon learns that sleeping with men advances her social status. In one particularly slimy scene early on, her friend's middle-aged brother practically propositions her in broad daylight. Myrna gives her little smile and realizes that if she gives him what he wants, he'll invite her to parties and dinners with the "right" people.

Modern audiences might find this version tame, but keep in mind it's an old, black-and-white flick. It's almost one hundred years old, and it's very interesting to watch actors in a timeless story of a conniving gold digger.

Myrna Loy is cast as Becky Sharp, and this appears to be her first starring role, a step away from the exotic vampires she played earlier in her career (such roles would continue through 1934, even after her breakthrough role in THE THIN MAN), but it would be Frank Capra and W.S. Van Dyke who would reimagine her as what she was: a great American beauty.

Miss Loy was lent from MGM to M.H. Hoffman at Chesterfield for this modern-dress version of Thackeray's novel, and despite the cheapness of the production and the wonky soundtrack on the copy I saw, director Chester Franklin's desire to make a serious version of the story about the girl who knew men only wanted her for one thing, and she was going to make them pay for it, shines through. The casting includes some good silent movie talent, including Conway Tearle as Rawdon Crawley, able to support a leading lady without distracting the audience; Lionel Belmore as his lascivious father;Barbara Kent as her friend, Amanda Sedley.

It's a nice version, and undoubtedly was a turning point in Miss Loy's career. Unfortunately, Franklin's polite and family-friendly handling failed to ignite any major response in a year when movie grosses and profits were at a low point; and the sumptuous Technicolor version of 1935 all but erased this movie from the public consciousness.

I bought this DVD as part of a set of 50 "historic classics." It's hardly a classic, and as the plot was updated to the time of its release, is not historic either. The actual title on the DVD is "Indecent," and additionally subtitled "The Private Life of Becky Sharp." Myrna Loy is not very convincing, although in her defense she is saddled with an awful script and trite dialogue. As with many early talkies, and especially ones made by smaller studios, there is little skill demonstrated by the cast and crew. Loy does wear a few gowns that are quite stylish, but her costumes and make-up in the later scenes are overdone. The one saving grace is a tolerable performance by Billy Bevan, who plays one of her many suitors

A ruthless young woman uses her feminine wiles to climb the social ladder. A pre-Code updating of Thackeray's famous satirical novel features an enjoyable performance from a young Myrna Loy, who looks ravishing as the scheming opportunist Becky Sharp, a woman more than willing to throw friendship aside in her pursuit of wealth. It's a little too episodic to be successful, but there's something strangely endearing about the way Sharp accepts each setback with uncomplaining stoicism.

When I first turned on the DVD with this film, I was very tempted to just turn it off--the print and especially the sound were that bad. In fact, it's among the worst quality prints I've ever seen from Alpha Video--and that's saying a lot because none of Alpha's DVDs appear to have any restoration work on them and many are in horrible shape. The sound on this one is simply appallingly bad and I sure hope someone would one day restore the print. But, considering this isn't a particularly good film, it's doubtful this will occur.

Aside from the novelty of seeing this story of a conniving woman set in the modern day instead of the 19th century like it was in Thackeray's novel as well as seeing Myrna Loy in one of her earliest starring roles, there's not much to recommend this movie. While I did not exactly love the famous 1935 version (entitled "Becky Sharp"--and it was the first full-length full color movie), it was better than this one. There are also newer versions that also work better than this low-budget 1932 one. In fact, I really think they set the film in the 1930s because of the budget--as they didn't need the added expense of costumes and wigs. This one, unfortunately, comes off as dated and creaky--with poor acting and a cheapness about it. And, given the horrendous quality of the print, it is not a film I could recommend.