Ladies in Love

At first there seem to be men than ladies in love in this movie. Johnny Walker wants Alice Day to sing his song, but he's in love with Elinor Flynn; her mother, Mary Carr wants her to marry him because he has inherited some money, but as soon as he's off to New York to get Miss Day to sing his song, she's on the phone with another boy. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Freeman Wood wants to marry Miss Day, but his mother threatens to withhold a million dollars if he does.

It's a fairly standard movie with a few problems, like Walker's New York accent. However, there are some nice touches to it. Miss Day sings three songs in a good voice, and Marjorie Kane sings another. While most of the movie is shot as a melodrama, there are some nice comedy touches, usually directed at Mr. Freeman. In addition, the hard-shelled New Yorkers are portrayed as having a soft center, as they talk about how tough a time they had on first coming to the city, only to be scoffed at.

It's Edgar Lewis' last movie as director. He would play a few bits until 1935, then die in 1938, aged 68.

"Ladies in Love", in its time, was a very good film. Today when you watch it, it might seem old fashioned--due, in part, to its primitive sound quality. But if you can look past this and understand that in comparison to other films of the early 30s, it's actually well made and enjoyable. Had it been made a year or two later, perhaps I would have scored it a point lower.

Harry King (Johnnie Walker) is a struggling songwriter from Vermont. He naively thinks that when he comes to New York City that he can just walk in and have stars listen to his song. Because of this, he pesters the radio star, Miss Lascelle (Alice Day), to listen to it. But she is naturally busy and it's only later, when the General Manager of the radio station she works at lies and says that Harry is a millionaire does she notice him! Soon they fall in love...but the false pretenses are a big strike against Harry. The other is that she already has a rich boyfriend! Need another problem? A two-faced girl from back home in Vermont is determined to get him back...even if it means tricking everyone to do so!

This is a cute little romance....nothing grand or spectacular. But it is enjoyable and despite the crappy sound, it is enjoyable.

A hick songwriter travels to the big city in the hope of selling his song to a beautiful singing star. A forgotten early talkie featuring Johnnie Walker, a big noise in silent movies whose star quickly faded once the advent of sound revealed what a godawful actor he was. Leading lady Alice Day is no better. Earns itself an extra half-a-point for Walker's "I hope your goldfish have fleas" parting put-down to his gold-digging girlfriend