The wonderful Joan Blondell, star of all those tough girls with hearts of gold Warner Brothers films of the 1930's looses her spirit in this marital drama with comic overtones that tries but fails to land. She is first seen sitting in divorce court as a witness for her sister (Gloria Dickson) and is soon lamenting the end of her own new marriage, to rising hot shot divorce lawyer Dick Powell, the real life Mr. Joan Blonde if you want to switch tradition, and the future Mr. June Allyson after his own divorce from Ms. Blondell. I used to quip that Allyson costarred in this, and years later when Allyson and Blondell crossed paths on screen, it was in "The Opposite Sex", the musical version of divorce screwball comedy, " The Women".
Much of the drama surrounds Dickson, ex-husband, ex Conrad Nagel and their son Mickey Kuhn. That slows this down to a snail's pace, providing too much sappiness and little detail into why Powell and Blondell's marriage is failing. Jessie Ralph scores the laughs as Blondell and Dickson's wise granny, with ex-Mr. Barbara Stanwyck (Frank Fay) providing a few laughs as Powell's client pal getting his divorce from a a Lupe Velez like spitfire. Too much going on other than the main plot takes away from the main plot which does provide a few real in sites as to why marriages end. When it gets away from Dickson and Fay, the sparks light momentarily, but it's not enough for the film to completely involve you.
Those who know Blondell only from her cameo in "Grease" and portrayal by Kathy Bates in "Feud" will be interested in seeing her as the major star she once was, and film noir fans will be interested in seeing Powell outside his detective agency and those singing roles he pretty much gave up when the couple left Warner Brothers. As usual, Louise Beavers plays the bighearted housekeeper, always gaining attention in roles she kept one step above undignified simply through her grace and wit. A scene where Blondell coldly lets Beavers go due to the end of her marriage comes off awkwardly, but is strangely and uncomfortably real.
Much of the drama surrounds Dickson, ex-husband, ex Conrad Nagel and their son Mickey Kuhn. That slows this down to a snail's pace, providing too much sappiness and little detail into why Powell and Blondell's marriage is failing. Jessie Ralph scores the laughs as Blondell and Dickson's wise granny, with ex-Mr. Barbara Stanwyck (Frank Fay) providing a few laughs as Powell's client pal getting his divorce from a a Lupe Velez like spitfire. Too much going on other than the main plot takes away from the main plot which does provide a few real in sites as to why marriages end. When it gets away from Dickson and Fay, the sparks light momentarily, but it's not enough for the film to completely involve you.
Those who know Blondell only from her cameo in "Grease" and portrayal by Kathy Bates in "Feud" will be interested in seeing her as the major star she once was, and film noir fans will be interested in seeing Powell outside his detective agency and those singing roles he pretty much gave up when the couple left Warner Brothers. As usual, Louise Beavers plays the bighearted housekeeper, always gaining attention in roles she kept one step above undignified simply through her grace and wit. A scene where Blondell coldly lets Beavers go due to the end of her marriage comes off awkwardly, but is strangely and uncomfortably real.