A "racket" is a fraudulent scheme, enterprise, or activity. It was Jimmy Russell's claim that love is just such a thing. He may have a point.
Jimmy Russell (Douglas Fairbanks) was a reporter for the New York Globe who focused on Broadway news. He was head over heels for a socialite named Mary Wodehouse (Frances Dee) while his coworker, Sally Condon (Ann Dvorak), was crazy about him.
There was nothing Jimmy wouldn't do for Mary and his limits would be tested when she told him that she was broke. Not only was she broke, but she had also passed some checks that she couldn't cover.
In steps Eddie Shaw (Lyle Talbot), local criminal big shot. He covered all of Mary's checks. You know that old saying: "you can't get something for nothing." Eddie didn't cover those checks out of the kindness of his heart, he wanted some alone time with Mary in return even if she was dating Jimmy Russell.
"Love is a Racket" is a First National production. I recently learned that First National used to be a movie theater chain then they went into the movie production business. They produced B movies and were bought out by Warner Brothers. First National made 353 films until WB dropped the First National name in 1958. "Love is a Racket" is one of the 353 films and it's not a memorable one. There was a lot of fast talking, metaphors, similes, and poetic speech. Some of the comedic references were very dated and went over my head.
It seems that all reporters were characterized the same back then. Whether it is "The Famous Ferguson Case," "Is My Face Red?," "Scandal Sheet," "Five Star Final," "Front Page," or "Love is a Racket," the reporters are fast talkers who wax poetically about almost every subject. They are lively and full of humor. Jimmy and his pal Stanley (Lee Tracy) could talk anyone under a table. It is OK in short bursts, but the live wire act went on a little too long for me.
Free on Odnoklassniki.
Jimmy Russell (Douglas Fairbanks) was a reporter for the New York Globe who focused on Broadway news. He was head over heels for a socialite named Mary Wodehouse (Frances Dee) while his coworker, Sally Condon (Ann Dvorak), was crazy about him.
There was nothing Jimmy wouldn't do for Mary and his limits would be tested when she told him that she was broke. Not only was she broke, but she had also passed some checks that she couldn't cover.
In steps Eddie Shaw (Lyle Talbot), local criminal big shot. He covered all of Mary's checks. You know that old saying: "you can't get something for nothing." Eddie didn't cover those checks out of the kindness of his heart, he wanted some alone time with Mary in return even if she was dating Jimmy Russell.
"Love is a Racket" is a First National production. I recently learned that First National used to be a movie theater chain then they went into the movie production business. They produced B movies and were bought out by Warner Brothers. First National made 353 films until WB dropped the First National name in 1958. "Love is a Racket" is one of the 353 films and it's not a memorable one. There was a lot of fast talking, metaphors, similes, and poetic speech. Some of the comedic references were very dated and went over my head.
It seems that all reporters were characterized the same back then. Whether it is "The Famous Ferguson Case," "Is My Face Red?," "Scandal Sheet," "Five Star Final," "Front Page," or "Love is a Racket," the reporters are fast talkers who wax poetically about almost every subject. They are lively and full of humor. Jimmy and his pal Stanley (Lee Tracy) could talk anyone under a table. It is OK in short bursts, but the live wire act went on a little too long for me.
Free on Odnoklassniki.