Young Bride (1932) User Reviews

Kind of Touching

[Handlinghandel · 6/10 · 27 June 2003]

The forgotten Helen Twelvetrees is effective as a lonely children's librarian who falls for a small-time, big-talking guy beneath her station. He is played interestingly by the really forgotten Eric Linden. The floozy is Arline Judge, and she is great. She makes us want to smack her.

An antique that holds up quite well.

Not a bad little movie

[artroraback · 6/10 · 7 October 2002]

This is an entertaining little movie. Helen Twelvetrees plays Allie Smith, a young woman who has few friends and keeps to herself. She meets Eric Linden, as Charlie Riggs who is always working on the big deal that will set him financially for life. She is swept off her feet and after her marriage she finds out that Charlie is not the man she thinks he was. In true Hollywood fashion everything works out after they both hit rock bottom. Good performances make this film rise above all the cliches.

Early kitchen-sink drama with restrained performances and excellent support.

[larry41onEbay · 6/10 · 7 October 2002]

In this story of love among the tenements, the fantasizing Twelvetrees finds the man of her dreams in streetwise Linden, a loudmouthed pool-hall hustler who flaunts his manhood among the local taxi-dancing floozies. When Twelvetrees learns the nature of the man she has married--not too difficult within the confines of their one-room boarding-house domicile--she contemplates suicide. Linden wins some money at pool, but loses it to the mercenary Judge. When Linden attempts to recover the money, he is beaten. His lesson learned, the contrite lad creeps back to his bride a changed man. Early kitchen-sink drama with restrained performances and excellent support.

Exceptional Ending, and a Subtle Performance from 12trees

[bensonj · 1 January 2003]

Caution: ending of film is discussed.

From the moment of Eric Linden's first appearance, overwritten and overacted beyond any hope of later improvement, one wants to stop watching this one, because it's obvious that it's going to be tough going. And it IS a hard film to watch, because the Linden character is such an insufferable blowhard, and you know from the beginning that he's going to just treat her bad, treat her bad, through the whole film. Yes, this is yet another pre-Code story about a beautiful, intelligent woman, played by a attractive, talented actress, who marries an cocky jerk, played by a not-very-attractive, not-very-talented leading man. And Linden's performance is so embarrassingly deficient, with no nuance whatsoever.

The film is worth sticking out, though, because, although the Linden character is crudely written and played, overall it's an interesting film. Blanche Frederici plays 12trees' mentor with subtlety; neither an old crab nor warm and nurturing, a good person with a pragmatic sense of propriety. Cliff Edwards is fine as usual, fun and friendly, but playing a character who is ultimately not very nice, and as an actor up to dealing with that possibility. The script even tries to give the Linden character a good point: on their honeymoon he claims to know a Wall Street big shot, and we're surprised to find that the man does know him and does have some respect for him, if not for his deals. The film has a relatively fluid and pictorial style. The atmosphere at the dance hall is realistic and sleazily stylish. The popular jazz is funky, and the band looks suitably competent and slightly tacky.

Some of the more conscious efforts at cinema style, such as the lights being turned off at the library at closing time, seemingly turning off the lives of the young protagonists, may seem a bit self-conscious today, but they still work well. I particularly liked the closing lines of this scene, with 12trees railing against teaching children fairy tales. After the scene fades, you barely hear her voice continuing in a whisper, `It's wicked, wicked.'

What really makes the film is its unique point of view about depression romance and marriage, and Ms. 12trees' restrained but masterful performance. Neither of these are fully evident until the final scene when everything comes together and the whole film is brought into focus with an unusual clarity.

The film is about a quiet, intelligent woman, a librarian with a natural inner maturity. But because of her inexperience and her fairy-tale concept of romance, she gets her trapped in a marriage to a total washout who's all talk and no substance, and a cheat to boot. Before the honeymoon's over, she's completely aware that she's been had. But she sticks it out as long as she can, until she finally tells him off, spelling his faults out very clearly, with contempt rather than anger dominating her outburst.

Similar films of the period had endings in which the husband never had a comeuppance and in which the wife had to pretend a subservient role. In WEEKEND MARRIAGE, Loretta Young had to lie about her success and ask forgiveness, though it was her husband who was the drunk and the failure. Constance Cummings had to do the same in THE BIG TIMER. Ms. 12trees herself, in NOW I'LL TELL, had to pretend to return to her cheating husband, though at least that was only to ease his dying moments. Occasionally, such as 12trees in MY WOMAN, the wife got to throw off the conceited blowhard and find happiness elsewhere.

But the ending of YOUNG BRIDE is quite different. In the end, Linden sees the error of his behavior and has to beg forgiveness and clearly acknowledge his faults. But what's even more fundamentally different from the other films, almost radical, really, is the spirit in which she accepts him back.

After he pours his heart out on his knees as she sits on the day couch, he finally says, `Everything's all right now, isn't it?' and she answers, without much conviction, `I guess so.' The scene's well written, with him saying all the right things, and she giving quiet, rueful answers about reality versus expectations. He buries his face on her shoulder and the camera comes in on her face. She looks down on him with a touch of affection, and then gives a sad little smile and a sort of a shrug, and the scene fades into the end title. According to convention, everything has worked out for the best, yet as played and written it's the most realistic and sad of endings. Yes, she's taking him back, because she remembers how she first loved him, because she's going to have a baby and she needs a husband in the middle of the depression, because he's so sincere at this point. Yes, maybe things will be better... maybe. But, still, she knows she's just an innocent girl who's married a bum; even if he stays on the straight and narrow, he isn't at all what she hoped for. Her performance in this final scene is so simple, so good, so unaffected. My verbalized interpretation of her little smile is far less sophisticated than the actual performance, which is more subtle, more enigmatic. It conveys feelings that can't be put into words (and perhaps I shouldn't have tried).

This final shot illuminates what the whole film has been working toward. It's a heartbreaking message for a depression audience that came to see true love vindicated. Though the general quality of the production, with some original moments and well drawn characters, is good enough to keep one with it, this is really one of those films where the end justifies its existence.

Meet Helen Twelvetrees: One Of Her Best.

[museumofdave · 6/10 · 21 March 2013]

This is a fascinating film for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which is showcasing one of the best performances given by Helen Twelvetrees, an actress with a fairly limited range of roles; once her studio discovered she played victimized women with great conviction, poor Helen was stuck in roles usually subservient to insensitive or brutal men.

All the more reason to watch this film, in which her one-note braggart husband, loud and crass Eric Linden, makes continued promises about future riches, about fidelity and business, but ultimately comes to terms of a kind with his now-pregnant wife.

Hundreds of films like this were churned out in the 1930's for women's matinées, and many stars were handed similar roles of beaten-down women--most, like Loretta Young, Barbara Stanwyck, Ruth Chatterson and Kay Francis were able to cope and now and then rise about the situation, but Young Bride is one of the few where Helen learned a thing or two.

This film is pre-code--one can actually see and man and wife in a twin bed together under the covers; two years later and such a scene could no longer be shown in any Hollywood film for over 25 years! There's also a good deal of salty language in some nifty set pieces depicting a dance hall, a chop suey joint, and a dusty library. Add to this several subtle performances by secondary players (Cliff Edwards, later the voice of Jiminy Cricket!) and you have a "weeper" worth your time.

How I discovered a wonderful actress, Helen Twelvetrees

[audiemurph · 7/10 · 11 December 2012]

The great thing about Turner Classic Movies is that no matter how many old movies you have seen, you will regularly come across actors and actresses whose names you have never heard before, but once you see them, are fascinated, and glad to make their acquaintance. So it was with the beautiful and oddly named Helen Twelvetrees. She was a very good blond actress whose career barely spanned the decade of the 1930's. Here, in "Young Bride", she is delicate and vulnerable, but not in an annoying weak way; she has a face full of beautiful character, one that you want to comfort and murmur to how everything will be alright. A lovely find, and too bad she was not a major star.

On the other hand, I have never been a fan of Eric Linden, who plays her immature braggart of a husband. I think it is that horrendous Bronx accent of his; even when he is playing sympathetic, which is rare in this film, I just don't find him to be all that appealing. I don't think I was the only one who felt this way, as his career dried up quickly as the 1930's moved on.

A very interesting cultural aspect of this film is how so much of it takes place in a "dance hall"; this is a public tavern where men came and bought tickets to dance with the female hired help. It appears that there was a great demand for these kinds of establishments, as a way for men to meet girls and socialize in a pre-TV and pre-Internet Depression-era society. Particularly fascinating is that it seems that at a certain weird level, open lewd behavior was strictly prohibited; at one point in this film, the fellow who is in charge of watching the dancers sternly calls to Eric Linden to "keep your feet moving"! (ie - no hanky-panky on the floor!) I wonder if such places really existed. Certainly this is a portrait of an urban America that died a long long time ago...

When not in the dance halls or Twelvetree's apartment, most scenes take place in a public library. Isn't that a weird combination? Throw in the fabulously stuttering Roscoe Ates as a bartender and you have a unique, slightly odd movie that, primarily thanks to the delightful screen presence of Helen Twelvetrees, is worthy of an hour and a quarter of your time.

Stick with this one....it does get better as it progresses.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 31 January 2013]

After death of her mother, Allie (Helen Twelvetrees) tends to stick at home and avoid others. She says she's happy but she obviously isn't. Unfortunately, the guy who pulls Allie out of this funk is Charlie (Eric Linden). I say unfortunately because Charlie is an obnoxious bag of wind. Even though it's the Depression, he talks like he's some sort of big-shot--like he's a man just on the verge of millions. However, it's all malarkey. When he marries Allie, she believes his spiel--but after months of no work and lots of promises, it's obvious he's just a very polished bum. And, after a while, he's not just full of promises but he starts stepping out on her. Poor Allie...what's this nice lady to do? To me the idea of "Young Bride" is pretty good. After all, as long as there have been marriages, there have been women marrying men who they THINK they can change for the better. The problem with the film, however, is that Charlie is so unlikeable and annoying that it's hard to see any woman believing him--and Allie doesn't seem stupid. And it sure takes her a long time until she finally tells him what he's worth! In fact, this long-awaited scene is the best one in the movie! It's only late in the film when this payoff arrives--but better late than never! Despite a somewhat salacious story and LOTS of Pre-Code morality (such as an unmarried couple lounging in bed with friend, adultery and women getting slugged), the film manages to actually be a bit understated...really. And, the overall package is pretty good--and rather timeless. And it works mostly because the acting was very, very nice.

"Gee Allie,...you're the swellest dame in this whole cockeyed world!"-- too bad they don't talk like this any more!

Keeping the marriage intact....

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 29 May 2014]

Helen Twelvetrees once again has her work cut out for her. She is in love with the charming but childish Eric Linden, a boy/man who is always searching for an easy way to get rich quick without regards to his responsibility. This leads him to fall in with the wrong crowd, and on the day he finds out his new bride is preggers, he goes out and has one congratulatory drink after another. She does her best to hold the marriage together, but when you're married to a loser like Linden, that's a difficult thing to do.

This enjoyable pre-code drama has a lot going for it, especially some amusing character performances. Roscoe Ates, "the stutterer", always chooses lots of words that begin with "B" that result in "Ba ba ba ba", so when he tries to say "Baby", it comes out all wrong, and he ultimately changes it to "little one" or something like that. "Ukilele Ike" (Cliff Edwards) is also present and adds some amusement as well. Twelvetrees and Linden make an enchanting pair that prove the old adage that the hardest years of marriage are "the First Hundred Years", and if you can make it through that, you can make it through anything.

Old, old story - Contains Spoilers

[Ishallwearpurple · 8/10 · 8 October 2002]

This is an old story of the sweet young girl romanced by a big-talking, lying, smart guy who really hasn't got anything but a big mouth. She eventually marries him because of his promises, and by the fade out, she is sadder but wiser.

Helen Twelvetrees is fine as the librarian, who has recently lost her mother and is slightly depressed. She is talked into going out after work one night by a fellow worker and meets her "date" for dinner. She is not too impressed, but agrees to see him again and from there on she is a sitting duck for his campaign to win her. He seems to really care for her, but is such a blow-hard, it is hard to watch him ensnare her.

By the end, pregnant, and resigned, as she holds him as he begs to be forgiven and she looks with sad eyes into the camera, you feel she has paid a terrible price for falling for a cad. A better film than I thought it was going to be. It presents themes that are ever new because of the human condition.

Eric Linden as a rather complex jerk...

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 1 June 2023]

... so this is a bit more than your run of the mill precode.

Allie Smith (Helen Twelvetrees) is an assistant librarian in New York CIty. She agrees to be fourth wheel on a blind double date with Charlie Riggs (William Janney). Charlie talks as big as the biggest bag of wind you've ever seen, but Allie is rather idealistic and naive and she believes he has done all of the things and been all of the places he talks about. They marry, but starting on her honeymoon the truth begins to become obvious. Charlie is exaggerating if not lying about everything. Settling into married life, Allie continues to work and Charlie's idea of looking for work is chasing the next big deal that will never be. And then Allie discovers she is pregnant. Complications ensue.

Eric Linden usually played conscientious younger brothers or loyal husbands such as he did in "Life Begins", so it is odd seeing him here as a complete jerk, but he is very effective. His character seems to genuinely care for Allie, he just can't divest himself of his fantasies about his own business acumen. I imagine Depression audiences could relate to the two main characters losing their illusions about life, themselves, and each other as time and bad circumstances wear on. Arline Judge has a supporting role here as a very wicked selfish dance hall girl/barfly. To see her range watch "College Scandal" in which she plays a level headed coed on the trail of a murderer.

I'd recommend this one. It really surprised me as having more complexity and depth than I would have figured from the synopses - all of which are pretty much wrong - and the title and cast.

Dumb Bride

[view_and_review · 3/10 · 16 February 2024]

Another relationship drama that could've been easily avoided. I'm not going to go deep into the issue. Suffice it to say that they didn't do much vetting of their partners before getting married in the 30's.

The partner in question was Charlie Riggs (Eric Linden). He was a loud mouth and a liar. His lies of choice were about the big things he has done and will do. His boasting was enough to impress Ally (Helen Twelvetrees) because she married the fool. It wasn't until after they got married that she found out the truth, and you know by then it's too late.

The way she found out the truth about Charlie was quite ludicrous and poorly written. When they were on their honeymoon they saw Mr. Chadwick (Edmund Breese), a man Charlie used to work for. Charlie claimed that Mr. Chadwick propositioned him for a big money deal, but he turned it down. Another lie that Ally believed.

Later that night Charlie complained about being short on the hotel bill which gave way to an absurd decision by Ally.

Ally's solution? She called up Mr. Chadwick, a guy she really didn't know, and told him that Charlie would take him up on his business offer. There are several things extremely wrong with this move:

1.) She didn't even know Mr. Chadwick at all.

2.) She didn't even know what deal Charlie refused.

3.) She didn't even consider that Charlie may have had a way to deal with the bill.

4.) She was WAY out of line and out of place by calling a "business associate" of Charlie's and telling him that Charlie would accept his offer when Charlie said no such thing!

The real reason for Ally's call to Mr. Chadwick was lazy script writing. They needed a way for Ally to find out that Charlie was full of hot air and this was it. Clearly, she was too dumb to realize Charlie was full of it, so she had to be explicitly told as opposed to using basic deductive reasoning or just common sense.

I really can't get behind these movies that rely on one or more characters being dumb or naive in order for the plot to move forward.

Free on YouTube.

see it!!

[mukava991 · 9/10 · 19 October 2006]

This is a moving narrative, sensitively directed by William A. Seiter, about a naive librarian (Helen Twelvetrees) who is swept off her feet and into marriage by a handsome but aggressive, egotistical suitor (Eric Linden) only to find he is all strut and no substance. This early effort by producer David O. Selznick boasts: a) persuasive performances by the five main characters (Arline Judge as a treacherous dance hall tart, Cliff Edwards ["Well, peel my potatoes!" "Well, spank me naked!"] as a good-time Charley and Blanche Frederici as the librarian's spinsterish friend and co-worker give excellent support); b - realistic renderings of a public library, a depressing room in a boarding house, and especially a funky dance hall above a Chop Suey joint where young couples crowd the floor shimmying, fox-trotting or waltzing to the popular songs of the day played to perfection by a small orchestra; (c) entertainingly slangy dialogue and pre-Code sexual frankness. This is one of the few films of its era that speaks directly and unsentimentally across the decades about issues faced by any young couple of modest means struggling to pay the bills while maintaining a loving, trusting relationship. All newlyweds should see this! Others have detailed the plot, but I shall say only that Linden and Twelvetrees were two of the best young performers of their time. Their careers flared brilliantly for about three years, then faded into oblivion. Here, they will both make you cry.

HELEN TWELVETREES GAVE A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE

[whpratt1 · 10/10 · 10 October 2002]

Helen Twelvetrees was a victim of Hollywood, she played an innocent young lady in " Young Bride" and her every movement and facial expression showed her great ability to allow you to feel her inner pain and suffering, love and hope for a happy marriage. I viewed this movie in the early 40's and as a young man was touched by her great performance. Helen will live on in many of her great and unappreciated films which have all become great classics. Hollywood treated her like her husband in this picture.

The look on Helen's face in the last scene!!!

[kidboots · 8/10 · 25 April 2010]

"Young Bride" was just one of several films Helen Twelvetrees churned out, usually portraying a sweet innocent who has to suffer a good deal before emerging, at the end, sadder and wiser but looking forward to a happier life. The public grew tired of these films as did Helen. She was then given a plum assignment opposite John Barrymore in "State's Attorney", after which she started free lancing.

Helen Twelvetrees plays Alice Smith, a repressed librarian, who falls for braggart Charlie Riggs (Eric Linden). Oh Helen, how could you, haven't you learned enough from all the "sob sister" roles you've played!!! From the time they meet on a blind date he is nothing but rude and obnoxious, bragging about all the places he's been - but does that put Helen off - NO!!! She is lonely and a dreamer and impressed by his tall stories. She goes home soon after dinner and he is pretty miffed, but he soon finds solace with Maisie (Arline Judge) a dance hall hostess. He catches up with Alice in the library, they agree to meet for lunch, and it goes from there. When Alice's oldest friend (Blanche Friderici) finds them in a compromising situation, Charlie says that he and Alice are going to be married. He confesses on their honeymoon that he hasn't a big movie deal lined up but he has plenty of other things in the pipeline - All Lies!!!! They meet Mr. Chadwick, who Charlie has bragged about and when they find that they don't have the money to pay their hotel bill, Alice secretly rings Mr. Chadwick. She then finds out the truth - that Charlie was only a runner on $30 a week. By the end of the honeymoon Charlie has pawned her wedding ring and things go from bad to worse but Alice never loses faith.

He also renews acquaintance with Maisie - while Alice stays home night after night with "Nicholas Nickleby"!!! Alice finds she is going to have a baby but Charlie considers the news "a kick in the pants" and goes out for a walk. Alice has been doing some soul searching and realises that Charlie will never amount to much. She then goes for a walk and as the newsboys are proclaiming the latest suicide attempt, Alice goes into a drug store - No, Alice, don't do it, he isn't worth it!!! He has been lured away by the promise of a dance contest and prize money of $100 but there is no dance contest, the con man has been conned by Maisie. As the night goes on Charlie gets a reality check (Linden finally comes into his own with some very fine acting). He goes home to Alice, a changed man but Alice is changed too and as the look on her face suggests, with her dreams shattered she is no longer a "young bride" but a disillusioned woman.

Eric Linden definitely improved in the last half of the film, when he had a chance to be sincere and do a couple of really emotional scenes, but initially you just wonder how anyone could fall for such superficiality. Still it was only his second film, but the movie in my opinion, belonged to Helen.

Highly Recommended.

Eric Linden Struts His Stuff...

[cinema_universe · 15 October 2002]

A better than average soaper, complete with a full roster of marital melodramatics, "Young Bride" was meant to be something of a star vehicle for Helen Twelvetrees (her married name, believe it or not), but young and handsome Eric Linden steals the show with his bad-boy good-looks and his bratty attitude.

Capable of better things (as he proved a few years later in the classic filmed play, "Ah Wilderness"), Linden's talent shines through the stiff dialog in "Young Bride" and triumphs over it's tired, and not-unexpected, ending.

Linden's later performance in "Ah Wilderness" seems to be the role he was born to play.

He made a few films of note afterwards, but his roles grew smaller in later years, eventually down to just "bit" parts.

Twelvetrees proves to be a poor leading lady for the dynamic Linden. If you didn't know that she was a bigger name than he was in 1932, and you were seeing this film for the first time, many years after it's release, you would have to wonder why she received top billing.

The supporting cast was sturdy;-- I'm especially fond of the always-stammering Roscoe Ates. He seems to be enjoyable regardless of what film he's in, or how he's cast.

I'm sure David O. Selznick was responsible for the film's polished look. He gave many early RKO films a touch of class-- And not too many people could effectively polish up those city tenements in films like this. (the best example of the "well-staged-slums-for-the-stage" film, in my humble opinion, was Sam Goldwyn's 1937 production of the Broadway hit, "Dead End").

But it's Eric Linden who really makes this film worth a watch.--

Without Linden's "bursting with energy" presence, this would be one tired old soaper. He could even make you believe that poor-boy pool-hall slackers wore suits every day, although not too many could fill out a suit the way Eric Linden did...

Eric Linden is Wonderful

[Maleejandra · 8/10 · 5 November 2006]

Young Bride is a simple story, a wonderful pre-code starring two who excelled during the time period. Allie (Helen Twelvetrees) is a recluse who spends all her time in her tiny apartment or at the library where she works. Her dancehall friend Daisy (Polly Walters) occasionally tries to drag her out for a date, but she refuses anything besides having dinner. One night, she's fixed up with a boastful but attractive man named Charlie (Eric Linden) who puts as many pick up lines over on her as he can in hopes of catching her attention. Allie isn't so easily fooled and refuses a date after dinner. However, she eventually comes around and soon the two are found lying together in the dark. In order to save her reputation, Charlie marries her and the two begin a difficult life together, constantly put at risk due to Charlie's "get rich quick" schemes and refusal to accept honest work.

Charlie is exceptionally played; Linden is a wonderful actor who knows just how much to let the audience in on. He certainly captures that attractive but dangerous larger-than-life personality that almost always ends up in the gutter. What is interesting is that he doesn't necessarily let the audience in on whether he loves Allie or not, adding to the drama of the events. The ending clears up the confusion and provides a satisfying ending.

Twelvetrees is a very beautiful woman and plays her part with subtlety and frailty. She seems so delicate even though her character is so strong. Also in the cast is singer Cliff Edwards as a friend of Charlie's.