I wanted to see "A Lady's Profession" for Alison Skipworth, and she didn't disappoint. She was such a welcome addition to "Night After Night," and she carried "Madame Racketeer," that I had to see her again.
In "A Lady's Profession" Alison Skipworth played Beulah Bonnell, a lady of title and wealth in England until she found out that her family was bankrupt. What would she and her brother Lord Reginald Withers (Roland Young) do to earn money and save face? They knew nothing about working and finances so they were surely to be in trouble.
They decided to go to America with Reginald's daughter Cecily (Sari Maritza). There they could start over and they could avoid their associates in England who'd, no doubt, gossip about their calamity.
The main story was Beulah and Reginald trying to disentangle themselves from a failing speakeasy Reginald was suckered into buying. Tangentially there was a love story between Cecily and Dick Garfield (Kent Taylor), a wealthy American.
"A Lady's Profession" was a blast and unexpectedly hilarious. There was one scene I found myself laughing a little too hard at.
Beulah had just found Reginald in his speakeasy that was a converted horse stable. He was trying to explain what it was and that he owned it when she said, "You! Running a pub?"
He said, "A speakeasy."
She scoffed, "I am speaking as quietly as my emotions will permit!"
Classic!
Free on YouTube.
