Reducing

Suffering hard times in South Bend, hefty Marie Dressler (as Marie Truffle) moves her poverty-stricken family to New York. There, she moves in with her generous, more well-to-do sister Polly Moran (as Polly Rochay). Ms. Dressler joins Ms. Moran at work in her "Beauty Parlor" and "Reducing" salon, with calamitous results. Dressler is frequently funny, and Moran mostly so; but, the comedy suffers whenever the focus becomes their respective daughters' love story. Dressler and Moran squabble over the younger women's interest in the same man, which becomes an issue about class. Still, Dressler is terrific, especially in the first half. And, capable daughters Anita Page (as Vivian Truffle) and Sally Eilers (as Joyce Rochay) strengthen the weaker parts.

***** Reducing (1/3/31) Charles Reisner ~ Marie Dressler, Polly Moran, Anita Page