Lady by Choice

1934
Approved
1h 16m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Carole Lombard, Roger Pryor, and May Robson in Lady by Choice (1934)

An elderly, brash drunk is hired to help improve the image of a controversial dancer, and the two women form an unlikely friendship.An elderly, brash drunk is hired to help improve the image of a controversial dancer, and the two women form an unlikely friendship.An elderly, brash drunk is hired to help improve the image of a controversial dancer, and the two women form an unlikely friendship.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

656

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins total

Photos5

Top cast93

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Carole Lombard

Alabam Lee

May Robson

Patricia Patterson

Roger Pryor

Johnny Mills

Walter Connolly

Judge Daly

Arthur Hohl

Kendall

Raymond Walburn

Front O'Malley

James Burke

Brannigan

Henry Kolker

Opper

Mariska Aldrich

Lucretia

Jack Boyle

Walsh
(as John Boyle)

Joe Arado

Undetermined Role
(uncredited)

Helen Barclay

Secretary
(uncredited)

Jack Baston

Undetermined Role
(uncredited)

Harold Berquist

Bailiff
(uncredited)

Harry C. Bradley

Bradley - Court Clerk
(uncredited)

Charles Brinley

Bartender
(uncredited)

Don Brodie

Photographer
(uncredited)

Lorena Carr

Secretary
(uncredited)

Director
- David Burton
Writers
- Jo Swerling
- Dwight Taylor
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
While many cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the 76-minute print available today, they were left in the cast list because of the missing nine minutes.

Goofs
At about 0:30:00 when Alabam holds the note Johnny wrote, the hand holding the note has no or clear nail polish, yet Carole Lombard is wearing very dark polish.

Quotes
Patricia 'Patsy' Patterson: It's only youngsters that have to watch their step. Old people don't have to be respectable. Old people are respectable in spite of themselves.

Connections
Follows Lady for a Day (1933)

Soundtracks
M-O-T-H-E-R, a Word That Means the World to Me
(1915) (uncredited)
Music by Theodore Morse
Lyrics by Howard Johnson
Sung by Abe Dinovitch in the bar, with piano accompaniment
Partially sung a cappella by May Robson at her trial
Played on piano and partially sung by Carole Lombard

User reviews14

Featured review

6/10

"Even if he is a Democrat, he has an understanding heart."

Fan dancer Carole Lombard 'adopts' tippler bag lady May Robson as her mother in order to improve Carole's public image. The old lady winds up becoming a mother figure to Carole and tries to help her become successful in a more respectable career. But when that falls through, Carole starts to date a young lawyer friend of May's for his money. This creates a rift between the two women and May determines to stop Carole from taking advantage of the lawyer.

May Robson is great. Carole Lombard is beautiful and has good chemistry with May. Fine support from Walter Connolly, Roger Pryor, and Arthur Hohl. Lady for a Day is one of my favorite Frank Capra films. It has great Damon Runyon characters, fun dialogue, and a lot of heart. This is a cash-grab follow-up to that movie but not a sequel. May Robson plays a similar character but this is not Apple Annie. None of the characters in this movie are quite as colorful or enjoyable as those in the Capra movie. Still, it's entertaining enough thanks to Lombard and Robson.