There is really nothing here that couldn't have been shown in the production code era. In fact it could be a training film on how to make a seemingly sensational film in the production code era without any of the protagonists actually sinning.
Loretta Young is lovely as always as Marion, an amateur composer from a small Kansas town who heads for New York to pursue both a career in music and Jimmy, a man she loves whom she doesn't know is engaged to someone else. Fortunately, once in New York, she makes the acquaintance of chorus girl Dixie Dare (Una Merkel), a gold digger with a heart of gold, and physician Tony Travers (George Brent) who also just happens to be Jimmy's best friend. Not so fortunately she makes the acquaintance of Broadway producer Ford Humphries (Louis Calhern). When he finds he can't steal Marion's heart he steals her songs instead, claiming he wrote them himself and putting them in his show without reimbursing her. Meanwhile, Jimmy has gone through with his marriage but can't get Marion off of his mind. Tony also loves Marion and proposes. All of these story lines converge dramatically. How? Watch and find out.
The only real sinner here is Calhern as the slimy Humphries - he was an excellent villain in many films through the years - the devil in a three piece suit. It is rather implied that Marion might be sleeping with Humphries since he is paying the rent on her apartment, but their scenes together with her wiggling out of all of his embraces as though he were a squid makes me wonder. Una Merkel is a delight as Marion's loyal friend and steals every scene as she cartwheels - literally - through the film. Oddly enough George Brent is second billed when he actually gets very little screen time.
Rather sad is Marion Byron, an actress who played supporting parts similar to Una Merkel in the very early talkie era, who by this time was reduced to uncredited roles. Here she is a spunky soda jerk in the small Kansas town who flirts with Jimmy and gets nowhere.
Recommended for anyone who enjoys the Warner precodes of the era.
