THE PURCHASE PRICE
US, 1932, 68 minutes, Black and white.
Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, Lyle Talbot.
Directed by William A. Wellman.
The Purchase Price was the eleventh film made by Barbara Stanwyck, beginning her career in 1929 and this film in 1932. She had already made Miracle Woman for Frank Capra and was about to make The Bitter Tea of General Yen. Her career continued into the 1980s with many fine film roles as well as television and The Big Valley. George Brent, a leading man at Warner Bros during the 1930s, was at the beginning of his career. The director, William A. Wellman, had directed Wings, the first film to win the best Oscar award. With his background of aviation in World War One, he made a number of films about aviation but made many films in a variety of genres until the late 1950s.
The film is interesting as a pre-code film, Barbara Stanwyck playing a torch singer (and actually singing, in a kind of husky recitative). George Brent is a Canadian farmer who was to marry a maid but the maid had sent the photo of Barbara Stanwyck and she wanted to opt out of the fast life. The marriage is tense from the beginning, Brent has been experimenting with grains but neighbours want to get his property from him. In fact, the film suddenly stops, the neighbours burning his new crops – but with his wife helping him, it is an opportunity for the marriage to begin again.
1. An interesting film of the early 1930s? Cast, story, pre-code perspectives? The drama?
2. The black and white photography? Musical score? Early sound film-making? The New York locations, the nightclubs, apartments? The contrast with Canada and the outback?
3. The character of Joan Gordon, the goodtime girl, her background, torch songs, her customers? The fiancé and the possibility of marriage? His father putting pressure on him, her letting him go? Eddie Fields, the relationship, the gangster background? Her opting out, disappearing, the discussions with Emily, the hotel maid? Emily sending Joan’s photo? Her deciding to go into the country? Her meeting with Jim, the difficulties of the house, transport? The neighbours and their attitudes? The marriage, the tension on the first night, the slap? Jim and his holding back from Joan? Her trying to make up to him, failing? The celebrations in the town? The attentions of the local authority? His imposing on her, offering her a job to look after his house? The seasons, the cold, the issue of wood, coal? Her accompanying Jim? In the snow, Christmas? The troubles, the neighbours and their threats? Eddie arriving, his wanting to take her away, Jim’s suspicions, Joan getting the money from Eddie for Jim? The crops, the sowing, the harvesting? The final fire? The reconciliation between the two? A rounded portrait of a character in a short film?
4. Jim, strong silent type, the farm, wanting a wife, his experiments with grain? His needing the money, about to lose his farm? The neighbours, the celebrations? His approach to Joan, her repelling him? His keeping his distance, the months passing, his not being able to forgive Joan? Getting the money, the harvest, the neighbours, the threats? The fire, the reconciliation?
5. Eddie, the gangster type, in love with Joan? Letting her go, coming to find her, in the house, in the town, Jim’s suspicions? The meetings, lending the money?
6. The locals, the authority, his advances towards Joan? The good spirit, the drinking, the celebrations? The wanting the land, the burning of the crops?
7. Early 30s films, the types of stories, characters, issues?
