PAID IN FULL
US, 1950, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Lizabeth Scott, Diana Lynn, Robert Cummings, Eve Arden, Ray Collins, Frank Mc Hugh, Stanley Ridges, Louis Jean Heydt.
Directed by William Dieterle.
Paid in Full is a lavish melodramatic, soap operatic romancer of 1950, Hal Wallis style production for Paramount. It has Paramount stars of the period, a Dean Martin song with a Victor Young score. Direction is by William Dieterle, who made many biographies at Warner Bros. in the '20s and '40s and moved to melodramas in the '50s.
The plot focuses on material popular in later decades for social minded telemovies. Two sisters love the same man with dire results, complicated by the fact that they have difficulty in having children. The film opens tantalisingly with Lizabeth Scott about to give birth to a daughter and there follow flashbacks ... The film is high minded melodramatic entertainment of its period.
1. Popular entertainment? In its time? For later decades? Perennial themes?
2. Paramount production values: black and white photography, affluent atmosphere, romantic atmosphere, the world of fashion and business? The romantic score? Dean Martin's singing?
3. The focus on Jane ? her arrival at the hospital, her giving birth, the danger of her own life, her secretiveness, her desire to give her life for the baby? The flashbacks and the audience being tantalised? Jane and her work, Bill's proposal and the irony that it was for Nancy? Her love for Bill? Her bringing up Nancy and caring for her? Spoiling her? The advice given by Tommy and Tommy's capacity for listening, giving advice? The build up to the wedding? Jane's behaviour at the wedding? Her giving herself to her work? Her devotion to Bill, helping his career, steadily working with him despite the gossip? Her concern for Nancy? Pregnancy and the discussions with the doctor? Her own mother having died in childbirth, her caution? Nancy's erratic behaviour after the birth of the child? The decoration of the nursery? Nancy's hostility? Suspicion? Not inviting her, to the party? Jane's outings with Bill, at Ben's Restaurant, the romantic dance? The break up? Jane not marrying Bill? The outing, staying the night, Nancy's attack, the accidental death of Deborah and its repercussions? Jane's marrying Bill in Mexico, the pregnancy, her going away, her bequeathing her child to reconcile Bill and Nancy? A romantic portrait of a noble hearted heroine?
4. The contrast with Nancy, spoilt and selfish, dresses and fashion, boyfriends, accepting Bill, her lack of awareness of marriage,' selfishness, the ceremony, the honeymoon and the encounter with the little girl, returning to the city, her ambitions, boredom? Her examining the models as a customer in the shop? Hearing gossip about Jane and Bill? Her pregnancy? Wanting the baby for herself? The home movies and her jealous reaction against bill? Pampering the baby? The divorce proceedings? Separation, catching Jane and Bill, the death of Deborah, her undergoing psychoanalysis, breaking through her difficulties, the final reconciliation? Credible?
5. Bill and his work, Jane's love for him and his lack of awareness of it, love for Nancy, the proposal, the wedding, the honeymoon, his ambitions and work with Jane, the social life, leaving Nancy alone, the pregnancy, the birth of the child and Nancy keeping the baby to herself, the home movies and his being hurt, hearing from a friend about the divorce proceedings, the outing with Jane, defending her honour in the restaurant, the marriage, the news of her dying, the final reconciliation?
6. Eve Arden's sardonic comic style as Tommy, her work, comments about men, helpful for Jane, telling the truth? Enjoyable comic relief?
7. The picture of the department store, fashions, the models, the workers, gossip, advertising campaigns?
8. The doctor friend and his knowledge of the family, his interrogating Nancy about the reasons for having a child, his dissatisfaction with her? Support of Jane? Support at the funeral?
9. The focus on marriage, understanding the commitment, ceremony and superficiality, honeymoons and romance, genuine friendship and affection, loyal support? Family, babies, possessive mothers ousting fathers from affection for the children? The speeches about marriage and the quality of commitment and love?
10. The credibility of the basic plot, Jane's devotion to Bill, having the child and bequeathing it to her sister and brother in law despite the cost of her life?
11. Popular material of the time? 'A woman's picture'? Noble ideals presented in the lush soap opera style?
