SMALL TOWN GIRL

US, 1936, 106 minutes, Black and white.
Janet Gaynor, Robert Taylor, Binnie Barnes, Andy Devine, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Patterson, Frank Craven, James Stewart, Isabel Jewell.
Directed by William A. Wellman.

Small Town Girl is the familiar story of the young woman, living in a very small town, feeling the constraints and wanting to get out. She is played by Janet Gaynor, first Oscar winner for best actress in 1928 (Seventh Heaven, Sunrise, Street Angel). Her leading man, a suave doctor from the city who, getting drunk, marries her on impulse, is Robert Taylor at the beginning of his star career. The film has a good supporting cast including James Stewart in an early role (one of nine listed for his career in 1936). Lewis Stone is Robert Taylor’s father. It is interesting that Janet Gaynor lives in the town of Carvill, which was to become the home town of Lewis Stone and the Hardy family.

The film’s focus is on Janet Gaynor, agreeing to keep up a facade of marriage for six months when the marriage will be dissolved and Robert Taylor can marry his fiancée, Binnie Barnes (completely unsympathetic). Janet Gaynor portrays the earnestness of the young woman, keeping up the facade, yet in love with Taylor. The ending – predictable – is rather too hurried.

The film was directed by William A. Wellman, the air ace from the First World War who made many films about that war. His film, Wings, won the first Oscar for best film. He made many notable films ranging from The Oxbow Incident, A Star is Born (for which he won an Oscar for screenplay) and The High and the Mighty.

1. A popular type of story of the 1930s? The girl in the small town? The rich doctor from the city? Infatuation, disillusionment? Love?

2. The recreation of the small town, near Boston, the contrast between the shops and ordinariness in Carvill with the life in Boston, society? Apartments? Parties? The hospital? The musical score?

3. The opening, Kay and her watching all the undergraduates travelling for the football match? Her work in the shop? Her impatience? The contrast with Emily and her settling down with George? The baby? Life at home, the parents, the routine, Kay’s rebellion against everything being the same? The attentions of Elmer, his earnestness?

4. Her going for the walk, the encounter with Bob? His calling her Goodness? Directing him to the tavern? The champagne, the dancing? His being drunk, his decision to marry, the justice of the peace, the media? Crashing the car? Waking, his not remembering?

5. His going home, his possible career, at the clinic? The disappointment of his parents? Introducing Kay? His facing the media? The phone call to Priscilla, the engagement? The decision to keep up the facade of a marriage? The honeymoon? Six months, the plan for the annulment and remarriage?

6. Kay’s character, small town, wide-eyed, amazed at what happened to her? Her friendship with the Dakins and their concern for her? Her attentiveness to Bob? Her going along with the plan? Her anger with Bob? The wedding, the honeymoon on the yacht? Settling in the city, the apartment? Separate rooms? Her going to the clinic, Jimmy? The social, Priscilla returning, her looking at what Kay was doing? The phone call in the night, Bob and his lying, her going to the apartment, going with Bob to hospital, watching the operation, his failure? Bob and his suggesting that the time was up, her going back home, life back at home, Elmer and his attentions? Bob and his arrival, the very quick happy ending?

7. Bob, Robert Taylor and his style, the doctor, the Ivy League background, wealth? At the clinic? The supervising doctor thinking him unreliable? His decisions, the facade of the marriage? With Priscilla? His going to her apartment, Kay finding him and taking him to the hospital, his withdrawing from the operation? The planned marriage, Reno? His arrival in Carvill and the happy ending?

8. Priscilla, wealthy, controlling, the other woman? Her agreeing with the facade? Her trying to break down the barriers?

9. Doctor Dakin, his wife, their integrity, sympathy for Kay?

10. The Brannans, life at home, George and Emily? The parents? The routines? Elmer and his job as a linesman, salary, attentiveness to Kay?

11. The hospital background, this kind of theme popular in the 1930s?

12. Romance, frustration, true love?