BABY FACE

US, 1933, 71 minutes, Black and white.
Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, Donald Cook, Margaret Lindsay, John Wayne, Douglass Dumbrille.
Directed by Alfred E. Green.

Baby Face is a brief melodrama starring Barbara Stanwyck at the beginning of her career. She was, even at this stage, quite a powerful screen presence. She portrays a woman from an industry town who decides to try to make it big in the city, urged on by a wise man from her town. However, she is highly manipulative, uses her sexual powers to seduce bosses, gets promotions, is involved in a shooting. When her career has been exposed, she is sent to Paris – where she works well, encounters the new president of the board (George Brent) and marries him. She is ultimately faced with a dilemma to keep her status and wealth or to help her husband who has become a bankrupt.

John Wayne appears in one sequence as a messenger – the only time he appeared with Barbara Stanwyck.

Alfred E. Green was a prolific director of films in the 30s and 40s, his high point being The Jolson Story.

1. A film of the 30s, American society, morals, decadence, the femme fatale?

2. The brevity of the film, the picture of the industry town and its squalor, the slums? The contrast with New York City, banks, lavish apartments? The contrast again with Paris? The musical score?

3. The title, Barbara Stanwyck and the way the title was used? The cynical touch? The ending and her making a noble decision?

4. The ugliness of the town, the drinking, the men in her father’s house, the maid, Lily and her presence in the house, with the customers? Adolph Cragg and his advice? Her decision to leave, going with the maid?

5. New York, asking the police for directions, the house, her hopes, going for the job, following Adolph Cragg’s advice?

6. The job, the interview, the fat young man, his being charmed by her, pretending she came from the same town, the device of using the windows and the naming of the departments, signifying her promotions?

7. Her capacity for flirting, using her sexual attraction? Brody and his being intrigued by her, promoting her, coming to her house, her rejection of him? Stevens and his rebuking Brody? His engagement, his infatuation with Lily? Becoming desperate? His prospective father-in-law, his fiancée, his going out of town, returning desperate?

8. Stevens and her flirting, the kiss, her deliberate provocation of Ann?

9. Clothes, money, the kept woman?

10. Stevens, the leave and return, coming to the apartment, his pleading? Shocked to find Carter present? Carter setting up Lily in the lavish apartment? Stevens’ return, the shooting, the headlines?

11. The bank, the board meeting, Trenholm and the board’s low expectations, his making decisions? The deal with Lily, the possibility of her going to the papers with her story? Accepting the deal?

12. Lily going to Paris, the years, her work? Trenholm’s arrival, his attention to her, the outings, her falling in love, the marriage?

13. The emergency, Trenholm’s arrest, the charges of fraud?

14. His appeal to Lily, to sell her jewels to pay the debts, Lily focusing on herself, the fact that she deserved a break in life? Unwilling to let go of things – and her change of heart?

15. The finale, Lily and Trenholm and their living an ordinary life – the moral at the end of the film?