THE STRANGE LOVE OF MOLLY LOUVAIN
US, 1932, 73 minutes, Black and white.
Ann Dvorak, Lee Tracy, Richard Cromwell, Guy Kibbee, Leslie Fenton, Frank Mc Hugh.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.
This is a melodrama from the early 1930s, going back to events in the late 1920s and moving up to 1932.The screenplay is based on a play, Tinsel Girl. As referenced in the film, this is an easy-going girl.
This is very much a pre-Code film, representing more permissive behaviour than would later be allowed, an affair between a young working woman and a rich man, his abandoning her, her being pregnant, being married in throwback to a travelling salesman who becomes involved in criminal activity, involving her. She leaves and becomes a companion dancer in a club, encounters the nice young man who was a bellboy at the hotel where she worked and who is infatuated with her. But, they are caught by the husband who is involved in a shootout with the police, telling them to drive off in his car – they hole up in a hotel, encounter a rapid-talking journalist, who sits up the situation, advises the young man to go, becomes involved with Molly, without realising who she was, sets up a phony radio call for her to come because a child is sick and so she goes in and give statements to the police. The journalist has a change of heart and stays to help her.
Michael Curtiz had come from Hungary and began directing many, many films in Hollywood, to win an Oscar in 1943 for Casablanca. Ann Dvorak was a leading lady at the time, able to do this sultry kind of role. Lee Tracy shows as always how effective years in this rapid-fire talking character. Richard Cromwell is the young man and the fickle husband is played by Leslie Fenton who was married to Ann Dvorak for several years.
1. 1930s melodrama? Guilty woman, unmarried mother, care for her child, entanglement with criminals? Police?
2. Black-and-white photography, atmosphere of the city, shops, homes, hotels, the police, journalists world? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus on Molly, her experience of love? The original title of the play, Tinsel Girl?
4. Molly’s story, Ann Dvorak in the role, screen presence? The initial relationship with Ralph, everything happy, inviting her to meet his mother, her dressing up, the need for stockings, her confidence, arrival, the letter, Ralph disappearing with his mother? The audience than learning she was pregnant?
5. At her job, her friend, Jimmy and his continued attention is, Nicky Grant and his floating, the promise of the stockings, Jimmy telling him you had a long distance call? Molly getting ready, Jimmy’s help, the stockings? The letter and her disappointment?
6. Three years later, married to Nicky, the little girl, entrusting her to the woman and her home? Love for her daughter? Wanting to separate from Nicky? The robberies and his criminal connections? The story of her involvement, the person in the car?
7. Getting a job, the dancers, Jimmy and his friends, talking, the encounter with Nicky, his deal, the car, the police and the shootings, driving away?
8. Molly and Jimmy getting the room, the respectable lady? Scotty and his entrance, entering the room, the phone, his journalist background, self-confidence, rapid delivery? Planning to go to Paris to write the American novel? Caught up in the case story? His talk, sending Jimmy out for the food, getting Jimmy to pay the debts? The attraction to Molly, the kiss, her resistance, Jimmy seeing them? Scotty urging him to go, the reasons?
9. The police, the investigations, Nicky and his giving testimony, Molly’s name, the photo? The police chief, the other police? The range of journalists and the curiosity?
10. Scotty, the plans with Molly? His idea of the radio and the information about Molly’s daughter? Molly going in, the police not believing her? Her testimony, the pressure on her? Police treatment? Scotty coming in, realising who she was? Her challenging him, his promise to help her? The scene with the little girl? Scotty and his wanting to go to Paris, but staying to defend Molly? The final kiss – what future?
