
THE PLOT:
The film begins, optimistically, with a wedding.
Sophie Evans (Anita Page) is marrying Alf (Norman Foster) in the prosperity of
pre-depression era America. Her sister Madge (Marian Marsh) dreams of the same
happiness that her sister is experiencing – a stable lifestyle and a loving
husband.
But it doesn’t last.
Three years later, as financial ruin inflicts the nation, the Evans
family is no different. With the death of Pop Evans, Madge and her mother lose
their main source of income and are forced to move to a rundown apartment in
the poor slums of the city. Even though she is happy with her deliveryman boyfriend Jimmy (Regis Toomey), Madge is not content with her situation and dreams of a life of wealth and luxury.
Madge: “I’m sick of everything…Of being poor.”
Madge and Jimmy
A knock at the door late at night, makes her
situation worse. Sophie has returned, also feeling the burden of the “Great
Depression” and her husband not willing to take a job, asks to stay with Madge
bringing the addition of their newborn baby.
Meanwhile, Madge’s work doesn’t provide her with
good influences. She is a seamstress at a clothing business that also employs a
group of models that boast about their expensive possessions and the wealthy
men that give it to them. When the models go to lunch, the store owner finds
that he needs a model to showcase a new fur coat to a wealthy man and his
girlfriend. He prevails upon Madge and, elated, she accepts. Enter Warren
William.
Warren and his leer
Raymond Harding (Warren William) is a bored millionaire
chaperoning his girlfriend Babsy (Claire Todd) on her shopping excursions.
Madge opens the coat to show the lining and reveals a glimpse of her lingerie.
This makes Raymond take notice. He is immediately transfixed by her beauty,
innocence and sincerity.
Jimmy on Raymond: “I know all about him, he’s girl
nutty.”
Understandably, Jimmy is jealous; he doesn’t trust
Raymond’s motives and wants a declaration from Madge that she will marry him.
His method works and they become engaged. Although, Madge is euphoric, the
drama doesn’t end. The next morning in the midst of another of their customary
arguments, Alf punches Sophie and runs out of the apartment. She immediately
wants a divorce; her situation affects Madge and she is resolute that she will
not become like her sister and declares she will never marry.
Madge: “I made up my mind that when I give myself to
a man for life, its cash on delivery.”
But to get Sophie a divorce, Madge needs $200 from
her male friends. Her employer refuses, her model friends refuse and so does
Jimmy; therefore, Madge takes the only option available to her, Raymond
Harding. She boldly goes up to his apartment - a luxurious penthouse where the
party is 24 hours a day.
Party central!!!
He convinces her to join the party and his servant
leads her to Raymond’s den (a large lavish room with lots of bench-seats) with
the purpose of changing into a swimsuit. As she is changing, Raymond comes in
and begins feeding her champagne and trying to seduce her. But instead of going
further, he relents. In a moment of weakness, he sees her virtue and innocent
love for Jimmy and chooses not to corrupt it and her like the other girls.They
are in the room when Jimmy arrives and the trouble starts.
“Under 18” is a cute depression era film about a
virtuous girl whose entire world is persuading her towards a life moving from
one rich man to another. Because the plot is heavily centred on the problems of
the “Great Depression” it should be dated and irrelevant - in some ways it is –
however, overall the issues Madge Evans (Marian Marsh) has to face are modern
troubles. She has to choose between money and a life of true happiness. These
are deep topics but instead the film is full of light-hearted moments and
warmth. Most of this quality comes from
Marian Marsh whose elfin looks, brilliant smile and soft acting techniques change
the entire air of the film which would have been harsher if Ann Dvorack or Joan
Blondell were given the part. Her relationship with the kind and lovable Jimmy
adds another layer of sweetness and light to a film that should be dark and
depressing.
The beautiful Marian
And of course there’s Warren William as Raymond
Harding and his great leer. No one actor is more appealingly sleazy or more
apologetically so. Although, he doesn’t look so hot in a bathing suit,
Raymond is obviously a ladies’ man.
Warren in a swim suit, he doesn't really fill it out...
He has a closet full of expensive women’s
clothing next to a room entirely filled with alcohol and a servant that
understands how his ‘system’ works. He has list of readily available comebacks
and sexual innuendo prepared to seduce an array of young women. He is the
master of sin but, in a twist, shows his soft side at the end by choosing to
help Madge and extricate her from the corrupting influences of himself and his
“lady friends”.
The movie is filled with Precode moments. Alf
(Norman Foster) provides a lot of the questionable scenes; he is a supposed
gambler, likes to drink, refuses to work and in his last onscreen appearance
bashes his wife to the point that she demands a divorce. Like most films from this era, there is
constant dressing and undressing; mostly involving the models at the shop who
spend the majority of the film in lingerie and Madge when changing from
different outfits.
Similarly, it wouldn’t be a Warren William film without
sexual comments and the odd scene with his character bobbing a woman around the
water on blow-up toy while she giggles wildly.
I didn't know what to think of this scene...
These are a few of his remarks
below:
“Why not take off your
clothes and stay awhile.” Raymond to Madge.
“From my
salary.Something each week.” Madge
“Oh. Wouldn’t you take
it as a gift.” Raymond
“Yes. If it’s
necessary. I suppose that’s the only way you lend money to girls like me.”
Madge
“Yes, that seems to be
the customary arrangement.” Raymond
And, overall, landscapes of the depression are
constantly in focus – dirty streets and slum-like housing and desperate people
covered in dirt and worn-out clothing.
To see this film and fully appreciate the
underlining messages, it is a necessity to understand the depression and its
effects on the American people. However, on another (and the best) level it is
a sweet virtue versus sin story with lovable characters and a satisfying happy
ending. Another great Precode film, but
perhaps I am biased.
Happy ending
Jimmy to Madge: “There is so much grief and so much happiness in everyone’s life. You never know what’s around the corner. And most of your troubles come from trying to find out.”
This sounds like a wonderful pre-Code film. I absolutely love Art Deco. Also, Warren William makes the perfect seducer, a role which I'm sure he played many times. I will be looking for this film on TCM.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. For some reason Warren William and Marian Marsh have great chemistry.
ReplyDelete