Kept Husbands
"A Love That Defied All Social Barriers!"
Plot
Hughie Mack, a former All-American football star, now works as a supervisor at a steel mill in New Jersey owned by the wealthy Van Dyke family. He falls in love with Dorothy Van Dyke, the mill owner's spoiled and pampered daughter, who initially looks down on him due to his working-class status. After Dorothy's father opposes their relationship, Hughie proves his worth by taking charge during a dangerous mill crisis, demonstrating his leadership and courage. The couple must navigate class differences and family opposition while fighting for their love, with Hughie struggling to maintain his dignity in a world where money and social status dictate worth. Their romance faces additional complications when Dorothy's former suitors and her mother's social ambitions threaten to tear them apart.
About the Production
This film was produced during the transition period from silent films to talkies, and represents one of the early sound dramas exploring social class themes. The production utilized the newly developed sound stages at Warner Brothers facilities, allowing for more intimate dialogue scenes. The steel mill sequences were created using elaborate sets and matte paintings to simulate the industrial environment of New Jersey mills.
Historical Background
Released in early 1931, 'Kept Husbands' emerged during the Great Depression, a time when class tensions and economic struggles were at the forefront of American consciousness. The film's exploration of wealth disparity and the dignity of labor resonated strongly with audiences facing economic hardship. This was also a transitional period in Hollywood, as studios were fully embracing sound technology while still developing the conventions of the talkie era. The pre-Code era allowed filmmakers to explore more adult themes and social issues, including class conflict, sexual relationships, and criticism of the wealthy, which would be heavily censored in later years.
Why This Film Matters
The film represents an early example of Hollywood's engagement with class issues during the Depression era, helping establish the 'rich girl/poor boy' romance formula that would become a staple of 1930s cinema. It also illustrates the shifting social dynamics of the time, questioning traditional notions of class and worth. The film's portrayal of a working-class hero maintaining his dignity while challenging the establishment reflected the populist sentiment growing in America during the early 1930s. As a pre-Code film, it demonstrates the greater freedom filmmakers had before strict censorship was enforced, allowing for more realistic and critical examinations of American society.
Making Of
The production faced several challenges during filming, particularly with the sound recording equipment which was still relatively new in 1931. The steel mill sequences required special sound design to create authentic industrial noises while still allowing dialogue to be heard clearly. Dorothy Mackaill and Joel McCrea reportedly had excellent chemistry on set, which translated well to their on-screen romance. Director Lloyd Bacon, known for his efficiency, completed filming ahead of schedule despite the technical complexities of the sound recording. The film's script underwent several revisions to satisfy both the studio's commercial concerns and the emerging censorship standards that would soon be enforced by the Hays Code.
Visual Style
The cinematography by Sol Polito utilized the new possibilities of sound filming, creating more intimate close-ups and dialogue scenes than were common in silent films. The steel mill sequences employed dramatic lighting and camera angles to emphasize the dangerous and industrial nature of the work environment. Polito's work effectively contrasted the gritty, masculine world of the mill with the opulent, feminine spaces of the Van Dyke mansion, visually reinforcing the film's class themes.
Innovations
As an early sound film, 'Kept Husbands' demonstrated the improving quality of sound recording technology, particularly in balancing dialogue with ambient noise in the mill sequences. The film also utilized early microphone techniques that allowed for more naturalistic acting performances. The production design for the steel mill sets represented an achievement in creating realistic industrial environments on studio soundstages.
Music
The film featured a musical score by Leo F. Forbstein, Warner Brothers' music director, who was pioneering the use of synchronized music in talkies. The soundtrack included popular songs of the era that would have been familiar to contemporary audiences. The sound design for the mill sequences was particularly noteworthy, using industrial sounds to create atmosphere while maintaining dialogue clarity - a technical challenge for early sound films.
Did You Know?
- Joel McCrea, who played the football star turned steel worker, had been a real football player at Pomona College before becoming an actor, bringing authentic athletic presence to his role.
- Dorothy Mackaill was one of the few silent film stars who successfully transitioned to talkies, though her career would decline within a few years of this film.
- Clara Kimball Young, who played the mother, was a major silent film star from the 1910s who had been largely forgotten by the time this film was made.
- The film was released just months before the enforcement of the Hays Production Code, allowing it to explore more mature themes of class conflict and romance.
- Director Lloyd Bacon would go on to direct some of Warner Brothers' biggest hits of the 1930s, including '42nd Street' and 'The Public Enemy'.
- The steel mill sets were so realistic that some contemporary reviewers mistakenly believed the film had been shot on location at an actual mill.
- This was one of the earliest films to feature the 'rich girl falls for working class hero' trope that would become popular in 1930s cinema.
- The film's title 'Kept Husbands' was considered somewhat scandalous for 1931, suggesting male prostitution or relationships based on financial dependency.
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews were generally positive, with critics praising the performances of Mackaill and McCrea and noting the film's timely social commentary. The New York Times particularly highlighted the authenticity of the steel mill sequences and the chemistry between the leads. Modern critics have reassessed the film as an interesting example of pre-Code social drama, though it's often overlooked in favor of more famous Warner Brothers productions of the era. The film is now recognized for its early exploration of class themes that would become more prominent in Depression-era cinema.
What Audiences Thought
The film performed moderately well at the box office, appealing to audiences who could relate to its themes of economic struggle and romance across class lines. Viewers responded positively to Joel McCrea's portrayal of the dignified working-class hero, which aligned with the growing admiration for ordinary Americans during the Depression. The film's straightforward approach to romance and social issues made it popular with mainstream audiences, though it didn't achieve the blockbuster status of some other Warner Brothers releases of the period.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The tradition of silent film romances
- Contemporary stage plays about class issues
- The growing genre of social problem films of the early 1930s
This Film Influenced
- Later Warner Brothers social dramas
- The 'rich girl/poor boy' romance formula films of the 1930s
- Industrial-themed films of the Depression era