Lovin' the Ladies
"A Dashing Electrician Sparks a High-Voltage Romance in High Society!"
Plot
Peter Darby, a charismatic electrician, is hired to perform a job at the lavish estate of wealthy socialite Jimmy Farnsworth. While there, Jimmy makes a $5,000 wager with his friend George Van Horne, claiming that love is purely a result of environment and chemistry rather than spiritual connection. To prove his point, Jimmy bets he can make any two people fall in love and get engaged within a month by controlling their circumstances. He selects Peter to pose as a high-society gentleman and target the bored, aloof socialite Betty Duncan. However, the experiment spirals into a comedic web of errors when Peter actually falls for Jimmy's own fiancée, Joan Bently, while Betty finds herself inexplicably attracted to Jimmy's Oxford-educated butler, Brooks.
About the Production
The film was adapted from the 1919 Broadway play 'I Love You' by William Le Baron, who also served as the producer for this film. Richard Dix had actually starred in a younger role in the original stage production years earlier. Produced during the early 'Talkie' era, the film retains some stylistic remnants of silent cinema, including occasional intertitles to mark scene transitions. It was one of the early successes for the newly formed RKO Radio Pictures, turning a modest profit of approximately $65,000.
Historical Background
Released in early 1930, 'Lovin' the Ladies' arrived just as the Great Depression was beginning to take hold of the American consciousness. The film's 'Prince and the Pauper' style narrative—where a working-class man outwits and out-charms the idle rich—resonated with audiences who were increasingly skeptical of the wealthy elite. It also sits at the dawn of the 'Pre-Code' era, featuring a cynical view of marriage and love as a 'chemical' or 'animal' transaction, though it ultimately resolves into a traditional romantic ending.
Why This Film Matters
The film is a significant example of the early 'Talkie' romantic comedy, a genre that would eventually evolve into the screwball comedies of the mid-1930s. It explores themes of class mobility and the performative nature of social status, suggesting that 'breeding' is less important than character—a popular sentiment in 1930s American cinema. It also highlights the career of Richard Dix, a major silent star who successfully navigated the transition to sound.
Making Of
The production was a 'country house farce' designed to capitalize on the popularity of sophisticated stage comedies. Director Melville W. Brown focused on maintaining the witty repartee of the original play, which resulted in a film that many critics noted felt 'stagey' but charming. The casting of Richard Dix was a strategic move by RKO, as he was one of their biggest stars at the time, known for his rugged but approachable persona. Production designer Max Rée, who would later win an Oscar for 'Cimarron', was responsible for the film's opulent high-society sets, which were meant to contrast sharply with Peter's working-class background.
Visual Style
Photographed by Edward Cronjager, the film uses standard three-point lighting typical of early 1930s studio productions. While the camera movement is somewhat limited due to the bulky sound equipment of the era, Cronjager manages to capture the elegance of the estate settings with crisp, clear compositions.
Innovations
The film is a solid example of early sound synchronization using the RCA Photophone system, which was RKO's preferred technology. It successfully integrated dialogue-heavy scenes without the 'dead air' that plagued many very early talkies.
Music
The film utilizes the RCA Photophone system. The soundtrack is primarily dialogue-driven, featuring a light orchestral score during the opening and closing credits. A notable musical moment involves a violinist hired by Jimmy to create a romantic atmosphere for his 'experiment.'
Famous Quotes
Peter Darby: 'I may be an electrician, but I know how to handle a live wire when I see one.'
Jimmy Farnsworth: 'Love isn't spiritual, George. It's a matter of the right flowers, the right music, and the right amount of perfume in the air.'
Memorable Scenes
- The scene where Peter is fitted for his high-society wardrobe and first encounters Joan, creating an immediate spark that complicates the bet.
- The 'mood-setting' sequence where Jimmy uses Shelley's poems and a violinist to force a romantic connection between Peter and Betty.
- The climax where Peter's true identity is revealed, and he must defend his genuine feelings for Joan against the cynical nature of the bet.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the 1919 Broadway play 'I Love You' written by the film's producer, William Le Baron.
- Richard Dix, the film's lead, had previously appeared in the stage version of the story before transitioning to a major film career.
- Some contemporary reviews and trade publications, including Variety, originally reviewed the film under the title 'Loving the Ladies'.
- The film features a very early appearance by character actor Henry Armetta, who became famous for his 'excitable Italian' persona in the 1930s.
- Despite being a 'talking picture,' the film utilizes intertitles to bridge scenes, a common technique in the 1929-1930 transition period.
- The production was filmed at the RKO Pathé Studios in Culver City.
- The film's plot serves as an early precursor to the 'social experiment' trope later seen in films like 'Trading Places' or 'Sabrina'.
What Critics Said
At the time of its release, the New York Times described it as a 'light and amusing farce,' praising the performances of Dix and Wilson. Variety noted the film's stage origins, calling it 'well-acted' but slightly static in its direction. Modern critics, such as those at the Warner Archive, view it as a 'diverting country house farce' that serves as a quaint but enjoyable relic of the early sound era, specifically noting the chemistry between the leads.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1930 responded well to the film's humor and the star power of Richard Dix, leading to a respectable box office return that nearly doubled its production budget. It was particularly popular in urban centers where the 'working man vs. socialite' theme had strong appeal.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The play 'I Love You' by William Le Baron
- The Prince and the Pauper (concept of class swapping)
This Film Influenced
- Trading Places (1983)
- Sabrina (1954)
- My Man Godfrey (1936)
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Film Restoration
The film is preserved and was released on DVD as part of the Warner Archive Collection. The print is noted to show its age but remains in good, watchable condition.