Forbidden Hollywood volume 4: jewel Robbery, lawyer Man, man Wanted, They call It sin

I’ve been looking forward to the relaunched forbidden Hollywood line — now coming from the Warner Archive — for months now, and the actual product does not disappoint. These are 1932 movies, so they’re scratchy, at times, both visually and on the soundtrack, but oh, what fun they are! and how wonderful to watch 80-year-old movies so easily!

Forbidden Hollywood volume 4 consists of four discs, one per movie, in a single case. Each film is just over an hour long, and each disc (except for They call It Sin) also has the movie’s trailer, which runs about two minutes.

Jewel Robbery
Imagine yourself in Vienna, married to a rich but dull baron who gives you diamonds but doesn’t thrill you. then you’re caught up in a jewel Robbery, and flirting with the gentleman thief (William Powell, who subdues his victims with “funny” cigarettes) gives you all the charm and excitement you could dream of!

That’s the situation starring Kay Francis (who shouldn’t be appearing in a film where she has to say “robber”; with her lisp, it comes out “wobber”). She’s introduced kicking her long legs up in the air out of a bubble bath, a silly thing to do but rather daring at the time in what it suggests, and sufficiently indicative of her physicality. She’s surrounded by a squad of beauticians, masseuses, and general maids to make her even more lovely and make clear how pampered she is. Her love of jewelry is unapologetic and even refreshing in her materialism — how else was a well-bred woman to ensure her comfortable retirement? (In some scenes, she seems to love the gems more than any of the men in the movie.)

It’s a trifle, but fun for escapism. The film makes us root for a thief and an adulterous partner to run off together, in defiance of the law and proper society. Powell’s character is clever, so much so that he sends a loose blonde to distract the local policeman, playing on everyone’s baser desires. When he locks up the robbery hostages in separate safes, he asks Francis whether she’d prefer to be with her spouse or the man we all know is her lover. She ducks the question, saying she’d rather not be locked up at all. but it’s okay, since Powell appreciates her stubbornness.

Jewel Robbery is only 68 minutes, with plenty of scandalous behavior, innuendo dialogue, and double-twists of plot, but I love this film. It’s so alluring and sophisticated in its international entanglements. much of the “I still can’t believe I saw that” appeal is summed up in this gown worn by Francis late in the movie (and shown on the box set cover).

I have no idea how the thing stays on, since it’s strapless, backless, and appears to be a quite substantial material. (Elastic sleeves or glue, I guess.) The whole thing drips sex, as she looks like it’s about to slide off any minute. You can see why the moralists were worried about the ideas films like this would give the masses.

Lawyer Man
Powell returns as a downtown lawyer (with a roaming eye for women) whose clients are working-class immigrants. After beating a high-powered rival (Alan Dinehart) in a case, he’s offered an opportunity to join his upscale firm. Blondell is Powell’s secretary, holding a crush for him, keeping him out of trouble, and showing off her legs.

Joan Blondell and William Powell in lawyer Man

Soon enough, Powell is involved with his new partner’s sister (Helen Vinson), a driving society woman who always gets what she wants. There’s also a corrupt politician who frames Powell, again with the aid of a pretty girl (Claire Dodd). She brought him a breach of promise case that makes him some powerful enemies who dump him out of his high-class position. (For younger readers, it used to be the case that women could sue if men promised to marry them and didn’t.)

Lawyer man doesn’t have the snap of the previous film. It’s odd watching Powell get tongue-tied over women, even weirder to see him as a sloppy drunk. He’s not particularly believable as either a lower-class man of the people or a clueless sap getting played, either. Also, all the political scheming, while representative of the times, may seem too obvious to today’s viewers. events move quickly, but I didn’t have much connection to the threats and schemes.

The social commentary is that of an underdog who learns to never trust the richies. There’s a lot in common with 80s high school movies that way. You can’t join the upper crust, because they’ll turn on you and drop you in a heartbeat when things get tough. I prefer the pre-Codes with more sizzle. this one is too focused on plot to the exclusion of much else. Plus, I wish Powell and Blondell had more chemistry together.

Joan Blondell and Sterling Holloway in lawyer Man

My favorite moment was a brief scene where an uncredited Sterling Holloway (voice of Winnie the Pooh!) tells an unhappy Blondell that “you’re in love with your boss and he won’t give you a tumble,” statnull