Strictly Dishonorable (1931)

A young woman (Sidney Fox) and her obnoxious fiance (George Meeker) stop in for a drink at a Manhattan speakeasy. It's there that she meets a famous opera singer (Paul Lukas) and their attraction to each other threatens to cause a rift in her engagement especially after she spends the night in the opera singer's apartment. Based on a play by Preston Sturges and directed by John M. Stahl (LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN). This pre code comedy is pretty racy and it reminded me of the controversial (for its time) THE MOON IS BLUE (1953). It doesn't make any attempt to disguise its theatrical roots. The film is split into two acts and while I enjoyed the first act which takes place at the speakeasy, I found the second act which takes place in the opera singer's apartment exceedingly monotonous (it's too chatty) and my interest started to wane.  Remade in 1951 with all the sexual innuendo deleted. With Lewis Stone and Sidney Toler.