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Saturday, September 14, 2013

Havana Widows (1933)

Two conniving chorus girls (Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell) borrow $1,500 from a soft touch (Allen Jenkins) and go to Havana in the hopes of snagging some millionaires. Not to marry them, just compromise them and get some hush money. But things don't quite turn out the way they planned. This is one of those breezy pre-code Warner Brothers films with sassy, wise cracking broads with hearts of gold that exist only in the movies. Outside of film buff circles, Blondell and Farrell aren't remembered much today but they are a perfect combination with a "duck soup" style in delivering their snappy patter. Would that the males were so memorable. Frank McHugh's drunken lawyer outwears his welcome pretty quickly and Jenkins' dumb act is hard to swallow after awhile. But its rapid pacing and light touch (and short running time) make it a pleasant diversion. Directed by Ray Enright. With Lyle Talbot, Ruth Donnelly and Guy Kibbee.

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