Sin Takes A Holiday (1930)

A secretary (Constance Bennett) is in love with her divorce attorney boss (Kenneth MacKenna) who is also a notorious playboy. When the lawyer's latest mistress (Rita La Roy) makes plans to divorce her husband and marry the attorney, he quickly arranges a sham "in name only" marriage with his secretary to keep the mistress at bay. But when the caterpillar secretary goes on a solitary honeymoon to Paris and turns into a butterfly, she realizes her leverage and power. Directed by Paul L. Stein, this is Noel Coward territory but without the sophistication and razor wit. MacKenna's shallow lawyer is such a cad that you wonder what Bennett sees in him. In fact, Bennett is just about the only decent character in the film (unless you count Zasu Pitts who has a small turn as Bennett's best friend). Everything is resolved predictably by the film's end although for a moment it was suggesting it might go in another direction (I wish it had). I am perplexed by the film's provocative title. What sin? Bennett is as wholesome as apple pie. Perhaps its referring to the sham marriage but that's hardly a sin. With Basil Rathbone and Louis John Bartels.