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Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Our Betters (1933)

A wealthy American heiress (Constance Bennett) marries an English aristocrat (Alan Mowbray) but it isn't long after the wedding that she discovers he married her for her money and is in love with another woman (Finis Barton). Based on the play by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by George Cukor. This sophisticated adult comedy isn't very cinematicits proscenium roots all too obvious but it's a wonderfully wicked comedy of manners. Except for a fortunately brief scene between Bennett and her sister (Anita Louise) which spoils the fun with its moralizingit's a good time with its shallow and morally decadent upper class engaging in backstabbing and self serving behavior. Bennett is marvelous as she slinks around purring catty remarks while looking sensational in her Hattie Carnegie frocks while Violet Kemble Cooper as her aging Duchess pal with a young Latin gigolo (Gilbert Roland) for a lover comes pretty close to stealing the picture. With Charles StarrettGrant MitchellMinor WatsonPhoebe Foster and Tyrell Davis.

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