Honor Among Lovers (1931)

A young secretary (Claudette Colbert) works for a wealthy Wall Street trader (Fredric March). He's interested in romancing her but not in marriage. When she gets married to a stockbroker (Monroe Owsley), he fires her. But their relationship doesn't end there. Directed by Dorothy Arzner (DANCE GIRL DANCE), this pre code drama is frank about pre marital relationships but it boils down to a rather sordid tale of a woman marrying the wrong man and standing by him even as he sinks into despicability. Its ending of Colbert going off with another man while still married must have raised some eyebrows in 1931. Although predictable, I liked it quite a bit. Colbert and March are agreeable and Owsley is suitably slimy. Arzner's direction is tight and its relatively brief running time (one hour, 15 minutes) assures that it won't wear out its welcome. If you're a fan of pre code movies, check it out. With a pre-stardom Ginger Rogers, Charles Ruggles and Ralph Morgan.