Faithless (1932)

A wealthy and spoiled Manhattan socialite (Tallulah Bankhead) breaks her engagement to a young advertising executive (Robert Montgomery) because he insists on living on his salary rather than her lavish lifestyle. But fate displays a cruel hand when she loses all her wealth in the Great Depression and is eventually reduced to working the streets as a prostitute. Based on the novel TINFOIL by Mildred Cram and directed by Harry Beaumont (MAISIE GOES TO RENO). This startling pre-code romantic drama doesn't shy away from its heroine's downfall but its kinder to her than the heroine in WATERLOO BRIDGE who's punished for her fall. A popular theatrical actress, Bankhead was never able to transition her stage stardom to the screen in the 1930s. I don't why as she has a strong screen presence and clearly has talent. I'll chalk it up to the vehicles she was given not being appetizing to audiences of the time. I would imagine this downbeat story of a glamorous beauty suffering and suffering and hitting rock bottom was depressing to depression era audiences who were seeking entertainment and relief from their own their own poverty. With Hugh Herbert in a rare dramatic role as Bankhead's sugar daddy and Louise Closser Hale.