God's Gift to Women (1931)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Frederick Hazlitt Brennan (writer)
Raymond Griffith (writer)

Release Date:

13 April 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

A Parisian descendant of Don Juan vows to stop philandering in order to win the hand of a virtous young lady with a disapproving father.

Plot Keywords:

Deception | Philanderer | Nightclub | Doctor | Based On Play

Cast

Frank Fay	...	Toto Duryea
Laura La Plante	...	Diane Churchill
Joan Blondell	...	Fifi
Charles Winninger	...	Mr. John Churchill
Alan Mowbray	...	Auguste, Toto's Butler
Arthur Edmund Carewe	...	Dr. Louis Dumont
Billy House	...	Mons. Cesare
Yola d'Avril	...	Dagmar
John T. Murray	...	Mons. Chaumier, an Irate Husband
Louise Brooks	...	Florine
Margaret Livingston	...	Tania Donaliff
Armand Kaliz	...	Mons. Rancour
Charles Judels	...	Undertaker
Tyrell Davis	...	Basil, called 'Pompom'
Eleanor Gutchrlein	...	Maybelle (as Sisters G)

Also Known As:

The Devil Was Sick (USA) (pre-release title)
Too Many Women (UK)

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Vitaphone

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Brooks and Blondell steal show!

Of the six or so films Frank Fay made under his early-talkie Warner contract, half wasted time presenting him as some sort of great lover. Battling this concept takes effort and a lapse in sense, not only by the audience, but by the casts of these pictures. This is especially true of THE MATRIMONIAL BED, is less a problem in BRIGHT LIGHTS, but might have reached the ludicrous in GOD'S GIFT TO WOMEN if not for the sensational women involved. Cast as a descendant of Don Juan (annoyingly called "Toto"), it is a testament to the female talent that there is still a lot of fun to be had despite the fact that Frank Fay seldom shut's his mouth. Though the script hardly gives anyone a chance, Fay's incessant chattering "style" is only matched once, when the savvy Joan Blondell fairly bursts into the man's boudoir -- a brief example of sophisticated bedroom farce. This sequence is followed by another gem, a most unexpected three-way battle over Fay; a sexy brawl taking place atop his bed involving ALL QUIET/WESTERN FRONT'S buxom Yola D'Avril, Miss Blondell, and the legendary and stunningly gorgeous Louise Brooks. Yes, Louise was thrown to the dogs in talking pictures, but here is one time (albeit sans bangs) where she looked and sounded sensational for the few moments we were allowed to see her. Nice moments, too, by perfectly capable, delightful silent players: SUNRISE vamp Margaret Livingston, who turns up to give leading lady Laura La Plante a rough moment. La Plante is lovely, and fully up to the challenge of sound comedy. Though hams abound, Alan Mowbray (as the butler), Tyrell Davis (managing to out-fey even Frank Fay), and the fabulous if underused Charles Winninger manage quite effectively. Merely in it for Louise Brooks (and I can't say as I blame you)? Advance to the bedroom romp, but watch the women cavort throughout the opening nightclub sequence -- there are enough glimpses to satisfy. Watch for the beautiful twins from Universal's KING OF JAZZ, the "Sisters G," both of whom are coiffed in what seems to be Louise Brooks' old hairstyle.