Plenty of movies are designed to appeal to mindless housewives (and housemaids), but this sounds as if it was written by one. Norma Shearer discovers that her husband has been playing around, so she walks out. Three years pass, and drab, dull Norma is suddenly a glamorous society woman wearing couture gowns and doted on by society men. This transformation may be hard to believe, but it becomes utterly impossible when one watches her in action. When a man suggests a ride on his yacht or a visit to her bedroom after dark, she rolls out a laugh that sounds like a horse playing piano, pushes him away, tosses her head, and even says, "Now, don't spoil things." Surely any teenage girl, even back then, could do better. But it gets her ex-husband hot enough to beg her, "Give me a chance to make you love me again." Only in dreams.
The two good points: (1) the pre-divorce Norma, with no makeup, a hairdo that looks like a very old cat, and a limp outfit that she says is homemade and looks it. If Norma doesn't rate any praise for her acting, she gets full marks for bravery. (2) Marie Dressler. With a face like a bulldog and a coiffure and gowns of thirty years earlier, Marie stomps off with the movie like the great clown she is. The leer when she says proudly that she is being "subtle" is something to see.
The two good points: (1) the pre-divorce Norma, with no makeup, a hairdo that looks like a very old cat, and a limp outfit that she says is homemade and looks it. If Norma doesn't rate any praise for her acting, she gets full marks for bravery. (2) Marie Dressler. With a face like a bulldog and a coiffure and gowns of thirty years earlier, Marie stomps off with the movie like the great clown she is. The leer when she says proudly that she is being "subtle" is something to see.