Most films from the early 1930s have been forgotten. However, this is a shame because nice little films like "Uptown New York" are waiting to be discovered. "Uptown New York" stars Shirley Grey, Leon Ames and Jack Oakie--all relatively obscure to the average person today but relatively famous in their time. It begins with Ames dating Grey and it looks as if they'll soon marry. However, Ames' traditional Jewish family assumes that now that he's becoming a doctor he'll marry a nice Jewish girl--one the family has pretty much picked out for him. Now in the family's defense, it appears as if Ames never told them about Grey--and he obediently drops Grey and marries the family's choice. Grey is naturally devastated--and soon meets nice-guy Oakie and begins dating him on the rebound. But, when Ames later returns and wants to either have an affair or marry her, Grey is stumped--she likes Oakie and is comfortable, but she still has a strong connection with Ames. Despite this, she marries Oakie--and then the film gets a bit overly melodramatic in a twist I will let you see for yourself. Still, with nice acting, a nice and simple story and decent production values, it's a sweet and easy to like film. In particular, Oakie comes off very in the film.
By the way, if you do watch this film, get a load of the introduction screen. The lady holding the globes looks, well, quite bizarre. You just have to see it for yourself and I'll say no more about that. Also, although never stated or even strongly implied, I think the film is trying to delicately say that Grey and Ames' relationship had been sexual but unlike some Pre-Code films, they left this up to the audience to decide for themselves and I can't imagine younger viewers noticing this.
If would like to see it, follow the IMDb link and you can download it yourself for free.
By the way, if you do watch this film, get a load of the introduction screen. The lady holding the globes looks, well, quite bizarre. You just have to see it for yourself and I'll say no more about that. Also, although never stated or even strongly implied, I think the film is trying to delicately say that Grey and Ames' relationship had been sexual but unlike some Pre-Code films, they left this up to the audience to decide for themselves and I can't imagine younger viewers noticing this.
If would like to see it, follow the IMDb link and you can download it yourself for free.