I'm not sure what this movie is trying to tell us, but after watching it twice I decided that is not important. It is all of the little things that make this a rewarding yet campy experience, most likely for the film history buff. The movie is about a young heiress, Patricia Hanley (Billie Dove), whose engagement is announced without her even being present. Did Dad and dear fiancé just talk this over and assume the bride's opinion is of no matter? Meanwhile Patricia is in love with an Italian starving artist who is working hard to make it as a concert violinist (Basil Rathbone as Paul Gherardi) and marries him, perhaps believing that it is easier to seek forgiveness than permission from dear old snobby dad - she'd be wrong. When she interrupts her own engagement party to say she has married a poor Italian musician, dad ejects her from the family, and "her set" - the idle rich - turn their back on her.
Up to this point there is a parallel story, that of Countess Olga Balakireff (Kay Francis), who fortunately, unlike poor Basil Rathbone, does not even feign an accent to any real extent. She is actually introduced in the opening scene as pretty much an idler who spends her time either on horseback or picking her latest liaison from among the servant class. I think the point here is to say that Patricia choosing marriage with somebody she loves is not accepted by her wealthy friends and family, but Olga treating her manservants like her property and using them for sex is not only accepted but somewhat admired, given the conversation and gossip in the opening scene.
Paul will never get anywhere on the concert scene unless he can find a "patron", and wouldn't you know that Olga just happens to be a patron of the arts who is attracted to the exotic Paul. How will this all work out? Watch and find out.
Why is this great for film buffs? First of all, because what is absolutely hilarious today could not have been known in 1930 - that Basil Rathbone would become the face of Sherlock Holmes in the movies in the late 30's and 40's and would play both villains and heroes in other films, but always classy, erudite, and somewhat British. Today Rathbone's shrill performance with a bad accent is the equivalent of watching Kelsey Grammar of Frasier fame play The Hulk in a Marvel Comics film production.
Then there is poor Billie Dove. Like so many of the silent stars, her looks said it all in the silents, but here it is the dawn of sound and she is expected to project with words not just gazes and she just is not up to the task. She isn't terrible, she is just completely mediocre and no competition for what is to come - the first generation of talking film actresses - Blondell, Stanwyck, Davis, and company.
Finally there is the "mystery illness" that was just accepted in early films as a legitimate plot device. Someone becomes paralyzed by a nervous breakdown and an operation is necessary? I'm an engineer by trade and even I know this is medical hooey.
So watch it for the film history of it all, and finally watch it for Kay Francis, who is marvelous and seductive in this her only second year in films. Recommended mainly for the film history buff.
Up to this point there is a parallel story, that of Countess Olga Balakireff (Kay Francis), who fortunately, unlike poor Basil Rathbone, does not even feign an accent to any real extent. She is actually introduced in the opening scene as pretty much an idler who spends her time either on horseback or picking her latest liaison from among the servant class. I think the point here is to say that Patricia choosing marriage with somebody she loves is not accepted by her wealthy friends and family, but Olga treating her manservants like her property and using them for sex is not only accepted but somewhat admired, given the conversation and gossip in the opening scene.
Paul will never get anywhere on the concert scene unless he can find a "patron", and wouldn't you know that Olga just happens to be a patron of the arts who is attracted to the exotic Paul. How will this all work out? Watch and find out.
Why is this great for film buffs? First of all, because what is absolutely hilarious today could not have been known in 1930 - that Basil Rathbone would become the face of Sherlock Holmes in the movies in the late 30's and 40's and would play both villains and heroes in other films, but always classy, erudite, and somewhat British. Today Rathbone's shrill performance with a bad accent is the equivalent of watching Kelsey Grammar of Frasier fame play The Hulk in a Marvel Comics film production.
Then there is poor Billie Dove. Like so many of the silent stars, her looks said it all in the silents, but here it is the dawn of sound and she is expected to project with words not just gazes and she just is not up to the task. She isn't terrible, she is just completely mediocre and no competition for what is to come - the first generation of talking film actresses - Blondell, Stanwyck, Davis, and company.
Finally there is the "mystery illness" that was just accepted in early films as a legitimate plot device. Someone becomes paralyzed by a nervous breakdown and an operation is necessary? I'm an engineer by trade and even I know this is medical hooey.
So watch it for the film history of it all, and finally watch it for Kay Francis, who is marvelous and seductive in this her only second year in films. Recommended mainly for the film history buff.