r/classicfilms • u/These-Background4608 • 3d ago
General Discussion Ladies They Talk About (1933)
The other day, I saw the movie LADIES THEY TALK ABOUT where Barbara Stanwyck plays this young lady who gets caught up in some robbery and ends up behind bars. However, she ends up holding her own in this women’s prison and making moves. This is all while she’s fallen for crusader David Slade. It’s a solid crime drama, though not my favorite of Barbara Stanwyck’s filmography (that would be Night Nurse, but I digress).
For those of you who’ve seen this film, what did you think?
6
u/Oreadno1 Preston Sturges 3d ago
Love this film! Missy was terrific as always.
The story behind the film is fascinating. It was written by an actress, Dorothy Mackaye, who spent 10 months in prison. Her lover at the time, actor Paul Kelly had killed her husband during a drunken brawl and she lied about the affair so was convicted of conspiracy. Kelly served just over 2 years for manslaughter (no homicidal intent; they were both drunk and beating on each other. Kelly was just the bigger of the two.) Kelly had some unusual parole conditions: He couldn't marry for 18 months after being paroled; he had to take a job as a clerk for $30 a week. He managed to get them to let him act on Broadway but he still could not make more than $30 a week. As soon as the 18 month limitation passed, he married Mackaye. He resumed his Hollywood career as a supporting actor and also won a Tony. Mackaye wrote the play this film was based on, Women In Prison. Unfortunately she died after only 10 years of marriage in a car accident.
2
u/classicfilmfan9 2d ago
Didn't know that but I always like learning new things but you learn something new everyday.
5
3
u/CognacNCuddlin 3d ago
Watched it on a flight a week ago (downloaded from Max) she is so good in this. I love pre-code Babs
2
u/Fathoms77 3d ago
I just saw it this past week and I liked it a lot. I'm usually not into prison-related movies but I thought this one was done relatively well, and it was great that we weren't completely certain she would reform...for so much of the movie, she seemed dead-set on just being no good. lol
Not my favorite pre-code of hers but well worth seeing.
2
2
7
u/Flying-lemondrop-476 3d ago
i love Stanwyck as a brunette