Housewife * (1934, George Brent, Bette Davis, Ann Dvorak, John Halliday) – Classic Movie Review 6900

Director Alfred E Green’s shaky, corny and unconvincing 1934 melodrama of romantic rivalry stars Bette Davis as blonde bombshell advertising copywriter Patricia Berkeley, who tries to vamp her co-worker and old lover William ‘Bill’ Reynolds (George Brent) away from his wife Nan (Ann Dvorak). Pat and Nan battle over Bill.

‘Dear God, what a horror!’ Davis said later. You see what she means, but it is still worth a look for the cast though, and of course particularly for the young Davis, overplaying her hand to try to make it work.

Also in the cast are John Halliday, Ruth Donnelly, Hobart Cavanaugh, Robert Barrat, Phil Regan, Joseph Cawthorn, Harry Tyler, Leila Bennett, Willard Robertson, Ronnie Cosby, Charles Coleman and prolific character actor Jonathan Hale in his film debut.

Housewife is directed by Alfred E Green, runs 69 minutes, Warner Bros, is written by Manuel Seff and Lillie Hayward, is shot in black and white by William Rees, is produced by Robert Lord, and is scored by Leo F Forbstein.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6900

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