The Greeks Had a Word for Them **** (1932, Ina Claire, Joan Blondell, Madge Evans, David Manners, Lowell Sherman) – Classic Movie Review 12,519

The delicious vintage 1932 comedy film The Greeks Had a Word for Them stars Ina Claire, Joan Blondell, Madge Evans. It is the first filming of Zoë Atkins’ play about three New York gold-diggers trawling for wealthy men. 

Director Lowell Sherman’s delicious vintage 1932 comedy film The Greeks Had a Word for Them [Three Broadway Girls] stars Ina Claire, Joan Blondell, Madge Evans, David Manners, and Lowell Sherman. It is the first filming of the stage play The Greeks Had a Word for It by Zoë Atkins, remade as Three Blind Mice in 1938 and How To Marry a Millionaire in 1953.

Joan Blondell, Madge Evans, Ina Claire star as three Broadway babes, big-hearted Schatzi (Blondell), romantic Polaire (Evans) and unscrupulous Jean (Claire). They are New York gold-diggers trawling for wealthy men in this zippy, extremely entertaining comedy, the prototype for countless others, including the mire famous 1950s remake How To Marry a Millionaire.

David Manners, Joan Blondell, Ina Claire, Madge Evans.

The main assets are the brittle, witty, gossipy script, the smashing, feisty performances by Blondell, Evans and Claire, and the plush production that includes fine art direction by Day and pretty Coco Chanel frocks. Director Sherman also appears as one of the suitors. Betty Grable has a walk-on as a showgirl: she was to star in How To Marry a Millionaire in 1953.

David Manners, Madge Evans, Joan Blondell, Ina Claire.

The cast are Joan Blondell as Schatzi, Madge Evans as Polaire, Ina Claire as Jean Lawrence, David Manners as Dey Emery, Lowell Sherman as Boris Feldman, Phillips Smalley as Justin Emery, Sidney Bracey as the waiter, Ward Bond as taxi driver, Betty Grable, Louise Beavers, Wilson Benge, Harry Bowen, Jack Byron, Charles Coleman, Albert Conti, Patrick Cunning, Jay Eaton, Bill Elliott, Budd Fine, Creighton Hale, Arthur Housman, Arthur Millett, Larry Steers, Henry Taylor, Harry Tenbrook, Elinor Vanderveer, Walter Walker, and Barbara Weeks.

It is released by United Artists and produced by Samuel Goldwyn, who wanted Jean Harlow to star after her 1931 hit The Public Enemy, but she was under contract to Howard Hughes, who refused to loan her out.

Coco Chanel designed 30 costumes for the film, including the beach pyjamas Ina Claire wears. It is one of only three films for which Coco Chanel designed costumes. The others are Palmy Days and Tonight or Never (1931).

Moon Over Miami (1941) and Ladies in Love (1936) are also similar movies.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,519

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