Summary
In an era of stifling Victorian residue, Joan Ludlow orchestrates a matrimonial gambit to escape the ossified constraints of her grandparents’ domicile. Her union with Martin Grey, a man of substantial means and neighborly concern, begins not as a romantic fusion but as a chivalric shield. Joan, embodying the nascent spirit of the Jazz Age, pivots into a reckless orbit of hedonistic nihilism, adopting the titular 'Who Cares?' as her existential mantra. While she dissipates her vitality in the kaleidoscopic whirl of 'fast society,' neglecting the domestic tether of her husband, the narrative descends into a complex web of infidelity and predatory intent. Gilbert Palgrave, a man of dubious moral fiber and husband to Joan’s confidante, attempts a predatory conquest of the young socialite. Simultaneously, the emotionally starved Martin seeks a meretricious comfort in the companionship of Toodles, a chorus girl. The artifice of Joan’s indifference is violently dismantled when Palgrave’s obsession culminates in a lethal confrontation, necessitating a visceral rescue that finally strips away the 'Who Cares?' facade to reveal the latent devotion between the estranged protagonists.
Synopsis
Joan Ludlow elopes with her wealthy neighbor Martin Grey in order to escape from her stern grandparents' home. Martin marries Joan mainly to protect her, and Joan behaves childishly. She adopts the slogan, "Who Cares?" and mixes in fast society, sometimes not seeing her husband for days. Joan is wooed by Gilbert Palgrave, the husband of her best friend Alice. Martin turns to Toodles, a chorus girl, for affection, even though he still loves his wife. One day Joan discovers Toodles in Martin's arms. When Palgrave later threatens Joan with a gun because she rejects his advances, Martin rescues her, and Joan and Martin find happiness together at last.
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