Why Lady with a Past (1932) is actually kind of funny now

You should probably watch this if you enjoy old-school high society fluff and really great dresses. It is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon when you don't want to think too hard.

If you hate movies where people stand around in tuxedos talking about their feelings in very clipped accents, you will definitely want to skip it. It’s very 1932.

Venice Muir, played by Constance Bennett, is basically the 'sad girl' of the Park Avenue set. She is pretty and rich, but the guys think she is a total bore because she is too polite.

It is kind of funny because today we try to hide our embarrassing pasts, but Venice is desperate to have one. She feels like a failure because she hasn't had a scandal yet. 🍸

She goes off to Paris, which is where all 1930s movie characters go to get 'ruined.' She doesn't actually do anything bad, but she lets everyone think she did.

The movie gets way more interesting once she comes back and starts acting all mysterious. Constance Bennett has this great way of looking bored that makes men go crazy.

I noticed that her hats in this movie are absolutely wild. One of them looks like a giant black pancake just sliding off the side of her head. 👒

The dialogue is fast, but sometimes it feels like they are just waiting for the other person to finish so they can say their clever line. It’s a bit theatrical, but I like that style.

David Manners shows up as the 'nice guy' love interest. He always looks slightly worried, like he’s forgotten where he parked his car.

He is much more likable here than in some of his other stuff, though it’s not as strange as The Sap. That one was a bit of a mess.

There is this one scene at a party where Venice is just sitting on a trunk, and she looks so tiny and lonely. It’s one of the few moments where the movie feels real and not just like a play.

The way the men in this movie flock to her just because they think she’s 'naughty' is so ridiculous. It says a lot about how dumb guys were back then (and maybe now too).

Ben Lyon plays the playboy character, and he’s fine, but he feels like he’s in a different movie sometimes. He has this very aggressive energy that doesn't always fit the scene.

I’ve seen Her Hour, and I think this movie handles the whole 'woman with a reputation' thing much better. It doesn't take itself so seriously.

The sound quality is a bit crackly in the copy I watched. You can hear the hiss of the old film, which I actually find kind of soothing.

Sometimes the background extras look like they are vividly pretending to have a conversation. They move their lips really fast but don't say anything.

It’s not quite as intense as something like Spellbound, but it has its own little charms. It’s mostly about the vibes and the furniture.

There is a guy named Gigolo in the movie—literally, that’s how he’s credited. He’s played by Don Alvarado, and he mostly just stands there looking handsome.

The movie drags a little bit in the middle when they are in the hotel rooms. It feels like they were trying to save money on sets for a few minutes.

I realy liked the ending though. It’s predictable, sure, but it feels earned after all the lying she did.

Didja notice?

• The way people smoke in this movie is like an Olympic sport.
• The phone in Venice's room looks like it weighs about fifty pounds. 📞
• There’s a maid who gives the best side-eye in cinematic history.
• Every time someone enters a room, they have to take off a cape or a coat. It takes forever.
• The music in the club scenes is so quiet you can barely hear it over the clinking of glasses.

Is it a masterpiece? No. But it’s a good look at what people thought was edgy back in the early thirties.

If you like seeing rich people solve problems that aren't actually problems, you'll have a blast. It’s a bit like a 1930s version of a reality show, but with better clothes.

Anyway, I’m glad I watched it. It’s way more fun than The Call of the Soul, which was just depressing.

Go in with low expectations for the plot and high expectations for the fashion. You won't be disappointed. 👗