Review
Although this romantic comedy branded Clara Bow as the "It Girl," the star certainly didn't need writer and Hollywood tastemaker Elinor Glyn to prove she had sex appeal. That was already obvious from nearly every film she made before this one -- even the early ones in which she was merely a supporting player. Bow had that magical quality that very few actors, sound or silent, possessed: a charisma that eclipsed anyone else who appeared on the screen with her. That's especially obvious here, as Bow completely dominates the proceedings and handsome co-star Antonio Moreno (who had quite a bit of "It" himself) is nearly reduced to Bow's foil. The actress forges through familiar terrain as Betty Lou Spence, a fiercely independent and wonderfully uninhibited department store clerk -- but, as always, she brings something extra to the character merely by being her delightfully spontaneous self. The moment Betty sees her new boss, Cyrus Waltham (Moreno), she's determined to get him, and she's not above using his gawky pal, Monty (William Austin), to do it. But she's so adorable and she and Waltham are so obviously meant for each other that you don't care how she orchestrates their meeting. As sexy as Betty is, however, she's not easy; after showing Waltham a fun (and dclass) time at Coney Island, he impulsively tries to kiss her. Her response is to slap him (but once she escapes to the safety of her tenement home, she's clearly overjoyed). A wrench is thrown into the romance when Waltham mistakenly thinks that Betty is an unwed mother. The baby actually belongs to her ailing roommate, Milly (Priscilla Bonner), and Betty claimed to save it from being taken away by two prim welfare ladies (Eleanor Lawson and Rose Tapley). But the couple reconciles on his yacht, after both Betty and Waltham's wannabe sweetheart (Jacqueline Gadsden) fall overboard. Betty saves the girl herself (giving her a good punch when she begins struggling), and deposits her on a lifeboat with Monty before ending the film in a clinch with Waltham. Even with the silly slang of some of the title cards, this classic silent picture still rings true today -- mostly due to Bow's timeless vivacity. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
On the DVD
Audio commentary by Jeanine Basinger, Corwin-Fuller professor of Film Studies, Wesleyan University
Still gallery
DVD-ROM feature (Adobe Acrobat Reader required): Rare article by director Clarence Badger on the making of the film
