Lady by Choice Reviews

A charming comedy-drama that tugs at the heart in Runyonesque fashion--it's not surprising that screenwriter Swerling was tapped, many years later, to adapt Runyon's short stories for the Broadway smash "Guys and Dolls." Robson is a drunken vagrant who is hauled before night-court judge Connolly for wrecking a bar. Pryor is the son of an old swain of Robson's and he talks Connolly into dropping the drunk and disorderly charges and allowing Robson to go to an old ladies' home. That same evening, Lombard, a Sally Rand-type of fan dancer, is arrested for a lewd and lascivious public performance. Mother's Day is coming up and Lombard's press agent, Walburn, suggests that they can get lots of good press if Lombard will agree to adopt a mother. Lombard goes to the home and chooses Robson, who takes the new title to heart and encourages Lombard to quit fan dancing and strive for greater things, starting with serious lessons in acting, singing, and dancing. Robson also pushes Lombard and Pryor together and romance blooms. Pryor is a wealthy young man and we wonder if Lombard is after him for love or for money. Lombard now learns that Pryor will be cut off without a penny if he marries her so she tosses her serious career aside and returns to dancing with fans. Robson wants to see Pryor and her "daughter" marry, so she arranges to have Lombard's show raided. Back in court, Robson and the judge conspire to bring the kids together and Lombard has to decide between a year in the slammer or marriage to Pryor. Can you guess which she chooses? Robson is a delight and Lombard gives early evidence of her expertise in light comedy. Robson did a similar role in LADY FOR A DAY, a Runyon adaptation, and was nominated for an Oscar. You may catch a glimpse of dancing extra Dennis O'Keefe, the handsome, brash Irish leading man of the 1940s and 1950s who was an extra in many films between 1931 and 1938, generally under his real name, Edward "Bud" Flanagan.