Hot Saturday (1932)

Pre-code 1930s:
Rumour, Reputation, Ruin … and Romer?
Hot Saturday (1932)
Studio: Paramount Pictures • 72 min B&W • AR 1.33:1 • US: 28 Oct 1932
Re-release: Universal Backlot Series (Apr 2009)
Series: Universal’s Pre-code Hollywood Collection (3-DVD)
Starring: Nancy Carroll, Randolph Scott, Cary Grant, Edward Woods, Lillian Bond
Dir: William A Seiter

What’s a hard-working young girl at a local bank in a small town supposed to do for fun? For Ruth Brock (Nancy Carroll), it means gently dissuading over-sexed eager young coworkers like Conny Billop (Edward Woods), while still joining in the party at the out-of-town playboy’s lake lounge. When Romer Sheffield (Cary Grant) takes Ruth for a walk along the beach, jealousy overcomes Conny; when he takes Ruth for a ride in a row boat and attempts to have his way with her, she flees, finding her way back to Romer’s house. Conny, with Eva’s (Lillian Bond) help, spreads enough rumours about Ruth spending the night with Romer to ruin her reputation and cost her her job. Enter handsome, stalwart, rustic geologist Bill Fadden (Randolph Scott) who returns to town and sweeps Ruth off her feet. Will he be her redemption? Or will the false rumours of Ruth’s indiscretion spoil her only chance at happiness? And what about Romer?

Nancy Carroll plays the good girl role caught in a web of intrigue not of her making very well; she evokes our natural sympathies — especially when her own mother turns on her. Scott is somewhat stiff, though handsomely dashing, leaving the debonaire, mature and down-to-earth Cary Grant an always viable alternative. This is another story which benefits from the fast pacing and despite the cardboard characters, Carroll creates an aimable, likeable portrait of a young woman whose life trajectory is clearly family, not career.

A couple of years later, these wild parties with shirtless men and clingily clad women boozing it up at all hours would dsiappear from the screens. But for now — it all hangs out.