Lady by Choice (1934)

Truly Dreadful Film

Perfectly adorable

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Available on an excellent TCM DVD, "Lady By Choice" is a must-have for both May Robson and Carole Lombard fans. Although second in the billing, Robson actually has the lead role and we are introduced to her right from the start when her delightfully gin-soaked character disturbs a rendition of "Mother", and is arrested. In court, we are introduced to Miss Lombard (the "Human Heatwave"), her manager and publicity man. But after a brief squabble with the judge (Walter Connolly), the radiantly photographed – by Ted Tetzlaff – Lombard disappears from view for over twenty minutes. In the meantime, Miss Robson is allowed to ham it up – which she does with pleasing gusto! Then Lombard returns with the bright idea of adopting Robson as her mother! Roger Pryor makes rather a weak fist of the hero, but all the rest of the players offer solid support. David Burton's direction is far superior to his material and I am amazed he did not have the really splendid Hollywood career he obviously deserved. This movie is available on an excellent TCM DVD.

Carole Lombard has a good role as a fan dancer in Lady by Choice. She plays a gal that adopts an old woman (May Robson) to improve both their images. Though the premise seems improbable, the two actresses work so charmingly together that any doubt about the story working is quickly dismissed. The relationship depicted between the two characters seems real, and it is played for laughs as well as tears. They are affectionate and they bicker, acting just like family. The film moves at a quick pace, and none of it seems belabored. The point being made about how women of different generations look out for one another is done in an interesting and entertaining way.

May Robson plays a boozier and meaner version of Apple Annie from her prior film, LADY FOR A DAY (directed by Frank Capra), though it is essentially the same character with a different name. My assumption is that the studio head (Harry Cohn) just couldn't resist reprising the character since she went over so well the year before in the Capra film.Robson's character, Patsy, has already been arrested seven times this year for being drunk and disorderly and by now the judge has had enough and forces her to go to an old folks home. However, Patsy isn't the type to retire and when she sees a chance to escape, she does. That's because publicity seeking fan dancer, Carole Lombard, decides to do a publicity stunt and adopt a sweet old lady (complete with the press and photographers on hand to get the story). However, while it originally was done on a lark, Lombard likes the idea of doing this for real and so she keeps Robson on hand to try and reform her and give her life purpose.However, despite her intentions, it ends up that Patsy is Lombard's benefactress. After winning a lot of dough gambling, she pays to give Lombard singing, acting and dancing lessons. When this doesn't pay off, she sets her sights to helping Lombard get control of her life. But, when Lombard sets out to snag a rich lawyer just because he was rich, Robson and Lombard have a falling out and you'll just have to see the rest of the film to find out what happens next.The film has some excellent acting and is a nice breezy film. It's neither as deep or satisfying as LADY FOR A DAY, but is still well worth seeing. A nice romantic fantasy film.

This movie was a sequel of sorts to Capra's "Lady for a Day" and in it May Robson reprises her Apple Annie character. Indeed May Robson steals the show and gives by far the best performance. This film would be Carole Lombard's last with Columbia pictures. As with her film, "Brief Moment" her director at Columbia was David Burton and the character actor Arthur Hohl is on board again as costar, here playing her crooked manager.Carole Lombard's performance is fair. She is trying hard and keeps herself animated, but seems to come up just short. She seems to suffer from a bad case of "over-acting". However, since she is playing a "bad" actress from the wrong side of town, I can't say this is too troubling. The story is complex and on the whole the acting is fine, so overall the viewing experience is pleasing and worth repeating. The ending does tug at your heart-strings and the resolution is well thought out. The characters examine their own faults and are able to take advantage of opportunities to grow...with a little help along the way.