''Cocktail Hour'' is a 1933 American

Pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorshi ...

romantic drama film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion (emotion), passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typica ...

produced and distributed by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

and starring

Bebe Daniels Phyllis Virginia "Bebe" Daniels (January 14, 1901 – March 16, 1971) was an American actress, singer, dancer, writer, and producer. She began her career in Hollywood during the silent film era as a child actress, became a star in musicals such ...

. This film was directed by

Victor Schertzinger Victor L. Schertzinger (April 8, 1888 – October 26, 1941) was an American composer, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His films include ''Paramount on Parade'' (co-director, 1930 in film, 1930), ''Something to Sing About (1937 fil ...

. A copy of the film is preserved in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'', p. 32, c. 1978 by The American Film Institute

Plot summary

Cynthia Warren is an attractive and talented illustrator for major magazines, living the high life in a fashionable New York City penthouse. Proud of her accomplishments and her independence, she has no interest in marriage or children despite her many suitors seeking her hand in marriage. Prior to leaving on a vacation to Europe, she throws herself a going-away party and plans to leave on the ship at midnight, but her boss, Randolph Morgan, calls and insists she bring over her latest leggy cigarette ad illustration before her departure. He professes his love for her and locks her in the bathroom when she attempts to leave through the wrong door; a watchman hears her screams and lets her out in time for her to make it to her ship. In her suite, she gives one last party. Randolph turns up just before the ship sets sail and tells Cynthia he wants to marry her, to which she objects again. During the trip, Cynthia falls for William Lawton, a fellow wealthy passenger who takes her for a "sporting girl"; they spend a rather intimate night together. While getting off the ship, he informs her he is married and can only see her on the sly. She and another friend she made on the ship, Olga Raimoff, decide to go out to a bar and get drunk to celebrate Cynthia's newly-free status—and wake up several days later. At a party given by her friend, Princess de Longville, William shows up with his wife who publicly insults her. Lawton follows her to her hotel, as does de Longville's son Philippe; a fight breaks out between the two of them, resulting in Philippe pushing Lawton out a window and leaving him for dead. Cynthia takes the blame for the spat. Eventually Randolph arrives and pretends he doesn't care about her, saying he only wants illustrations for his magazine. She realizes her love for him and finally consents to marry him.

Cast

as Cynthia Warren *

Randolph Scott George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor whose career spanned the years from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of ...

as Randolph Morgan *

Sidney Blackmer Sidney Alderman Blackmer (July 13, 1895 – October 6, 1973) was an American Broadway and film actor active between 1914 and 1971, usually in major supporting roles. Biography Blackmer was born and raised in Salisbury, North Carolina, t ...

as William Lawton *

Muriel Kirkland Muriel Kirkland (August 19, 1903 – September 26, 1971) was an American actress. Early years Kirkland was born on August 19, 1903, in Yonkers, New York, She was the daughter of advertising executive Charles B. Kirkland and Margaret Keith Kirkland ...

as Olga Raimoff, aka Tessie Burns *

Jessie Ralph Jessie Ralph Patton ( Chambers; November 5, 1864 – May 30, 1944), known as Jessie Ralph, was an American stage and screen actress, best known for her matronly roles in many classic films. Early life Jessie Ralph Chambers was the 13th child ...

as Princess de Longville *

Barry Norton Barry Norton (born Alfredo Carlos Birabén; June 16, 1905 – August 24, 1956) was an Argentine-American actor. He appeared in over 90 films, starting in silent films from 1925 until his death in 1956. He is perhaps best known for his role a ...

as Prince Philippe de Longville * George Nardelli as Raoul Alvarez *

Marjorie Gateson Marjorie Augusta Gateson (January 17, 1891 – April 17, 1977) was an American stage and film actress. Biography Gateson was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Augusta and Daniel Gateson. Her maternal grandfather and brother were clergymen; So ...

as Mrs. Pat Brown *

Jay Eaton Jay Eaton (March 17, 1899 – February 5, 1970) was an American character actor whose career spanned both the silent and sound film eras. Biography Born on March 17, 1899, in Union, New Jersey, Eaton entered the film industry with a featured ro ...

as Jerry (uncredited) *

Wild Bill Elliott Wild Bill Elliott (born Gordon Nance, October 16, 1904 – November 26, 1965) was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B Westerns, particularly the Red Ryder series of films. Early life Elliott was born Gor ...

as Party Guest (uncredited) *

Willie Fung Willie Fung (3 March 1896 – 16 April 1945) was a Chinese-American film actor who played supporting roles in 125 American films between 1922 and 1944. Like many Chinese actors working in Hollywood during the era, he often played Japanese charac ...

as Mori (uncredited) *

Forrester Harvey Forrester Harvey (27 June 1884 – 14 December 1945) was an Irish film actor. From 1922 until his death year Harvey appeared in more than 115 films. He was credited for about two-thirds of his film appearances, but some of his roles were un ...

as Barfly (uncredited) * Kenneth MacDonald as Ship's Steward (uncredited) * Alphonse Martell as French Butler (uncredited) * Paul McVey as Attorney (uncredited) *

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vanes Flanagan, Jr., March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor and writer. Early years Born in Fort Madison, Iowa, O'Keefe was the son of Edward Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan, Irish vaudevill ...

as Party Guest (uncredited) * Lorin Raker as Well-Wisher (uncredited) *

Rolfe Sedan Rolfe Sedan (born Edward Sedan; January 20, 1896 – September 15, 1982) was an American character actor, best known for appearing in bit parts, often uncredited, usually portraying clerks, train conductors, postmen, cooks, waiters, etc. Ea ...

as Hotel Clerk (uncredited) *

Phillips Smalley Wendell Phillips Smalley (August 7, 1865 – May 2, 1939) was an American silent film director and actor. Biography Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was the grandson of Wendell Phillips; he was the son of George Washburn Smalley, a war correspon ...

as Captain (uncredited) * Oscar Smith as Porter (uncredited) *

John St. Polis John M. St. Polis (born John Marie Sainpolis; November 24, 1873 – October 8, 1946) was an American actor. Biography St. Polis was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Before starting his film career, he made a name for himself on the Broadway ...

as French Police Investigator (uncredited) *

Larry Steers Lawrence Wells Steers (February 14, 1888 – February 15, 1951) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 550 films between 1917 and 1951. He was born in Indiana, and died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. Partial filmography * ' ...

as Dick (uncredited) *

Florence Wix Florence Wix (16 May 1883 – 23 November 1956) was an English-born American character actress who worked from the 1920s in silent films through sound films of the 1950s. Biography Born on 16 May 1883, in Hertfordshire in England, Wix woul ...

as Party Guest (uncredited)

References

External links

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Lobby poster
images.moviepostershop.com; accessed July 24, 2015. 1933 films Columbia Pictures films Films directed by Victor Schertzinger 1933 romantic drama films American romantic drama films American black-and-white films Films produced by Robert North 1930s American films Films with screenplays by Richard Schayer Films set in New York City Films about artists 1930s English-language films {{1930s-romantic-drama-film-stub