''No More Orchids'' is a 1932 American pre-Code

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

film starring

Carole Lombard Carole Lombard (born Jane Alice Peters; October 6, 1908 – January 16, 1942) was an American actress, particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in screwball comedies. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Lombard 2 ...

and Lyle Talbot as mismatched lovers, based on the novel of the same name by

Grace Perkins Grace Margaret Perkins (August 20, 1900 - December 16, 1955; sometimes credited as Dora Macy) was an American screenwriter, actress, and novelist active during the 1920s through the 1950s. Early life Perkins's father was publisher James Lamont ...

Plot

The departure of an

ocean liner An ocean liner is a passenger ship primarily used as a form of transportation across seas or oceans. Ocean liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes (such as for pleasure cruises or as hospital ships). Ca ...

is held up to wait for spoiled heiress Anne Holt (

). Tony Gage ( Lyle Talbot) expresses his contempt of her inconsiderate behavior to a fellow passenger, who agrees with him, even though she is the woman's paternal grandmother, Gran Holt (

Louise Closser Hale Louise Closser Hale (October 13, 1872 – July 26, 1933) was an American actress, playwright, and novelist. Early life Louise Closser was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 13, 1872. Her father was Joseph Closser, a grain dealer, and her ...

). During the voyage, Anne and Tony become acquainted and fall in love, but he refuses to marry her because she is already engaged to Prince Carlos ( Jameson Thomas) and because of the enormous financial gulf between them. He is too poor to even afford to buy her

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

s. Anne's father Bill ( Walter Connolly) finds out and invites the man to dinner. He likes Tony very much. Eventually, Anne breaks down Tony's resistance and they become engaged. However, there is a formidable obstacle—her grandfather Jerome Cedric ( C. Aubrey Smith). He had already been foiled once before in his ambition to have royalty in the family, when his daughter married Bill against his wishes. The richest man in America, Cedric had arranged the marriage to Carlos, going so far as to finance a revolution to restore the prince to his position. When he learns of the danger to his plans, he first threatens to disinherit his granddaughter; when that does not work, he informs Anne that Bill's bank is on the verge of bankruptcy and that he will not prop it up unless she marries his choice. Heartbroken, Anne gives in and breaks off her engagement to Tony without telling him the reason. When Bill finds out, he lies to Anne, telling her that he has found alternate financing to save the bank. He arranges an impromptu wedding for Anne and Tony. Then, he flies off in his plane, supposedly on business, but in reality to commit suicide.

Cast

as Anne Holt * Walter Connolly as Bill Holt *

as Gran Holt * Lyle Talbot as Tony Gage * C. Aubrey Smith as Cedric * Allen Vincent as Dick * Ruthelma Stevens as Rita * Arthur Housman as Serge * William V. Mong as Burkehart * Jameson Thomas as Prince Carlos * Broderick O'Farrell as Benton

Production

This was the first time that Lombard worked with cinematographer

Joseph H. August Joseph H. August, A.S.C. (26 April 1890 – 25 September 1947) was an American cinematographer and co-founder of the American Society of Cinematographers. His films included '' Gunga Din'' (1939) for which he was nominated for Academy Award for ...

. According to

Robert Osborne Robert Jolin Osborne (; May 3, 1932 – March 6, 2017) was an American film historian, television presenter, author, actor and the primary host for more than 20 years of the cable channel Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Prior to hosting at TCM, Os ...

Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie channel, movie-oriented pay television, pay-TV television network, network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasti ...

, she was so pleased with the results, she always asked for him from then on. They reteamed for the film that made her a major star, '' Twentieth Century''.

References

External links

* * * * 1932 films American black-and-white films Films based on American novels Films directed by Walter Lang Columbia Pictures films American romantic comedy-drama films 1930s romantic comedy-drama films 1932 comedy films 1932 drama films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{1930s-US-film-stub