''Sinners in the Sun'' is a 1932 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, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

directed by

Alexander Hall Alexander Hall (January 11, 1894 – July 30, 1968) was an American film director, film editor and theatre actor. Biography Hall acted in the theatre from the age of four through 1914, when he began to work in silent movies. Following his milit ...

, and 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 ...

Chester Morris John Chester Brooks Morris (February 16, 1901 – September 11, 1970) was an American stage, film, television, and radio actor. He had some prestigious film roles early in his career, and received an Academy Award nomination for ''Alibi'' ( ...

, Adrienne Ames, and Alison Skipworth. It was produced and distributed by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production and distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldest film studio in the world, the second-olde ...

Plot

Doris Blake (

) works as a top model for Louis in a very chic New York City dress shop. Her boyfriend Jimmie Martin (

) is a mechanic. When he comes to pick her up, he talks about marriage, but she argues they both have no money. At a picnic, they quarrel again, and he breaks up with her. Later, Doris meets the very rich, very eccentric Claire Kinkaid ( Adrienne Ames) at the shop. To Doris's surprise, Claire does not much care for her own lavish lifestyle. Claire asks her if she has a boyfriend; when Doris tells her they broke up, Claire tells her that a boyfriend is the only thing she wants. Jimmie is standing outside. When Doris and Claire step out, he pretends to be fixing a fancy car, which turns out to be Claire's. When he wishes he could drive it, she invites him to do just that. Then, she offers him a job as her chauffeur. He accepts because he wants a change of scenery, far away from Doris. Later, Jimmie drives Claire to a charity fashion show, where Doris is one of the models (though Jimmie has to leave before she goes on). Doris "borrows" a swimsuit and goes for a swim before the show. She meets Eric Nelson ( Walter Byron). When he becomes too fresh and kisses her, Doris slaps him, twice, and swims away. Eric sees her modeling. At the end of the party, she meets his wife. Eric assures her they will be divorcing soon. On their way home, Claire proposes to Jimmie, and promises him a wonderful time in her 50 room mansion; he says "Aw, I don't want to marry anybody!" Meanwhile, Eric gets Doris to go out with him night after night. Her father becomes fed up with her (albeit innocent) involvement with a married man and throws her out. When Jimmie finds out Doris has been thrown out, he tells Claire he is quitting. Claire inquires if his quitting is because of the girl he cannot forget, then, again, asks him again to marry her. This time, he accepts. When Doris reads in the newspaper that Jimmie and Claire have wed and she is upset. Previously, had turned down jewelry from Eric, now she accepts his gifts, an apartment, and lavish spending on her. Doris also acquires an unwanted admirer, Eric's friend Ridgeway ( Cary Grant), who has grown tired of his girl, Lil ( Rita LaRoy). Lil confides to her friend Doris that she is in love with Ridgeway; Doris claims she will never again love a man. Lil, knowing she's lost Ridgeway, takes poison and dies. Jimmie and Doris each in their own way live the fast life. They run into each other at a restaurant. He lashes out at her verbally and stalks out. Then, Ridgeway shows up with the news that Eric has patched things up with his wife. Ridgeway gives her a check from Eric and makes it clear he expects to take Eric's place. Doris tells him to get out. Jimmie tells Claire he finally realizes what he is, a kept man. They part amicably. Eric returns from Europe and finds Doris working as a dressmaker, and tells her that he has gotten a divorce. He wants to get back with her and says, "I'll marry you if you want me to." Doris is not interested. Just then, Jimmie's dog finds her. Jimmie has struck out on his own in his own business. The couple reconcile.

Cast

Reception

''The Times'' called the film a "display of luxury", and that its chief merit is the "slickness of it luxurious accompaniment". They particularly praised the performance of Ames, writing: "Miss Adrienne Ames, though afflicted with dialogue of the utmost crudity, gives a genuine touch of character to the rich young woman whom our hero erroneously marries".

Mordaunt Hall Mordaunt Hall (1 November 1878 – 2 July 1973) was the first regularly assigned motion picture critic for '' The New York Times'', working from October 1924 to September 1934.New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' review, called it "a lavishly produced, trivial story" and " all more than slightly incredible". He thought that, while many of the cast gave competent or good performances, Morris was miscast.

References

Sources

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sinners In The Sun 1932 films 1932 romantic drama films American black-and-white films American romantic drama films Films based on short fiction Films directed by Alexander Hall Films set in New York City Films set in New York (state) Paramount Pictures films Films based on works by Mildred Cram 1932 directorial debut films 1930s American films