''New Morals for Old'' is a 1932 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the 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 censorship guidelines, popularly known ...

romance-drama film produced and distributed by

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

. It is based on the 1931 Broadway play '' After All'', in which Humphrey Bogart had a significant role. Bogart's stage role is portrayed by David Newell in the film.''New Morals for Old'' produced as ''After All'' on Broadway at the Booth Theatre, November 3, 1931; IBDb.com
/ref> The film is noteworthy for having elements that would later be forbidden under the Motion Picture Production Code. There is very brief nudity, albeit in shadows and by a non-speaking character (the model in the painters' studio). Also, one of the female characters is in a relationship with a married man, and this is portrayed sympathetically.

Plot

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are affluent New Yorkers who are unhappy that their adult children, Ralph Thomas ( Robert Young) and Phyl Thomas (Margaret Perry), spend so many evenings at parties instead of spending time with family. Their disapproval deepens when they discover both children want to move out to pursue lifestyles that the parents deem unacceptable: Phyl moves into her own apartment so that she can conduct an affair with a married man, Duff Wilson (David Newell). Her brother, Ralph, goes to Paris to pursue his dream of being a painter, thus disappointing his father who expected him to remain in the family wallpaper business. Mrs. Thomas repeatedly tries to invoke guilt in both children for not being with her, especially after Mr. Thomas dies of a stroke. Eventually, Phyl marries her paramour and Ralph returns to New York, having failed as an artist. Mrs. Thomas dies shortly after Ralph's return. At the end of the film, Phyl, her twin infants, her husband Duff, and her brother Ralph are all living in the family home, with a newfound appreciation for the benefits of family life. In the film's last scene, Ralph and Duff are laughing together about how Phyl has evolved into a protective maternal figure, much like her own mother.

Cast

* Robert Young as Ralph Thomas * Margaret Perry as Phyl Thomas * Lewis Stone as Mr. Thomas * Laura Hope Crews as Mrs. Thomas *

Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. Trained as a dancer, Loy devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. ...

as Myra * David Newell as Duff Wilson *

Jean Hersholt Jean Pierre Carl Buron (12 July 1886 – 2 June 1956), known professionally as Jean Hersholt, was a Danish-American actor. He is best known for starring on the radio series '' Dr. Christian'' (1937–1954) and in the film '' Heidi'' (1937).Obitu ...

as James Hallett * Ruth Selwyn as Estelle *

Kathryn Crawford Kathryn Crawford ( Moran; October 5, 1908 – December 7, 1980) was an American film and theatre actress of the 1920s and 1930s. She was also known as Katherine Crawford and Kitty Moran. Early years Born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, Cra ...

as Zoe Atkinson * Louise Closser Hale as Mrs. Warburton * Mitchell Lewis as Bodwin * Elizabeth Patterson as Aunty Doe

Home media

''New Morals for Old'' was released on DVD by the Warner Archive Collection. Laura Hope Crews's name is misspelled in MGM's original poster advertising and the film's opening credits.

References

External links

* * * * 1932 films 1932 romantic drama films American romantic drama films American black-and-white films American films based on plays Films directed by Charles Brabin Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films produced by Harry Rapf 1930s American films {{1930s-US-film-stub