STRICTLY DISHONORABLE (1931) B/W 94m dir: John M. Stahl

w/Paul Lukas, Sidney Fox, Lewis Stone, George Meeker, William Ricciardi, Sidney Toler

From The Movie Guide: "Preston Sturges's second stage play (written when he was still in his twenties) became a Broadway hit and was filmed twice: this version and the remake in 1951 that starred Janet Leigh and Ezio Pinza. Screenwriter Gladys Lehman wisely stuck close to the original and the laughs are many. Paul Lukas plays a rakehell opera-singer. In an illegal speakeasy one night, he meets naive southerner Sidney Fox, who is engaged to be married to boorish George Meeker. Lukas lets her know that his intentions are strictly dishonorable but it matters not to petite Fox, who is, by this time, disgusted with her aggravating suitor. The speak is owned by William Ricciardi (reprising his role in the play, as did Meeker) and frequented by Sidney Toler, a cop who turns the other way when he sees the illegal alcohol being poured in his own glass. Lewis Stone almost steals the movie as a one-time judge who has given up the law in favor of tippling. When Fox leaves Meeker and has no place to stay, Lukas offers her the use of his apartment, making certain she knows that he is a bounder, a cad, and a ne'er-do-well. Despite his admitted degeneracy, Fox still wants to be with him, and he almost seduces her when Stone points out that she is little more than a child, and that he (Lukas) would be remiss if he allowed himself to fall prey to passion. Lukas leaves Fox in his apartment and goes up to Stone's apartment to spend the night, but the realization of love suddenly intrudes.

"The writing is sharp, the characters are well drawn, and the comedy timing is on a par with the best movies of the era. And watching the patrician Stone as a drunk is great entertainment."