Lady by Choice (1934)

69% of users liked it
(52 ratings)

Promoted as a follow-up to Frank Capra's 1933 hit Lady for a Day, Lady by Choice resembles the earlier film only in its choice of leading lady. May Robson plays a drunken derelict who'd once been quite a heartbreaker. Her self-respect is restored when she is asked to pose as fan-dancer Carole… More Promoted as a follow-up to Frank Capra's 1933 hit Lady for a Day, Lady by Choice resembles the earlier film only in its choice of leading lady. May Robson plays a drunken derelict who'd once been quite a heartbreaker. Her self-respect is restored when she is asked to pose as fan-dancer Carole Lombard's mother. Lombard is part of the deal only to gain publicity for herself, but Robson takes her assignment seriously, ordering Lombard to give up her tacky profession and use her talents for something more dignified. At first against her will, Lombard starts taking formal acting and singing lessons and begins gaining a reputation as a serious artist. Wealthy Roger Pryor, a family friend of Robson's, falls in love with Lombard, but she breaks off the relationship so that Pryor won't be disinherited. Robson takes a hand in things, forcing Pryor and Lombard together in a delightfully devious fashion. Lady By Choice proved that Columbia Pictures (and scriptwriter Jo Swerling) could turn out a perfectly respectable Frank Capra film without Frank Capra. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 18 min.
Directed By: David Burton
Written By: Jo Swerling
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 15, 1934 Wide
On DVD: Jun 24, 1992

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
No problem with Carole Lombard in this modest sentimental comedy, she has the part down pat.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Okay but no Lady for a Day. May Robson is always a pleasure to watch and Carole Lombard is full of snap but the story is as old as the hills and not terribly well directed.
nefnie l

Obviously, I love Carole Lombard, but I sometimes find her roles or the way she acts them a little over the top, ie Twentieth Century and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. This role was more subdued and definitely heart-felt. I loved the relationship between Lombard and Robson and their… More
Obviously, I love Carole Lombard, but I sometimes find her roles or the way she acts them a little over the top, ie Twentieth Century and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. This role was more subdued and definitely heart-felt. I loved the relationship between Lombard and Robson and their characters. The story is reminiscent of Camille - wrong side of the tracks girl in love with an heir who could lose everything by marrying her - but not quite as well. It is still worth viewing.

Cast

            Carole Lombard as "Alabam" Georgia Lee

            May Robson as Patsy Patterson

            Roger Pryor as John Mills

            Walter Connolly as Judge Daly

            Arthur Hohl as Charlie Kendall

            Harold Berquist as Bailiff

            Jack Boyle as Walsh

            Harry C. Bradley as Court Clerk

            James Burke as Sgt. Brannigan

            Charles Coleman as Butler

            Gino Corrado as Head Waiter

            Abe Dinovitch as Louie

            Jimmie Dundee
            
            William Faversham as Malone

            Eddie Foster as Radio Technician

            Christian J. Frank as Proprietor

            Kit Guard
            
            Lillian Harmer as Miss Kennedy

            Edward Hearn as Detective

            William Irving
            
            Tiny Jones as Woman

            Henry Kolker as David Opper

            Hector V. Sarno as Florist

            Allan Sears
            
            Lee Shumway
            
            Jack Stone as Brawling Waiter

            Charles Sullivan
            
            Julius Tannen as Brooke

            Harry Tenbrook as Sailor

            Fred 'Snowflake' Toones as Mose

            Raymond Walburn as Front O'Malley

            Charles King
            
            Dennis O'Keefe as Dancing Extra

            Mariska Aldrich as Lucretia

            Edith Conrad as Miss Kingsley's Assistant

            Billy Mann as Drunk

            Cy Slocum
            
            Irene Thompson as Chorus Girl
See full cast