Lady for a Day (1933)

100% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
82% of users liked it
(410 ratings)

May Robson plays Apple Annie, a slatternly Broadway apple peddler. Annie has a curious setup whereby she is able to finagle other street merchants and beggars to pony up part of their weekly earnings to her--yet she never seems to spend any of the money on herself. This is because Annie has a… More May Robson plays Apple Annie, a slatternly Broadway apple peddler. Annie has a curious setup whereby she is able to finagle other street merchants and beggars to pony up part of their weekly earnings to her--yet she never seems to spend any of the money on herself. This is because Annie has a daughter named Louise (Jean Parker), who has been supported in luxury all her life by her mother. Louise has no idea who Annie really is; so far as she knows, her mother is Mrs. E. Worthington Manville, a Manhattan society matron. When Louise sends Annie a letter telling her that she's become engaged to a young Spanish nobleman named Carlos (Barry Norton), Annie is aghast: once Louise brings her fiance to New York, the jig will be up. Coming to the rescue is high-rolling gambler Dave the Dude (Warren William), who considers Annie his good-luck charm. With the help of his nightclub-thrush girlfriend Missouri Martin (Glenda Farrell), Dave arranges a huge society reception for Louise -- and a complete fashion makeover for Annie. To do this, a few strong-arm methods are required, notably the kidnaping of several society reporters; also, it's necessary to pass off down-and-out Judge Blake (Guy Kibbee) as Annie's well-connected husband. Lady for a Day is the film with which Frank Capra hoped to enter the Big Leagues by taking home a shelf-full of Academy Awards. His subsequent embarrassment at the 1934 Oscar ceremonies has now passed into Hollywood legend, but he made up for this debacle with his Oscars sweep for It Happened One Night. Lady for a Day was remade by Capra as 1961's Pocketful of Miracles, with Bette Davis as Apple Annie. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Frank Capra
Written By: Robert Riskin, Damon Runyon
Genres: Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 13, 1933 Wide

Critic Reviews

Jaime N. Christley, Slant Magazine
Neither the best nor the worst of Capra's most celebrated films, Lady for a Day is an odd pre-Code tent pole to get the high-def makeover challenge.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Suitably made for Depression-era audiences, Frank Capra's version of Damon Ranyon's famed story is an endearing fable with a strong, Oscar-nominated turn from the vet actress May Robson as Apple Annie.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Capra spreads his usual feel-good schmaltz over the otherwise springy material.
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Endearing story of lowlifes
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Gets a little goopy, even for Capra.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
Despite the film's lack of momentum toward the end, it's still perfectly watchable, and it's a good window on early Capra.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Early Capra that sometimes misses, but more often hits.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Damon Runyon's short story was the perfect vehicle for Frank Capra's intended assault on the Oscars of 1933, only Oscar didn't bite. No matter, the popular street personalities he created live on for us, thanks to Capra's affection for tough characters with soft… More
Damon Runyon's short story was the perfect vehicle for Frank Capra's intended assault on the Oscars of 1933, only Oscar didn't bite. No matter, the popular street personalities he created live on for us, thanks to Capra's affection for tough characters with soft hearts, his approximation of the American zeitgeist (which may or may not be true ... but we sure wished that it was). Special mention must be given to Ned Sparks who steals every scene he's in.
AJ V

A very beautiful movie about a mother and daughter and love and family. Predictable, but sweet.