Coming Out Party
Cast & Crew
John Blystone
Frances Dee
Gene Raymond
Alison Skipworth
Nigel Bruce
Harry Green
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Joy Stanhope, a Park Avenue debutante whose coming out party promises to be the winter's biggest event, has been carrying on a secret romance with Chris Hansen, a violinist in a jazz band living in a one-room apartment whose parents were Swedish immigrants. Although Chris sees Jimmy Wolverton, deemed the most sought after bachelor in New York, flirt with Joy, his jealousy is not aroused when Joy breaks their date because her mother insists that she accompany Jimmy to a Long Island party. As Jimmy grows very intoxicated while driving to the party, Joy suggests that they stop at a roadhouse. In a private room, Jimmy tries to grab Joy, but after she rebuffs his advances, he falls asleep. Later, Joy revives Jimmy with coffee, and they start to leave, but Chris, performing with his band at the roadhouse, sees them together and insults Joy, who then slaps him. Later that night, Joy goes to Chris's room to explain, and although he dishearteningly tries to tell her that her social standing will keep them apart, they end the argument in an embrace. When the night of her party arrives, Joy anxiously queries Chris's Jewish boss, bandleader Harry Gold, whether Chris has returned from Chicago, where he was playing. When Harry wonders whether Chris may have been detained, Joy breaks down and cries. Figuring out that she is pregnant, Harry urges her to marry Chris despite her parents' objections and vows to get him back in time for the party. When Chris does arrive, he excitedly tells Joy that he has been chosen to accompany a great operatic star on a one-year European concert tour and must sail immediately. She agrees to wait for him and, unwilling to spoil his "chance in a lifetime," does not reveal her condition. During the party, Joy, dazed and distressed, does nothing to stop Jimmy when, on a whim, he takes her to elope. Meanwhile, Troon, the Stanhope's Scottish family butler, who has helped Joy communicate secretly with Chris in the past, learns from Harry about Joy's predicament. Troon goes to the boat to tell Chris, but they return to learn that Joy and Jimmy have already married. After Harry encourages Chris to fight for Joy, he tries to visit Joy, who has since undergone a nervous breakdown, but her father will not allow him to see her. However, Jimmy, realizing that Joy loves Chris, agrees to let her decide if she wants an annulment. When Joy sees Chris, they kiss, and as the film ends, the 1934 Social Register book is thrown into a trash can.
Director
John Blystone
Cast
Frances Dee
Gene Raymond
Alison Skipworth
Nigel Bruce
Harry Green
Gilbert Emery
Marjorie Gateson
Clifford Jones
Jessie Ralph
Germaine De Neel
Paul Porcasi
Gwen Phillips
Harold Minjir
Eugene Borden
Paul Mcvey
Claire Du Brey
Gladys Blake
Vesey O'davoren
Jimmy Grant
Lyman Williams
Belle Daube
Carlyle Moore
John Arledge
Arthur Belasco
William Augustin
Jack Trainor
Claude King
Tony Merlo
George Humbert
Jerry Jerome
Harry Hollingsworth
Pat Hartigan
Sherry Hall
Frederic Howard
Jean De Briac
Finis Barton
Consuelo Baker
William E Lawrence
Edward Norris
Mae Madison
Jennie Gray
Mary Blackwood
Anne Nagel
Frank Moran
Sumner Getchell
Betty Flournoy
Patricia Scott
Helen Peterson
Jeanne Ruwe
Maury Ginn Jr.
John Ruwe
Crew
Harold Adamson
Jasper Blystone
William Darling
Louis De Francesco
Becky Gardiner
Rita Kaufman
Burton Lane
Jesse Lasky Jr.
Jesse L. Lasky
George Leverett
Alice-leone Moats
John Seitz
Winfield R. Sheehan
Dorothy Spencer
Barry Trivers
Gladys Unger
Gladys Unger
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The opening credits of the film appear in the form of invitation cards, the first reading "Fox Film invites you to Jesse L. Lasky's Coming Out Party R.s.v.p. 715 Park Avenue." New York Times called the film Coming-Out Party. The working title was Society Debut. This was British actor Nigel Bruce's first American film. According to a Daily Variety news item, a number of "debs and sub-debs" from all parts of the United States were cast in the film. Although "Joy's" pregnancy is not overtly mentioned in the film, reviews state that during the night of her argument with "Chris" at the roadhouse, their "love is consummated" in his room, and she discovers that she is pregnant just before he is called off to Europe. Film Daily commented, "It looks like considerable cutting and editing eliminated some scenes that would have served to make the film more coherent."
