By Violet LeVoit
And One Was Beautiful
Brief Synopsis
Two sisters vie for the same dashing young man.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Robert B. Sinclair
Director
Robert Cummings
Ridley Crane
Laraine Day
Kate Lattimer
Jean Muir
Helen Lattimer
Billie Burke
Mrs. Lattimer
Ann Morriss
Gertrude Hunter
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Classic Hollywood
Romance
Release Date
Apr
5,
1940
Premiere Information
New York opening: week of 28 Mar 1940
Production Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.
Distribution Company
Loew's Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 9m
Sound
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Synopsis
The glamorous Helen Lattimer strives to reach the upper rungs of society while her unassuming kid sister Kate is content to remain a sweet innocent. To avoid going to a dull party at the Harridges', Helen sends Kate in her place. At the party, Kate meets eligible playboy Ridley Crane and spends the night with him discussing cars. Kate is taken with Ridley, but he prefers her glamorous sister. The next night, after drinking heavily in a road house, Ridley passes out, and Helen decides to drive his race car home. While trying to shift gears, Helen hits and kills a bicyclist and out of panic, flees the scene of the crime, leaving Ridley to be arrested on a drunk driving and manslaughter charge. Kate becomes suspicious when an hysterical Helen returns home with stains on her gloves and furtively buries a package in the garden. The next day, when Ridley comes by and explains that he cannot remember what happened and asks Helen's help, Kate digs up the garden and finds her sister's shoe with a missing heel. Because a woman's heel was found in Ridley's car, Kate confronts Helen with the evidence, but Helen denies that she drove the car. Kate then tells Ridley about the incriminating evidence, but to shield Helen, he pleads guilty and is sentenced to five years in Sing Sing. To escape Kate's continued accusations, Helen marries George Olcott, a man she does not love. As Ridley calmly accepts his sentence, Kate works unceasingly to win a pardon for him and comfort the family of the dead man. Just as Ridley's pardon seems certain, Helen leaves her husband and offers to tell the truth. The day that Ridley is released from jail, Helen is waiting for him at the gate, but he rejects her in favor of her less glamorous sister.
Director
Robert B. Sinclair
Director
Cast
Robert Cummings
Ridley Crane
Laraine Day
Kate Lattimer
Jean Muir
Helen Lattimer
Billie Burke
Mrs. Lattimer
Ann Morriss
Gertrude Hunter
Esther Dale
Margaret
Charles Waldron
Stephen Harridge
Frank Milan
George Olcott
Rand Brooks
Joe Havens
Paul Stanton
Arthur Prince
Ruth Tobey
Zillah Torrington
Henry Taylor
Mr. Sporatti
Kate Lawson
Mrs. Torrington
Alec Craig
Michael
Bill Benedict
Boy
Florine Mckinney
Girl friend
Carolyn Frasher
Girl friend
Claire Owen
Girl friend
Mildred Shay
Girl friend
Mimi Doyle
Lila
George Meader
Waiter
Edgar Dearing
Higgins
James Flavin
Guard
William Haade
Guard
Wallis Clark
Judge
Lee Phelps
Bailiff
Joan Blair
Blonde
Al Hill
Convict
Fred Rapport
Headwaiter
Arthur O'connell
Attendant
William Conselman Jr.
Boy at party
Victor Kendall
Boy at party
Charles Thorne
Boy at party
William Stelling
Boy at party
John Gubbins
Boy at party
F. Philip Sylvestre
Boy at party
Carlyle Blackwell Jr.
Boy at party
Dick Winslow
Boy at party
Alene Carroll
Girl at party
Dorothy Phillips
Maid
George Guhl
Farmer
Edward Keane
Prosecuting attorney
Freddie Walburn
Jim Torrington
June Smaney
Alma Torrington
Crew
Daniele Amfitheatrof
Music Director
Tom Andre
Assistant Director
Harry Clork
Screenwriter
Cedric Gibbons
Art Director
Ray June
Director of Photography
Harry Mcafee
Art Director Associate
Alice Duer Miller
Original Story
Conrad A. Nervig
Film Editor
Kathryn Scola
Contract Writer
Douglas Shearer
Recording Director
Charles Stallings
Unit bus Manager
Frederick Stephani
Producer
Edwin B. Willis
Set Decoration
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Classic Hollywood
Romance
Release Date
Apr
5,
1940
Premiere Information
New York opening: week of 28 Mar 1940
Production Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.
Distribution Company
Loew's Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 9m
Sound
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Articles
And One Was Beautiful -
The "one" in the title is scintillating social climber Helen (Jean Muir) and not her shrinking violet sister Kate (Laraine Day, taking a break from her many Dr. Kildare movies), but when Helen wants to dodge social engagements, Kate's not adverse to going to a party in her stead. That's where dashing young man Ridley (Robert Cummings, on loan from Universal for his first top billed role) comes into both of their lives. Based on a story written by proto-feminist poet and novelist Alice Duer Miller (whose work would also later inspire The White Cliffs Of Dover (1944)), the dilemma in this surprisingly progressive women's drama centers not only around "Which one will he choose?" but about the complex love-hate relationship between sisters, and how youthful decisions have life-long repercussions. Also starring Billie Burke in one of many featherweight older lady roles she was given in the decade after The Wizard Of Oz (1939).
By Violet LeVoit
By Violet LeVoit
And One Was Beautiful -
The "one" in the title is scintillating social climber Helen (Jean Muir) and not her shrinking violet sister Kate (Laraine Day, taking a break from her many Dr. Kildare movies), but when Helen wants to dodge social engagements, Kate's not adverse to going to a party in her stead. That's where dashing young man Ridley (Robert Cummings, on loan from Universal for his first top billed role) comes into both of their lives. Based on a story written by proto-feminist poet and novelist Alice Duer Miller (whose work would also later inspire The White Cliffs Of Dover (1944)), the dilemma in this surprisingly progressive women's drama centers not only around "Which one will he choose?" but about the complex love-hate relationship between sisters, and how youthful decisions have life-long repercussions. Also starring Billie Burke in one of many featherweight older lady roles she was given in the decade after The Wizard Of Oz (1939).
By Violet LeVoit
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although onscreen credits list Harry Clork as screenwriter, the Screen Achievements Bulletin lists him as contributing writer.
