Desirable
Brief Synopsis
An aging actress tries to keep her teen-aged daughter out of the public eye.
Cast & Crew
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Archie L. Mayo
Director
Jean Muir
Lois [Johnson]
George Brent
[Stuart] McAllister
Verree Teasdale
Helen [Walbridge]
John Halliday
Austin [Stevens]
Charles Starrett
Russell [Gray]
Film Details
Also Known As
A Lady Surrenders
Genre
Drama
Romance
Release Date
Sep
8,
1934
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Productions Corp.
Distribution Company
The Vitaphone Corp.; Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Synopsis
Famous actress Helen Walbridge gives her apartment key to Stuart McAllister, known as Mac, planning to meet him there after her performance. Letting himself in, Mac meets Lois Johnson, a young woman of nineteen. She is Helen's daughter, who has been sequestered at school even though she is too old, because Helen does not want Lois to interfere with her life or be acknowledged openly as her daughter. Mac finds Lois delightful and offers to show her New York. When Helen arrives that evening, Mac discreetly leaves the two women alone. Although Helen wants Lois to stay with relatives in the country, Lois, with Mac's encouragement, insists on staying with her mother. Mac goes so far as to threaten to expose Lois' existence if Helen refuses, so Helen introduces her daughter to society at a formal tea party. The social rush that follows temporarily interferes with the friendship that has grown between Mac and Lois, but when Lois receives a proposal from Russell Gray, she calls Mac for advice. Helen has convinced Lois that she must be in love with Russell, so despite his sadness, Mac supports her engagement. Lois visits Russell's family at their country home where she feels totally out of place. Mrs. Gray is disappointed to discover that Lois' father was not in society and scolds her when she finds her talking with the maid in a friendly manner. Deeply unhappy, Lois invites Mac to visit her because he is the only person to whom she can talk. Mrs. Gray is horrified by Lois' actions. Then Lois discovers that Russ expects her to change over time and she breaks her engagement. Mac takes her back to New York, but Helen is not happy to see her and the two women quarrel. When Lois says that she is in love with Mac, Helen tells her that Mac had come that first night to see her. Lois runs out of the room to find Mac waiting for her in the elevator, where he convinces Lois that he loves her.
Director
Archie L. Mayo
Director
Cast
Jean Muir
Lois [Johnson]
George Brent
[Stuart] McAllister
Verree Teasdale
Helen [Walbridge]
John Halliday
Austin [Stevens]
Charles Starrett
Russell [Gray]
Russell Hopton
Chet
Joan Wheeler
Barbara
Barbara Leonard
Margaret
Virginia Hammond
Mrs. Gray
Pauline True
Mac's secretary
Arthur Aylesworth
Eph
James Miller
Elevator man
Nella Walker
Eve
Catherine Sheldon
Volunteer worker
Harry Tyler
Box office man
Lester Dorr
Head usher
Gladys Gale
Large woman
Victoria Vinton
Blonde
Phillips Smalley
Old man
Edward Keane
First man
Edward Mortimer
Second man
Arthur Treacher
Butler
George Humbert
Mario
Terry La Franconi
Assistant
Cliff Saum
Barker
Sumner Getchell
Freshman
Jane Darwell
Dowager
Maude Turner Gordon
Dowager
Don Marion
Tom
John Elliott
Dick
Maynard Holmes
Harry
Theresa Harris
Maid
Sidney Miller
Messenger boy
Georgia Cooper
Jennie
Lew Hippe
Hairdresser
Rosalie Roy
Manicurist
Melissa Teneyck
Saleswoman
Lillian Harmer
Aunt Agnes
Gay Seabrook
Cousin Charlotte
Herbert Bunston
Uncle Fred
Ruthelma Stevens
Brunette
Helene Millard
Blonde
Cornelius Keefe
Eager young man
Jack Richardson
Jack Trent
Freeman Wood
David Newell
Doris Atkinson
Crew
Harry Barnhouse
Chief grip
E. A. Brown
Recording Engineer
Edward Chodorov
Supervisor
Leo F. Forbstein
Vitaphone Orch Conductor
Ernest Haller
Photography
Stuart Higgs
Assistant Camera
John Hughes
Art Director
Claude Hutchinson
Chief Electrician
Clifton King
Still Photographer
Mary Mccall Jr.
Story and Screenplay
William Mcgann
Assistant Director
Orry-kelly
Gowns
Thomas Pratt
Editing
Al Roberts
2nd Camera
Pinky Weiss
Props
Film Details
Also Known As
A Lady Surrenders
Genre
Drama
Romance
Release Date
Sep
8,
1934
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Productions Corp.
Distribution Company
The Vitaphone Corp.; Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Articles
Desirable (1934)
An aging actress tries to keep her teen-aged daughter out of the public eye.
Desirable (1934)
An aging actress tries to keep her teen-aged daughter out of the public eye.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film's pre-release title was A Lady Surrenders. Film Daily notes that Orry-Kelly created 20 new gowns for Jean Muir and 17 for Verree Teasdale. According to Hollywood Reporter, the extensive wardrobe, along with the fact that Brent was still working on another film, held up the production start date. Hollywood Reporter notes that Barbara Leonard replaced Maxine Doyle in the role of Margaret.
