No Marriage Ties
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
J. Walter Ruben
Richard Dix
Elizabeth Allen
Doris Kenyon
Alan Dinehart
David Landau
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
When freewheeling sports reporter Bruce Foster becomes drunk in a speakeasy and forgets to cover the Dempsey-Tunney boxing match, he is fired by Zimmer, his editor. Although drunk and jobless, Bruce is befriended by Peggy Wilson, an unemployed, homeless British artist, who escorts Bruce to his apartment and spends the night on his couch. The next day, after discussing the importance of nonpossessive love with Peggy, a sober Bruce begs Zimmer for his job back but is rejected. As solace, Bruce returns to the speakeasy and, while drinking, overhears two men, Perkins and Smith, discussing a toothpaste advertising campaign. Without effort, Bruce rattles off a series of clever slogans and so impresses Perkins, the head of a struggling advertising agency, that he is hired as a copywriter. Soon after Perkins has made Bruce his partner, however, he accuses the former reporter of manipulating the public with negative advertising and using fear tactics to sell products of dubious quality. The egotistical Bruce dismisses Perkins' charges and, as proof of his abilities, bets him that he can snag any client in the country. At random, Bruce chooses Adrienne Deane's cosmetics company as his target and sets out to win over the reclusive businesswomen. Although Peggy, who works in the company's art department, and he have pledged their undemanding love for each other, Bruce romances Adrienne and proposes to her in Bermuda. When Bruce tells Peggy about his engagement, she withdraws from him, heartbroken. After a short time, Bruce becomes despondent over Adrienne's growing possessiveness and realizes that he really loves Peggy. Bruce then confesses his feelings to Adrienne, who nobly frees him from his obligations. Before Bruce can propose to Peggy, however, he learns that Adrienne has committed suicide. Dispirited by the pain that he has caused, Peggy rejects Bruce and leaves for Paris to study art. Bruce then quits the agency, admitting his lack of ethics, and returns to drinking at the speakeasy. There Peggy eventually reunites with him and accepts his proposal.
Director
J. Walter Ruben
Cast
Richard Dix
Elizabeth Allen
Doris Kenyon
Alan Dinehart
David Landau
Hobart Cavanaugh
Hilda Vaughn
Charles Wilson
Richard Carle
Crew
Jimmy Anderson
Paul Bristow
Arthur Caesar
Carroll Clark
Merian C. Cooper
Henry Cronjager
Roy Eslick
William Goetz
H. W. Hanemann
Fred Hendrickson
George Hively
Jack Hively
Ray Holden
Art Lane
Sam Mintz
Van Nest Polglase
John Sherwood
Jimmy Speak
Max Steiner
John E. Tribby
Ralph Wildman
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were The Public Be Sold and Ad-Man. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, RKO stenographer Mollie Herman won $50 for coming up with the release title. A Film Daily pre-production news item states that Karen Morley was assigned to the role of "Peggy Wilson" but had to forfeit the part to Elizabeth Allan because of illness. Film Daily production news items list Violet Knight, Jean Acker, Frank Darien, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Arthur Housman, Paul Porcasi and George LeGuerre as cast members, but their participation in the final film has not been confirmed. Elizabeth Allan was borrowed from M-G-M for this production.
