Without Children
Cast & Crew
William Nigh
Marguerite Churchill
Bruce Cabot
Evelyn Brent
Reginald Denny
Dorothy Lee
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
To improve his family's financial situation, architect David F. Cole gives in to the cajoling of his co-worker, playboy Phil Graham, and agrees to socialize with wealthy older women as part of a plan to increase his business. While David flirts successfully with a series of vain matrons, his wife Sue dotes on their two children, "Sonny" and Carol. After impressing Shirley Ross, a sophisticated, influential heiress, David's career blossoms and his ambitions grow. At the same time, Sue's increasing neglect of her husband encourages him to spend more time with Shirley and eventually leads to their divorce and David's marriage to her rival. Many years later, while David and Shirley are living in Europe, Sue discovers that Sonny and Carol have become self-involved and reckless adults and grows especially concerned when she learns that Carol is infatuated with Phil. When confronted by Sue, Phil announces that if she truly wants to understand her children, she should live her life as they do. As advised, Sue sheds her conservative clothes and manner and starts a public "affair" with Phil. Oblivious to the point behind their mother's change, Sonny and Carol fume over her sudden lack of interest in them and disapprove strongly of her new image. Then, when Sue's liaison with Phil makes the local scandal column, they plot to force Phil into marrying her. In Paris, David, now a famous architect, learns of Sue's rumored affair through his former American employer and rushes back to America with Shirley. As soon as he sees Sue with Phil, who has just proposed marriage, David realizes that he still loves his ex-wife and tells Shirley he wants a divorce. David then returns home to find that Carol has been shot accidentally by Sonny during a tussle over a gun, which Sonny had planned to use on Phil if he refused to marry Sue. After reassuring her that Carol's wound is only superficial, David embraces Sue and his soundly reformed children.
Director
William Nigh
Cast
Marguerite Churchill
Bruce Cabot
Evelyn Brent
Reginald Denny
Dorothy Lee
William Janney
Dickie Moore
Cora Sue Collins
Lillian Harmer
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Although this film was shot in August 1934, it was not released generally until April 1935. It was re-issued in early 1936 under the title Penthouse Party. Running times listed in the 1936 reviews suggest that the picture was cut before its re-issue. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, Marcella Freedman, the "daughter of a Hollywood professional," was assigned to write music and lyrics for this production, but her contribution to the final film has not been confirmed.
