FAITHLESS

Director: Harry Beaumont

Stars: Tallulah Bankhead, Robert Montgomery, Hugh Herbert, Maurice Murphy

Year: 1932

Rating: N/R

A melodramatic soap opera with a good cast and fairly outrageous storyline (and too-convenient ending), Faithless follows the life of wealthy New York socialite Carol Morgan (Tallulah Bankhead) - who, as the film opens, couldn't give a hang that the Great Depression has put many people in the country out of work and into breadlines; she has her money, a great life, a beautiful home ... and the love of a hardworking man named Bill Wade (Robert Montgomery), whom she loves in return. She and Bill have just become engaged, and things get stormy right off when Bill tells Carol that they'll have to live off of his meager salary working for an advertising agency; Carol's millions are nothing to him, and he wants to be the bread-winner of the household, period.

This causes a couple of major-league fights between the couple, and Bill walks out. Soon after, Carol learns (after finally meeting with her bankers) that she, too, has been wiped out financially by the Depression, and is flat broke.

She makes her way back to Bill with the distressing news, and that's when Bill informs her he has lost his job and income, as well. Bill is actually thrilled with the news, and wants to leave town for a job opportunity, but Carol still refuses to live poor, and instead stays behind to try and find her social footing again.

From here, Carol's life takes a swift downward spiral; at first she stays with rich friends, and remains in the social columns as always "visiting" for the weekend of while on vacation. Soon, however, Carol alienates all her rich friends by borrowing money from them and not paying it back; at one point, she even becomes the mistress of a married man who finally keeps her in the lifestyle to which she's become accustomed (even if she is miserable).

It's with this man that Bill finds her again. He's appalled with how low she's sunk to maintain her material possessions and money, and in return Carol - at last - shows Bill how much she loves him by leaving her sugar daddy and going with Bill at last. The two marry ... and that's when the real trouble begins.

These two characters go through more hell during the Depression than any two people deserve to endure - but the film's message is that it's their love and commitment to each other that sees them through (though that love is put to the test by a single action that Carol is forced into that might end things forever). The mood of the film is somber, yet always with a potential ray of light shining through, as Carol and Bill prove to be there for each other through sickness, hunger, and abject poverty. Tallulah's performance as Carol is one-note in places, and definitely full of melodrama. But she carries the film well, right up to an ending that seems too perfect in resolving things to be real. Robert Montgomery, who I've always felt so-so about as an actor, does a good enough job here, I am now a fan.

The film made me think a lot about the current economy, and how many people are struggling so much to survive now (even if not nearly as badly as Carol and Bill Wade) - so even though seventy-seven years old, I could relate to some of the angst and emotions of the film. Seeing Carol go from high society snob, to become the very kind of person she would step over in the street, became an intriguing story of faith and redemption ... even if over-the-top with melodrama. Definitely worth seeing. *** - Reel Cool