Laughing Sinners

Infobox Film
name = Laughing Sinners


image_size = 150
caption = Original film poster
director = Harry Beaumont
producer =
writer = Play:
Kenyon Nicholson
Continuity:
Bess Meredyth
Dialogue:
Martin Flavin
narrator =
starring = Joan Crawford
Neil Hamilton
Clark Gable
music =
cinematography = Charles Rosher
editing = George Hively
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
released = flagicon|USA 30 May, 1931
runtime = 72 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0022059

"Laughing Sinners" (1931) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature film starring Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in a story about a cafe entertainer who experiences spiritual redemption. The dialogue by Martin Flavin was based upon the play, "Torch Song" by Kenyon Nicholson. The film was directed by Harry Beaumont. "Laughing Sinners" was the second of eight cinematic collaborations between Crawford and Gable.

Historical note

Coincidentally, just as they did in "Laughing Sinners", Crawford and Rambeau would play mother and daughter again in the film, "Torch Song" in 1953.

Plot and cast

Ivy Stevens (Crawford) is a cafe entertainer in love with a shifty salesman (Neil Hamilton) who deserts her. In attempting to commit suicide, she is saved by Carl (Gable), a Salvation Army officer. Encouraged by Carl, Ivy joins the Salvation Army. When her old flame re-enters her life, Ivy finds she is still atttracted and begins another affair with him. Carl steps in and urges Ivy to resume her life with the Salvation Army. Ivy realizes that if she continues the affair, her life will only spiral downward. She drops the affair and resumes her commitment to the Salvation Army. Cast includes Marjorie Rambeau, Guy Kibbee, and Cliff Edwards.

Reception

A.D.S. commented in the "New York Times", "Miss Crawford...has tempered the intense and not a little self-conscious quality of her acting without hurting her vibrant and breath-catching spirit." [Quirk, Lawrence J.. "The Films of Joan Crawford". The Citadel Press, 1968.]

ee also

* Joan Crawford filmography
* Clark Gable filmography

References