Virtue

1932
A
1h 8m

IMDb RATING

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Carole Lombard and Pat O'Brien in Virtue (1932)

A relationship gradually develops between a savvy New York street girl and a good-hearted cab driver, but other matters keep getting in their way, including financial problems and a murder.A relationship gradually develops between a savvy New York street girl and a good-hearted cab driver, but other matters keep getting in their way, including financial problems and a murder.A relationship gradually develops between a savvy New York street girl and a good-hearted cab driver, but other matters keep getting in their way, including financial problems and a murder.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Top cast23

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Carole Lombard

Pat O'Brien

Jimmy Doyle

Mayo Methot

Lil Blaine

Jack La Rue

Toots

Shirley Grey

Gert

Ward Bond

Frank

Willard Robertson

MacKenzie

Lew Kelly

Magistrate

Fred Santley

Hank

Arthur Wanzer

Flanagan

Jessie Arnold

Landlady

Edwin Stanley

District Attorney

Vance Carroll

Policeman
(uncredited)

Jack Cheatham

Police Desk Sergeant
(uncredited)

Sherry Hall

Charlie
(uncredited)

Edward LeSaint

Judge
(uncredited)

Charles McMurphy

Ryan
(uncredited)

Lew Meehan

2nd Detective
(uncredited)

Director
- Edward Buzzell
Writers
- Robert Riskin
- Ethel Hill
All cast & crew
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User reviews30

Featured review

6/10

Good Acting -- Pretty Good Script

This movie asks that not unusual pre-Code movie question -- can a woman live down her tawdry past by marrying a good-hearted lout? And, while there is the usual collection of misunderstandings and Plot Contrivances, some really sharp acting out of Lombard and (of all people) Pat O'Brien. Also helpful is that this movie never loses sight of its emotional core, the understandably troubled relationship between Lombard and O'Brien. Also interesting is that Mayo Methot (the future battling Bogart) gets a far larger role than is usual -- and is good in it. Ward Bond also appears.

See this if you want to see Pat O'Brien do perhaps his best take on his urban loud-mouth with a heart of mush character. Maybe he is reacting to the genuine warmth coming off of Lombard's character. But it's unusual to see a Columbia movie of this vintage this well-acted, outside of Capra and Stanwyck.

Definitely worth a look. But don't really look for surprises in the plot. That is standard order for one of these ex-fallen-woman numbers.

alonzoiii-1
Dec 16, 2007
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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
One of the last films to feature prostitution as a major theme before the rigid enforcement of the Hays Code.

Quotes
[first lines]
Flanagan: [at the ticket window at a train station] Pretty soft for you, sister, getting the city to pay your fare to Danbury.
Mae: Pretty soft for the city I don't live in Australia. C'mon, grandpa.
Flanagan: [on the train, placing Mae's luggage on the rack] There y'are.
[to the conductor]
Flanagan: The lady goes to Danbury, chief.
[to Mae]
Flanagan: Now take my advice, sister, and keep out of New York.
Mae: [snidely] OK, grandpa. I'll remember all your advice: I'll watch my diet, go to the dentist twice a year, keep my nose clean, and pray for you every night - to break a couple of legs.
[closeup on Mae's gams as she crosses them; fadeout]

Alternate versions
Years later, Columbia reissued the film to capitalize on the subsequent stardom of Lombard and O'Brien. The Breen Office demanded the removal of the opening courtroom scene (which clearly establishes Lombard as a prostitute) to conform to the Production Code. In restoring the film, the original soundtrack was located, but the image is still missing, thus current prints have a slug (blank footage) for the opening scene, leading some viewers to believe the black image was intentional.