A Review of “No More Ladies” (1935)
Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery, For Better or For Worse
As fair warning, spoilers lay ahead!
No More Ladies is a post-Code offering from MGM, starring Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Franchot Tone, Edna May Oliver and Charles Ruggles and it’s strictly by the MGM book — lavishly attired leading lady, dashing leading men and glorious sets. Where it skimps is on plot line.
Joan stars as Marcia Townsend, a society girl whose life revolves around dating, fashionable wear and her terrible taste in men. Case in point: Sheridan Warren, better known as “Sherry” and played by Robert Montgomery, MGM’s dependable cad in a nice suit. Marcia considers Sherry her number one boyfriend; Sherry considers Marcia Plan B, totally evident in the opening scene where he is due at 7 p.m. to take her to dinner and it’s now 9 p.m. and Marcia has been stood up. Does she dump the irresponsible playboy? Nope! She buries her pride under the huge nightgown she changes into, slides into matching spiky heels and waits, alongside her grandmother (Oliver), for the jerk to show up. He does and, astoundingly, Marcia ends up apologizing to him for how she is acting. Feminists, time to uproar.
Marcia and Sherry dash off to a glitzy nightclub, where they drink, banter and mingle with friends like…