Laughing Sinners: A Review (Review #2133)

LAUGHING SINNERS

Laughing Sinners is a bit of a misnomer in that at least one of our sinners is not that jolly. However, Laughing Sinners gives viewers a chance to see two future stars working well together. 

Showgirl Ivy "Bunny" Stevens (Joan Crawford) is in love with traveling salesman Howard "Ozzie" Palmer (Neil Hamilton). Ozzie is passionate about our cabaret performer. He is also going to marry the boss' daughter. He leaves her a Dear Jane letter after she performs the torch song I Love That Man to him. Despondent, she is about to commit suicide when she's pulled off the bridge. Her rescuer is Carl Loomis (Clark Gable). 

Loomis is in the Salvation Army, spreading the word where he and his fellow Salvation Army members Brighten the Corner Where You Are. Bunny is hesitant to join, but eventually she finds salvation in the Salvation Army. A year passes. Ozzie and his buddies are still traveling salesmen, taking advantage of the situations. Both are shocked at seeing the other. Will Ivy slip back to being Bunny to her hunny? Will Carl keep her on the straight and narrow?

Laughing Sinners is the second film that I have seen where Neil Hamilton plays the romantic rake. It is curious that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer kept pushing Hamilton as some kind of romantic lead. Curiously, he does the same thing here as he did in The Sin of Madelon Claudet: be the dashing object of sexual temptation. It looks strange, almost laughable given that Neil Hamilton now is best if not exclusively remembered as Commissioner Gordon in the Batman television series. Seeing someone who camped it up as the goofy, clueless Commissioner pose a challenge to the future Rhett Butler now looks laughable. 

It should be a sign of the pecking order of Laughing Sinners that Hamilton is billed second and Gable third. Neil Hamilton was not bad as the rakish seducer of Salvation Army girls. He was not great either.

It is the duo of Clark Gable and Joan Crawford who are the true finds in Laughing Sinners. Gable plays against type as the gentle man of faith. He is tender and kind whenever Carl works with Ivy. Gable still shows his charm and strength. After rescuing her from her suicide attempt, Carl walks her home. At the end, he says, "I wish you'd come home with me", a surprisingly daring statement even in pre-Code Hollywood. He immediately makes clear that his aunt will be there. However, this and the climatic fight with Ozzie is as brash as Gable ever gets in the film.

Joan Crawford is the star here. She showcases her hoofing early in Laughing Sinners. We get the torch song I Love That Man. Crawford shows Bunny's deep love for Ozzie. We know that he will leave her, making the scene more moving. It is earlier though that people might be surprised. There is a curious floor show where Crawford and her backup dancers are dressed as farmers. Seeing Joan Crawford trip the light fantastic while in hillbilly garb is an amusing sight. One should add that she is good here as our song-and-dance-girl. 

In the acting department, Joan Crawford delivers. She shows vulnerability and a genuine change. One wonders if she will fall back into temptation. She has a wonderful, silent moment when she sees Ozzie again. As she talks to Carl about it, Crawford has a wonderful monologue reflecting on her past and present.

It is also nice to see how Crawford has a nice rapport with a child actress. Make of that what you will.

Laughing Sinners is a short film, running a brisk 72 minutes. In that time though, it tells its story of love, lust and redemption well. It is a relatable story in how it does not demean or sanctify Ivy/Bunny. We have a nice bit of verbal comedy from Guy Kibbee as a rakish embalming fluid salesman. It is a surprise to see Kibbee with a mustache and Gable without one. Despite its frankness, I think Laughing Sinners shows its age in some of its blocking. 

Finally, a major block is Neil Hamilton. I will put aside how one now only sees the dimwitted Commissioner Gordon whenever he is on screen. His performance, while adequate, has not stood the test of time. Who would you choose to end up with: Commissioner Gordon or Rhett Butler?

Laughing Sinners is not a bad film. The film is a bit stodgy and stagy. It does have strong performances from Joan Crawford and Clark Gable, a screen duo that should be more recognized. We do not laugh in Laughing Sinners but enjoy it enough. 

DECISION: C+