Spätere Heirat ausgeschlossen (1933)

Spätere Heirat ausgeschlossen: Directed by Robert Florey. With Bette Davis, Gene Raymond, Frank McHugh, Monroe Owsley. Although free spirit Helen Bauer does not believe in marriage, she consents to marry Don, but his infidelities cause her to also take on a lover.

“Well, well, imagine my surprise when I saw two people in a double bed. Thatu0026#39;s right – precode, no whitewash. Bette Davis and Gene Raymond star in u0026quot;Ex-Lady,u0026quot; about talented illustrator Helen Bauer, a career girl with very definite ideas about marriage – sheu0026#39;s against it. Don (Raymond) has a key to her apartment, but he finally talks her into marriage. After a wonderful Havana honeymoon, the two return to find his ad agency, at which she now works, is in shambles. The two seem to grow unhappier until they decide itu0026#39;s just not working. But while separated, he and Helen find that the emotions they thought they left behind in marriage are still very much present.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI wasnu0026#39;t as enthusiastic about u0026quot;Ex-Ladyu0026quot; as some of the other posters. Itu0026#39;s slow-moving and stagy. Itu0026#39;s based on an unproduced play, and itu0026#39;s not hard to see why it wasnu0026#39;t produced. Still, itu0026#39;s fascinating – Davis is all of about 28, tiny and pretty, and her screen persona is as yet unset. The feminist premise is very interesting, as are all of the precode elements. Davis and Raymond display quite a bit of chemistry, and talk about not having your screen persona – Frank McHugh wanders around as if heu0026#39;s on another planet! Thereu0026#39;s also a rendition of a cut version of Wagneru0026#39;s u0026quot;Dich, teure Halleu0026quot; at a party.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDavis does fine in her role, but of course, this isnu0026#39;t the type of thing she would shine in once Warners caught on. Raymond has never impressed me much, but if Jeannette MacDonald was forced to marry him, apparently he impressed Louis B. Mayer.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAll in all, u0026quot;Ex-Ladyu0026quot; is worth seeing for early Davis and as a pre-code film, which makes some of the movie seem quite modern.”