Professional Sweetheart (1933)

Supposed to be a light romantic comedy satirizing several aspects of radio programs. Ginger Rogers, in her first RKO film, plays an ex-orphan who has been remade into 'the Purity Girl'(Glory Eden), singing and talking on the radio program sponsored by Ippsie Wippsie wash cloth, owned by Sam Ipswich(Greggory Ratoff). She is billed as a girl who doesn't do any of the usual 'sinful' things of girls her age. In fact, the company insists that she actually live up to her image 24 hr. a day, something she resents, since such a life is very dull to her. Thus, she balks at signing a 5 year contract to continue this lifestyle. This is a satire on manufactured squeaky clean images of radio stars promulgated by sponsors and studio bosses. Another bit of sarcasm is directed at radio sponsors, whose often inane jingles tells the listener nothing important about their product. Also, obviously, this is a simple inexpensive item which is not bought very often., thus is of low value for expensive advertisement. In later years the occasional film(as "Always Fair Weather" satirized similar commercials on TV. Interestingly, the word 'television' is mentioned once, suggesting that it was a recognized term 15 years before it was commercialized, having been invented already. There are a few scenes that would have been censored out by the Production Code going into effect late the next year. Several times, Ginger removes her dress to show her underwear, even dancing around in it. Nothing special for today's audiences, but considered daring at that time. What about the brief spanking scene? I don't know how often such scenes were censored out once the Production Code went into full effect, but I do know that the occasional film slipped through, as in "Frontier Gal", "Across the Wide Missouri", "McClintock", and "Kiss Me Kate". I'm surprised such scenes were allowed in the era of strict censoring. After the women's lib movement, I haven't noticed any such incidents.....Toward the end, Ginger signs a contract with the Kelsey dish rags company , to continue her radio singing, because they allowed her to cheat on her 'Purity Girl' image. Her new husband, Jim(Norman Foster) simultaneously signed a contact with the Ippsie Wippsie company to recite poetry over the radio. But, he insisted on his wife singing between his poetry readings. This problem was solved by a merger of the two companies. Yes, very silly, as is a good part of the film in general. But, it's seldom really funny, which is the main problem with this film. The other featured players include Zasu Pitts, who provides a bit of humor, Frank McHugh, Allen Jenkins, swishy Frank Pangborn, Edgar Kennedy, and Frank Kalrien. See it on YouTube

Ginger Rogers stars in "Professional Sweetheart," a 1933 film that also stars Norman Foster, Allen Jenkins, Gregory Ratoff, Franklin Pangborn, Theresa Harris, and Frank McHugh. Rogers plays Glory Eden, radio's Purity Girl, representing Ippsie Wipsie Washcloths. As the Purity Girl, Glory can't be anything but pure. Glory finds this annoying. All she's interested in is drinking, smoking, going to Harlem, wearing sexy clothes, and, if one reads between the lines, losing her virginity.Her handlers decide to fix her up with a pure Anglo-Saxon, found in the Kentucky Mountains. They choose a nice-looking fan (Norman Foster) and set the two up, even having a wedding on the air. Knowing of her discontent, Kelsey Dish Rags is after her, too, and know she hasn't re-signed with Ippsie yet. The two engage in battle, and find there's a third party involved - Glory's new hubby, who takes Glory at her word about wanting to live in a Kentucky cabin and have a cow.This is a cute film that could have been lots better, but the script isn't great and the pace drags a bit. Rogers is adorable, funny and sexy. Theresa Harris plays her maid, Vera, and is apparently uncredited, but she has a decent-sized, showy role.As far as the film being pre-code, don't look for anything too racy. There is only some innuendo and Rogers in her skivvies.Okay film, nothing special.

Despite this film having one of the more amazing groups of character actors for support, this is truly an awful film. It just goes to show you that no matter what talent you have assembled, it means nothing if the writing is bad--and boy, is it BAD! Even the combined supporting talents of Frank McHugh, Allen Jenkins, Akim Tamiroff, Franklin Pangborn, Edgar Kennedy, Sterling Holloway and others couldn't help Ginger Rogers elevate this mess to even mediocrity. The bottom line is the basic plot isn't at all believable and the dialog isn't any better. Normally when I watch older films, I am able to suspend disbelief and just enjoy, but this time it was a major chore not to just turn the movie off about midway through it! Ginger plays a radio star who is portrayed as so saccharine that it's impossible to believe that the public could stand her, though according to the film she's America's Sweetheart! Well, Ginger rebels against this as well, but her answer is to hang out in nightclubs and get drunk AND have sex (it's a "Pre-Code" film, so this sort of subject was NOT taboo in 1933). It's all very broadly acted and written and is supposed to be a sort of screwball comedy--the problem is that none of it is funny. What happens next and how everyone becomes happy in the end isn't really anything I want to discuss--I just want to never see this film again. It's a good thing Ms. Rogers had the Fred Astaire films to boost her career--if it was up to drivel like this, she never would have become famous!

This is a very early film in the career of Ginger Rogers. It is somewhat saucy and always goofy. It portays people in radio show business and the press that covers it as both overly ambitious and naive. There are several character actors such as Zazu Pitts that are totally hilarious. The plot is basicly girl wants fun and freedom rather than fame, and boy wants girl. After several very funny misadventures they both get what they want and each other. Sexuality is very frank in this movie even though the characters are very innocent. For the naughty in us there is even a spanking scene. Ginger Roger's voice is dubbed in a couple of songs because the producers did not think she was good enough. A very funny film worth repeated viewings. It can be seen occaisionly on the Turner Movie Channel. In the final scene there is a reference to television long before it would become available as if it was just around the corner.