The New Joan Crawford Film, 'I Live My Life,' at the Capitol

Originally Miss Crawford's new film at the Capitol Theatre took its title from claustrophobia, that dread theatrical disease which sometimes overcomes movie audiences in the contemplation of excessively bogus society romances. Now it is called "I Live My Life" and proves to be an entertaining effort to show that love is really a pretty democratic emotion, although gowns by Adrian have their definite value in stimulating it. I have always suffered from myopia when it came to Miss Crawford's glamorous contributions to cinema art, but this time the distinguished glitter girl enjoys the help of W. S. Van Dyke's lively production and some uncommonly hilarious actors.

The film engulfs Miss Crawford in her usual plight, suffocating the poor girl with money and hedging her around with society credos so that she has difficulty finding real happiness. During one of her pleasure trips she engages in a kiss-and-run episode with Brian Aherne, an ardent archaeologist, who, in his old-fashioned way, believes that a caress is the equivalent of a marriage bargain. So he leaves his Grecian ruins and follows her back to New York, where he shocks her exclusive friends by his comments on the degenerate lives they lead. Miss Crawford insists that she is doomed to go through life as a millionaire parasite, having been born to that unhappy life, but Mr. Aherne convinces her that she can escape into the merrier world of the common people if she only will try.

Apparently the authors of "I Live My Life" grew doubtful about the joys of poverty before the film was completed, because they rescue Miss Crawford at the last minute from love on the dole. Thus the matriarch who rules the family takes an unexpected liking to the rebellious commoner and approves his alliance with her gently nurtured granddaughter. Even then Miss Crawford wins her man only by tricking him into matrimony in a way that the Alimony Club would scarcely regard as cricket. After a quarrel on the eve of their wedding they call the marriage off, but Mr. Aherne agrees to show up at the church so that he may play the jilted suitor and spare the girl embarrassment. But Miss Crawford violates the pact by appearing at the church, thereby forcing her reluctant lover to go through with it.

In the interests of realism there really ought to be a sequel to "I Live My Life," examining the marital career of these curiously mismated lovers. It might be entitled "Oh, Yeah?" Miss Crawford is rather self-consciously adequate to the needs of her part and Mr. Aherne is excellent as the dashing scientist. Frank Morgan, who could not play straight if he tried, is superbly comic as the heroine's distressed father. Jessie Ralph, as the tyrannical head of the family, proves again that she is the best of the screen grandmothers. The photoplay also possesses the two funniest butlers in Hollywood, Eric Blore and Arthur Treacher, and even allows them a bit of acrimonious rivalry in one scene.

Richard Watts, Jr., in the New York Herald Tribune:

     [The picture] has something of the vitality that W.S. Van Dyke, its director, invariably gets into his works, but it is a pretty routine bit of story telling. If, however, you're an enthusiast for the regulation type of Crawford vehicle, you may find the work soul-satisfying. The star plays handsomely and competently.

Rating:    of  5

The film does have numerous assets, however, including adequate performances by the leads Joan Crawford and Brian Aherne. Joan, in particular, is very appealing throughout, if not always up to the comedic challenges. She gives it a worthy effort, though, as always. Aherne seems less comfortable in a screwball comedy, almost serious at times, but overall his attractiveness wins.

The rest of the cast is glittering as well, with supporting roles played exceedingly well by the likes of Jessie Ralph and Frank Morgan. MGM went all out with the production values here and the result is a glossiness typical of the studio. The early scenes are the most effective, chronicling the romantic adventures of Joan's character on an island.

The plot is typical fluff, little worth mentioning except the intelligent and spirited romance in some of the early scenes. One of these scenes occurs when Aherne travels to New York to meet up with Crawford and she explains to him "she can't change the way she is," which in turn he replies in terms of her weakness for not trying to change. It is an intelligent scene, but sadly the rest of the film soon becomes overwhelmed by the forced comedic situations and the miscasting of the lead players.

The film does work well as a Crawford star vehicle, however. She is in top form and as youthfully glamorous as ever. Crawford's appeal alone can not save the film from the weight of too many clichés and the overall tiredness of the plot elements. We've seen it all before. It should be noted that, although the film as a whole is not entirely effective, the first half is remarkably good, with some cute moments which point to the overall potential of the film.