The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Ann Dvorak in The Strange Love of Molly Louvain (1932)

Molly Louvain's plans for a respectable marriage with her sweetheart Ralph fall through so she takes to the road with a two-bit crook and becomes wanted by the police in connection with a hi... Read allMolly Louvain's plans for a respectable marriage with her sweetheart Ralph fall through so she takes to the road with a two-bit crook and becomes wanted by the police in connection with a high-profile crime.Molly Louvain's plans for a respectable marriage with her sweetheart Ralph fall through so she takes to the road with a two-bit crook and becomes wanted by the police in connection with a high-profile crime.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

612

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Top cast37

Edit

Ann Dvorak

Molly Louvain

Lee Tracy

Scotty Cornell

Richard Cromwell

Jimmy Cook

Guy Kibbee

Pop - Policeman

Leslie Fenton

Nicky Grant

Frank McHugh

Skeets - Reporter

Evalyn Knapp

Doris

Charles Middleton

Police Capt. Slade

Mary Doran

Dance Hall Girl

Thomas E. Jackson

Police Sergeant
(as Thomas Jackson)

C. Henry Gordon

Detective Martin

Ben Alexander

Jimmy's College Friend
(uncredited)

Louise Beavers

Washroom Attendant
(uncredited)

Harry Beresford

Taxi Driver
(uncredited)

Maurice Black

Nicky's Pal
(uncredited)

Wade Boteler

Detective
(uncredited)

William Burress

Policeman
(uncredited)

George Chandler

Reporter
(uncredited)

Director
- Michael Curtiz
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

6.5

Upperworld

6.1

The Office Wife

6.6

The Cabin in the Cotton

7.0

Lady Killer

6.4

Doctor X

6.3

Friends of Mr. Sweeney

6.3

6.4

7.2

6.9

7.0

6.7

The Beast of the City

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
During her intense interview with police, Molly Louvain sarcastically suggests she is responsible for multiple crimes, including the death of William Desmond Taylor. Taylor, a Hollywood director, was indeed murdered in 1921. The scandal rocked Hollywood. His unsolved death prompted Hollywood's self-imposed Production Code. She also says she killed "Rothstein." This would be Arnold Rothstein, once head of organized crime in New York City. She says she kidnapped Dorothy Arnold --- a wealthy socialite who disappeared in New York City on December 12, 1910 and whose case has never been solved. Finally she said she stole Charley Ross. This refers to the kidnapping of Charles Ross, a four-year-old child on July 1, 1874 in Philadelphia. This was the first high-profile abduction for ransom case in the U.S. and was never solved. All of these cases would have been familiar to audiences of the day.

Goofs
Scotty is supposed to be a hot-shot reporter, and yet: He knows her name is Molly, her photo is in the papers, but it never, ever occurs to him that she might be THE Molly.

Quotes
Scotty Cornell: Takes practice to live with a bullet in your heart.

Connections
Featured in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008)

Soundtracks
When We're Alone (Penthouse Serenade)
(1931) (uncredited)
Written by Val Burton and Will Jason
Played during the opening credits and at the end
Played on piano, hummed and partially sung by Ann Dvorak
Played on the radio and at the dance hall

User reviews17

Review

Featured review

10/10

Lee Tracy Drives Hard Hitting Film

THE STRANGE LOVE OF MOLLY LOUVAIN pushes her to look for love with all the wrong men, leading inevitably to unwed pregnancy, betrayal & murder...

This obscure little crime film highlights the kind of fast-moving, tough-talking picture which Warner Bros. did so well in the early 1930's. Good production values help tremendously, but the biggest asset is the piston-powered performance of Lee Tracy as a cynical, amoral reporter. Although his character doesn't appear until 30 minutes into the story, once on screen he dominates his scenes, as he typically did during his heyday. This picture was made shortly before Tracy moved to MGM for his 5 memorable appearances there in 1933. His spectacular fall from grace would spin him out to the minor studios, but here he's in his prime, or nearly so.

The other two sides to the film's romantic triangle are made up of Ann Dvorak, very good in the title role, and Richard Cromwell, impressive as the innocent college kid infatuated with her. A sprinkling of character actors - Guy Kibbee, Leslie Fenton, Frank McHugh & Charles Middleton - add to the film's success.

Movie mavens will recognize J. Farrell MacDonald as a murdered cop, silent movie comic 'Snub' Pollard as a bill collector & Louise Beavers as a washroom attendant, all uncredited.

The film's rather gamey plot proclaims its pre-Production Code status.