The title a come on. Sounds naughty, but it refers to a ‘Street of Skyscrapers.’ And the women are those who inspire men to build them. Aw, shucks. Kay Francis (‘Our Lady Decolletage’), not quite severed from Paramount, stars at new studio Warners. (Also at Goldwyn this busy year.) But why bother with such small beer stuff, running under an hour? Not bad, just unnecessary, megged by Archie Mayo in sleepwalking mode. Successful at her ladies’ couture shop, Francis is platonically involved with amusing Roland Young and silent mistress to the very married Alan Dinehart, the two men partners in the world’s tallest building. But Kay’s already complicated life turns positively dizzy when her datable brother turns up and proposes to Dinehart’s daughter. Awkward! Soon, everything comes out; everyone splits, everyone miserable. Why, it would take a near fatal car accident to get them all speaking again. (Hint, hint.) Dinehart, master of insincerity, is asked only to be sincere*, leaving Roland Young (Roland Young!) to play the big renunciation scene. Hardly satisfying, though Gloria Stuart makes a pretty film debut as the daughter (very touchy-feely with Daddy) and it’s nicely Pre-Code to see a film that’s PRO-divorce. Yippee! Note an unusual credit: ‘Settings Supervised by W. & J. Sloane,’ presumably for the showroom furnishings, all that inlaid Art Deco wood paneling and doors. You go out humming the furniture.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: *See Dinehart properly cast and at his delicious best with James Cagney & Bette Davis in JIMMY THE GENT/’34. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2013/06/jimmy-gent-1934.html
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