Movie Reviews

‘Ladies They Talk About’ Blu-Ray Review – Barbara Stanwyck Prison Drama Is A Transfixing Pre-Code Gem

By Dillon Gonzales
November 15, 2021
No Comments

When excavating the depths of Hollywood’s output during its “golden age,” it is typically a bit more interesting to survey the films that were being made before the Hays Code made things a bit more palatable for the mainstream. Early in her prolific career only a few years out a the silent-era, Barbara Stanwyck (The Furies, Crime Of Passion) established herself as a force in cinema with many daring turns. A notable pre-Code favorite that showcased her talents as a leading lady is the 1933 crime drama Ladies They Talk About from directors Howard Bretherton and William Keighley. The story was notable for subverting the genre a bit by having the woman be the party in need of redemption while the man played the role of the reformer. This story was leant an extra helping of authenticity by being based on the play Gangstress, or Women in Prison by Dorothy Mackaye and Carlton Miles, the former of which had spent some time in prison. The melodrama occasionally veers towards overwrought, but the prison drama aspect of this story is transfixing.

Stanwyck makes one heck of an impression in her opening scene as Nan Taylor, the alluring distraction embedded in a group of bank robbers who occupies the security guard while her accomplices rob the place blind. This is not her first time on the wrong side of the law, a fact that comes back to bite her when she is recognized during a witness statement by a policeman who had arrested her previously – a blonde wig was not enough to make her a new person. Nan gets arrested, but while caught up in the legal limbo refusing to give up her accomplices she conveniently crosses paths with David Slade (Preston Foster, Doctor X), a radio star who advocates for criminal justice reform. It is convenient because these two grew up in the same realm and have some familiarity with one another, one that Nan hopes to exploit by getting him to fall for her and stump for her release. While the plan works, what she does not count on is catching feelings of her own which leads to an admission of her guilt and a proper prison sentence.

If you think you have heard the whole story, it should be pointed out all of this happens in the first fifteen minutes of a spritely paced 69-minute feature. The melodrama of this relationship between Nan and David is built up to be the focus, but the reality is that the richest drama comes from the time Nan spends in the penitentiary. Many films of the time would portray women who ended up in prison as innocents who ended up behind bars, whereas this feature rolls with the idea that women can be criminals just as much as men. Nan quickly goes from being fresh “fish” to a vital part of the ecosystem that has blossomed in this block. She has her close friends as well as those with whom she verbally spars, especially ‘Sister’ Susie (Dorothy Burgess) who is jealous that David still longs to be with Nan. As with any prison drama worth its salt, there are a colorful array of characters who populate the cells. They support Nan’s journey over whether or not she will give into her criminal background and help her former partners with a jailbreak, or if she will embrace a life of reform with David.

If we are being honest, the ending of this goes off the rails in terms of believability, totally embracing the worst aspects of this story after leaving behind the most interesting. This is a misstep to be sure, but it is one that does not completely sink the film. Stanwyck flourishes in this role, luxuriating in the precise delivery of the classic moll archetype. She has so much sass and vigor when she is mouthing off against anyone, be it authority figures or her fellow inmates. With the aforementioned slight running time, this film moves on at a fantastic clip that fits the rapid delivery perfectly. It provides a good blend of intrigue, romance and humor, even if there are not exactly sparks between the “romantic” pair. While far away from what we see today, this film was pushing boundaries in a really thrilling way. With the crime drama genre typically so centered on men, it is refreshing to see a tale about such a formidable woman.

Video Quality

Warner Archive presents Ladies They Talk About for the first time on Blu-Ray with 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative. You can always count on Warner Archive to deliver quality work, and the image is nothing short of stunning for a film that is nearly ninety years old. This black and white feature has nice, natural film grain throughout that provides a great amount of detail to the image. The presentation has a pleasing amount of depth to it including in the shadows where there is no evidence of any black crush. Print damage is virtually nonexistent to these eyes throughout the duration of the movie. It is always amazing to see how film preservation can bring new life to a film, and Warner Archive has reached perfection with this release.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray release comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that sounds simply wonderful. Barbara Stanwyck has the prototypical moll delivery that always comes through crystal clear. As a matter of fact, none of the sound effects or the music ever overpowers the dialogue on this release. The more kinetic sequences including tussling in the prison are appropriately lively in the speakers. There does not appear to be any damage or age related wear to the track. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles available on the disc for those who need it. Overall, this is an excellent audio presentation that gives the material the life it deserves.

Special Features

Warner Cartoons – I Like Mountain Music: A seven-minute Merrie Melodies cartoon is presented here in HD in which the characters in books and magazines come to life to sing the titular song and get into wacky situations. This one is made even more fun thanks to the animated depictions of celebrities and figures such as Eddie Cantor, Will Rogers, Ed Wynn, Edward G. Robinson, George Arliss, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and King Kong.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Ladies They Talk About is an exciting crime drama thanks in large part to the magnetic performance from Barbara Stanwyck. The utilization of a female lead helps shake this one up a bit, even if it does take a few steps back with a romantic subplot that is not nearly as interesting as the movie thinks it is. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a tremendous A/V presentation and a couple of special features. If you appreciate the grit of a pre-Code crime drama or are a fan of Barbara Stanwyck, this one is worth a spin. Recommended

Ladies They Talk About can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.