Synopsis
Standing next to a skyscraper under construction, Larry Baldwin (Dinehart) and Linkhorne Gibson (Young) discuss Larry's recent successes in construction of skyscrapers and the importance of the new building. Larry and Link go up in the construction elevator to examine the building close up.
Later, Larry enters the apartment of Natalie Upton (Francis) and tells her that her advice has been absolutely critical to his recent successes. He tells her that she is responsible not only for his professional success but also for his happiness.
After staying with Natalie as long as possible, Larry goes home where his wife (Gates) is dressing for an important party. His wife tell him that their social standing is maintained by socializing with important people. Larry is not enthusiastic to go, but agrees. Larry tells his daughter (Stuart) that he does not want to go to the party. His wife is insistent that both Larry and Doris go to the party. She is anxious for Doris to be prominent in society. Larry suggest that Doris marry. She can make her husband a success and enjoy life without having to attend boring society parties.
At her apartment, Natalie is designing fashions for her dress shop. Link visits and proposes, but is refused. Link tells Natalie about Larry. He knows that Larry is backed by a strong woman but does not know who she is.
Natalie's brother, Clarke, is coming home from his studies in Europe. Natalie tells Larry that he cannot visit her any more. Her brother would not understand nor approve. Larry agrees but tells Natalie that his relationship with her is his only happiness. Clarke will live with Natalie. Link has offered him a position with his firm.
Clarke attends an evening at the Baldwin home. He dances with Doris who he knows from Paris. Soon they are going out frequently. They love each other, get engaged, but agree to keep the engagement secret.
Natalie and Larry are meeting secretly. He tell Natalie that he will seek a divorce, He is sure that Doris will understand.
Larry tells Doris that he wants to divorce her mother who does not love him. Doris, upset, does not understand why her father does not love her mother. He tells Doris that he loves another woman, Natalie, Clarke's sister. Distraught, Doris runs off.
Mrs Baldwin will not grant a divorce. She wants social position. Mrs Baldwin visits Natalie' salon. Her husband loves a talented and sophisticated woman, but she does not care about his happiness as long as her social position is maintained.
Doris visits Natalie and asks her to give up Larry. Natalie tries to explain how much they mean to each other, and kept their love hidden to protect Doris. Doris refuses to believe her and says their attraction is nothing more than infatuation. Doris tells Natalie that she is engaged Clarke and Natalie and Larry's relationship will break up Doris and Clarke who have a right to happiness. Natalie promises not to see Larry. Clarke has learned about the relationship and says that Larry paid for his education. Natalie denies it. Clarke does not believe her and moves to another city. He refuses to accept her letters.
At Christmas, Larry dedicates the completed Baldwin Building. He says that he had dreams, and a woman at his side helped him complete his dream. He thanks her. Natalie, listening on the radio, knows he means her.
Natalie's brother still scorns her. She tells Link about Larry. He says they should be together. He would to do anything to make her happy.
Doris runs into Clarke at a nightclub. She scorns him and leaves; he follows and gets into her car. Her reckless driving causes an accident. They are taken to a nearby house whose occupants call a doctor to treat them. Doris is seriously injured. Natalie and Larry are called. In the absence of Mrs Baldwin, Natalie comforts Doris. Clarke is repentant for his treatment of Natalie. Mrs Baldwin arrives to care for Doris, and Natalie and Clarke go home.
When Doris recovers, she and Clarke marry. Her mother is aloof from Doris and Larry who have formed loving attachments with Clarke and Natalie.
An unhappy Natalie loves Larry but does not want to renew their former relationship. Link is sympathetic.
Link decides to help Natalie and Larry. He goes to Mrs Baldwin and tells her that her friends are laughing at her. To maintain her social position, she must divorce Larry. She decide to go to Reno.
Natalie is sailing to Europe. Larry will go with her.
Discussion
This romantic melodrama showcases Kay Francis as an intelligent, strong, independent. and supportive woman who suffers nobly for her love. Francis is the central character, the male character has a weaker role. Alan Dinehart, who usually played less important characters, would not divert an audience's attention from Francis.
Dinehart is trapped in a loveless and unhappy marriage. Francis, his mistress, accepts her position and is satisfied with the situation until the arrival of her brother disrupts it. Only in a pre-code film could a woman who ignores the moral strictures of society and comes between husband and wife be approved and supported by the plot.
In the end, Roland Young plays on the wife's vanity and easily talks her into divorce. For dramatic purposes and to please her fans, Kay Francis had suffered sufficiently. The convenient divorce frees the husband and Francis to marry. The divorce is necessary for the happy ending but the method of convincing the wife to get a divorce is not important to the plot and is quickly obtained with a minimum of effort by Young.
At the height of her stardom in the early 1930's, tall, slender, raven-haired Kay Francis was one of the most popular actresses in film. She epitomized glamorous, sexy, screen beauty. Her films emphasized sophistication, sex appeal, and fabulous clothes.
Francis was recruited from Broadway by Paramount in 1929. In 1932, Warner Bros Studio offered her a lucrative contract, and Francis left Paramount for Warner's. Francis stared for Warner's until 1939.
Alan Dinehart, tall and heavy-set, was not a typical leading man. His romantic role in this film is unusual. His characters were usually blustery or shifty businessmen, crooked politicians or racketeers.
Accomplished actor and comedian Roland Young, who gets second billing, is wasted in a relatively small role.
Street of Women was Gloria Stuart's first film. She was active for about seven years during the thirties. After her second marriage in 1934, her screen roles decreased. Her husband died in 1978, and Stuart went back to acting, mostly TV dramas. In 1997, age 87, she played the 100 year old Rose, survivor of the sinking of the Titanic. In 1998, Stuart was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award, the oldest person to be nominated for an AA to that time. Stuart died in 2010, 100 years old.
Archie Mayo's directorial career began in 1917 with short comedies for the Christie Film Company. He joined Warner Bros Studio in 1927 and was with the studio until 1937. He directed some of Warner's biggest stars, including John Barrymore in Svengali (1931), Mae West and George Raft in Night After Night (1932), West's first film, James Cagney in Mayor of Hell (1933), Paul Muni and Bette Davis in Bordertown (1935), and Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart in The Petrified Forest (1936). Street of Women is his only film with Kay Francis at Warners. Mayo left Warners in 1937 to work freelance. In 1941 he directed Kay Francis in Charlie's Aunt, a starring vehicle for Jack Benny in which Francis has a relatively short supporting role. After directing Paul Muni's final film Angel On My Shoulder (1946), he retired. His best films are efficiently made but lack the plot insights and touches that would make them distinctive.
Further Reading