July 16 Barbara Stanwyck

Happy Birthday to Barbara Stanwyck and Ginger Rogers.

When I first put my calendar together I was not sure which actress I was going to single out for today. But there were several films this month with Barbara Stanwyck so the choice was made for me. I watched The Bride Walks Out. Barbara plays a model with many suitors. The most persistent is Gene Rayburn an engineer. He makes $25 a week. He gets a new job for $35 a week and asks Barbara to marry him. She refuses, she doesn’t think they can live on his salary and wants to keep working, which he refuses. They eventually compromise and marry, on his lunch break. At the courthouse right after the wedding they argue, Gene hits a police offer and spends some time in jail. When he is arraigned he gets 30 days or $50. He has the money at his apartment. Robert Young is arraigned for drunkenness and loans the $50. They go back to the couple’s new apartment were Robert is given his money and then shown the door.

Barbara no longer works but spends money on unnecessary niceties and is not paying the bills. Gene thinks she is along with saving money so he can buy his own surveying equipment. New Years Eve Day the furniture is repossessed. Robert Young brings huge bottles of Champaign which he, Barbara, Helen Broderick and the movers all get drunk. Gene wants to celebrate New Years in a big way. Barbara tells him that she wants to go back to work. They argue and he leaves the restaurant before midnight. She waits for him in the stair well of their apartment. Gene comes back home and Barbara preparing for the worst sees that the furniture is all back in place. Robert Young got all the items back for her.

Barbara goes back to work but does not tell Gene. Barbara hires Hattie McDaniel to cook dinner. One day Gene comes home early and sees her placing food on the table. Hattie gives the full truth and Gene upset leaves the room. He purchased his equipment with the funds of his that Barbara saved, but it was her working that made it possible for him to purchase the equipment. When Barbara gets home Gene confronts her. She tells him she went back to work but he doesn’t ask why. He states he hates liars and he packs a bag and starts to leave. Barbara decides she has to leave instead. She applies for a divorce. Gene drunk goes to Robert’s work and destroys the windows. Robert and Barbara have been going out and Gene thinks it is Robert’s fault for the divorce. Robert asks Barbara to marry him and she refuses.

In order to pay her back he decides to take a job in South America in a plague ridden area. It is a good salary, but there is a chance he will die and has a large insurance policy. His friend and co-worker Ned Sparks decides to go with him. When Ned’s wife Helen finds out they track down Barbara and tell her what Gene is doing and they go to the boat. Robert has his chauffer pick a fight with Gene so Gene can’t take the boat. Robert throws Barbara a kiss goodbye. Barbara admits to the police that it is her fault and she is taken in paddy wagon and Gene hangs onto the side of the wagon and they kiss through the wire wrapped windows.