To Live or Not to Live in Sin

 ILLICIT (1931)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Barbara Stanwyck usually appeared as a woman of intelligence, a woman who sought to be on her own and stand up for her beliefs. It is a little disappointing that such an actress who could not follow through on that promise in 1931's harmless though enticing "Illicit." 

Stanwyck plays Anne Vincent who has been fraternizing around town with the wealthy and lovable Dick (James Rennie). The opening scenes shows them preparing dinner for each other, eggs and toast and some tea. There is something lovably sweet about these scenes because it convinces us that both are in love. When Dick brings up marriage, Anne doesn't seem sure fearing a life where it all boils down to having children and eventual divorce rather than fueling the romance. It is a striking thing to hear women talk that way then and Stanwyck milks it beautifully for what it is worth. Once Dick and Anne get married, she makes it clear she wants time to herself and Dick is not receptive. So both have affairs, or at least one of them does (an offscreen kiss in a kitchen as seen by Anne and her company of friends is one for the Pre-Code books). So I suspected that "Illicit's" ending would have Anne living her independence, to be the free spirit who is not beholden to anyone. It doesn't turn out that way at all. 

I like some of the supporting characters especially the lively and charismatic Ricardo Cortez as Baines, who is in love with Anne despite Anne maintaining solely friendship terms; Charles Butterworth as the lovably drunk Georgie Evans, and Claude Gillingwater as Dick's father who shows with subtle humor how scandalous it is to live in sin yet comforts the seemingly free Anne all the same. "Illicit" doesn't stick to Anne's rebellious nature through the end. Love wins and yet I can't say that such a predictable finish dissatisfies me. Either way, Barbara Stanwyck makes it memorable.