Ruby is a precocious gem valued in wisecracks and a stiff left hook! Oh, and she’s Jean Harlow too, I suppose that is worth her weight in carats! Full of pathos and comedy and falling victim to the force of gravitas, Jean Harlow gets top-billing over her co-star Clarke Gable and their charm and delight is infectious, their attraction to each other palpable making this one Hell of a fun film.
The film begins with con-man Eddie Hall (Clark Gable) fleeing from his latest grift to discover Ruby Adams (Jean Harlow) naked and glistening in her bath! But in Pre-Code drama, turnabout is fair play as we get a seemingly naked Eddie Hall slathered in shampoo a few moments later in the same tub! When he stands up it’s comical because we expect a full frontal but he retains his soaked trousers. This serendipitous meeting soon results in a battle of wits and verbal deprecation. And they’re just so fucking adorable together. The first half of the film seems rather plotless as they drift like binary stars in their social orbits until another “chance” meeting brings them together again. Eddie’s drunken gal Gypsy takes a shine to Ruby but it’s Ruby who gives the shiner! Eddie and his chromium girl spend the night together (pre-marriage sex, oh the humanity) and soon Ruby is involved in a scam with Eddie and his pal that unintentionally results in a homicide. This act divides the film.
The second half subtracts Eddie from the narrative until the final moments and focuses upon Ruby who is sentenced to a Reform Home for her role in the crime. It’s more like a dormitory than prison where she is domesticated and docilized, her independent spirit fractured. Of course she does her time with Gypsy and gives her another solid left hook for old time’s sake. Pining for Eddie and hoping against hope he is still free, she serves her sentence which is about 40 weeks. But Gypsy has a change of heart when released and realizes Eddie really does love Ruby and sneaks him into the Reformatory on visiting day. It’s very modern in it’s denouement as a Black minister and his incarcerated daughter choose to join the two lovable scoundrels in holy matrimony: the minister at one point even asks Eddie if he wants to find “one of his own” to perform the ceremony. As the police crash the secret ceremony it’s too late, the deed is done. But Eddie is hauled away to do his time which amounts to about 5 years. The film’s coda gives us the happy ending we want as Ruby waits for her beau in Grand Central Station, where Eddie finally meets his son who shares the same crooked smart-ass grin.
Final Grade: (B)
