Lady for a Day (1933)

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

A different way of telling a story

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

If you enjoy the film Pocketful Of Miracles, which was the remake of this film, I highly recommend watching Lady for a Day the original. I found a copy of a 1933 review for this charming film and it states ' a picture which evoked laughter and tears from an audience at the first showing,' and it still hits the mark perfectly today as it did in 1933. May Robson was a superb choice to play Apple Annie and her performance is extremely splendid, she completely embodies the character of Annie, thus making her real and believable. Probably May Robson's best performance ever. No one could have done a better job of playing the lovable old Judge Blake than the wonderful Guy Kibbee. Warren William adequately handles the role of Dave the Dude along with Glenda Farrell as Missouri Martin. A host of excellent supporting actors all give sufficient performances to make this amusing sentimental tale of the grey-haired Cinderella a very pleasurable and entertaining film. There are many fine synopsis written for this film, however Lady for a Day must be seen to be fully appreciated. This is also a terrific example of Frank Capra's best work and one of the finest films from the 1930s.

"Do you believe in fairy tales?" is the question asked in this Damon Runyon story for the screen adaptation re-titled LADY FOR A DAY (Columbia, 1933). Directed by Frank Capra, it's not essentially a fairy tale but a feel-good comedy that would soon become a Capra trait where anyone who has friends is not a failure. The character in question is an old New York City Times Square street peddler named Apple Annie whose association is with that of a superstitious gambler called Dave the Dude. If these characters sound familiar, they've were used again in another Capra comedy, POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES (United Artists, 1961), starring Glenn Ford (Dave the Dude) and Bette Davis (Apple Annie). In fact, it's quite possible that the remake was responsible for keeping the original from circulation. The marque players in the original, Warren William and May Robson, are certainly not those to have survived in memory over the years. They're actors, nonetheless, worthy of recognition for a splendid job they've done under Capra's fine direction in bringing the Runyon characters to life.As the camera captures various street peddlers of Times Square, Apple Annie Dawson (May Robson) is introduced as the "queen" of Broadway to her other peddler friends and boozing old hag selling apples to those who pass her by. Also nearby is Missouri Martin's (Glenda Farrell) night spot where gambler, Dave Manville, better known as "Dave the Dude" (Warren William), feels his winning streak is connected through buying Annie's apples on a daily basis. Little is known about Annie, but is soon revealed as the story progresses. After Annie returns to her home in Shubert Alley, it is soon learned she secretly has a grown daughter, Louise (Jean Parker), whom she hasn't seen since birth, living in Spain. Over the years having arranged for her education and upbringings in a convent, she corresponds with her through the mail using stationery from a luxurious Hotel Marberry, using the name of "Mrs. E. Worthington Manville" on her return address on the envelope. When she receives word that Louise is coming on the next boat to New York to have her meet her fiancé, Carlo (Barry Norton) and future father-in-law, Count Romero (Walter Connolly) from Valencia, Spain, Annie goes into a panic. Thankfully she's got friends to help her through this crisis. Dave repays the old girl who has brought him luck by having Missouri Martin transform her into a grand dame of high society, and having his pals to act as her servants. Judge Henry G. Blake (Guy Kibbee), a noted pool shark, masquerades as her husband, while Dave's bodyguards, "Happy" McGuire (Ned Sparks) and Shakespeare (Nat Pendleton) keep certain nosy reporters away by having them hidden hidden away somewhere in the Bronx. As Annie takes up residence in a luxurious apartment during the absence of its owner, the deception goes well until situations reach a breaking point.With Robson as the central figure as the middle-aged Cinderella, there are areas in its 94 minutes where she disappears during long intervals as the story shifts more towards the subplot of others. There's also a very extended scene where Dave and his friends work out plans in making Annie's reception a success, though an inspector (Robert Emmett O'Connor) steps into the scene to prevent otherwise. One song interlude early in the story, "I Wanna Man," sung by Glenda Farrell, is performed ever so briefly.Considering the leading contenders of William, Kibbee (in a performance probably inspired by W.C. Fields), Farrell and deadpan Sparks all on loan from Warner Brothers studio making this Columbia offering look more like a Warner Brothers product than Columbia, Robson (then on loan from MGM), would, too, become a contract player of Warners (1938-40) before the decade's end. Columbia, a small studio with this success on its hands, earned several Academy Award nominations: Best Actress (Robson); Best Director (Capra); Best Screenplay and Best Picture, but no wins. Though Robson was worthy of the nomination, it's a wonder if the same would have occurred for other elderly actresses had they been played Apple Annie, namely that of MGM's Marie Dressler, Fox Studio's Henrietta Crosman, or even silent screen veteran, Lucille LaVerne, who specialized in playing old hags through much of her career, might have been interesting casting in itself. Robson, a veteran actress herself, finally got the recognition she fully deserved through Apple Annie.Reportedly out of circulation for many decades, I was fortunate to have attended a very rare screening of this nearly forgotten Capra classic at New York City's Regency Theater (Broadway and 67th Street) during a Frank Capra tribute during March-April 1982. With other hard to find Capra films on the double-bill marque, LADY FOR A DAY was truly fulfilled and enjoyed by all to an packed movie house.Cable television would become responsible in bringing this and other early Capra classics back to life again, ranging from American Movie Classics (1989-1994) to Turner Classic Movies (2002-present). Contrary to Leonard Maltin's "Movies on Video" guide published annually, LADY BY CHOICE (Columbia, 1934) also featuring Robson, is not a sequel to LADY FOR A DAY since Robson does not reprise her role of Apple Annie but plays a similar character named Patsy Patterson. Distributed to home video and later DVD, whether anyone believes in fairy tales or not, LADY FOR A DAY is vintage Capra at best still worthy of "once upon a time there was this street peddler named Apple Annie who was to become lady for a day" (***1/2 apples)

I'm no Capra fan, but here's a second movie of his (along with "The Miracle Woman") that I just loved. Maybe his pre-Codes are better than his other movies? I may have to change my mind about Capra, or at least see some more of his pre-Code movies; they're terrific! This movie was sweet and touching, without being sickening sweet or melodramatic. This movie also has lots of humor and some great dialogue. This 72-yr-old movie holds up extremely well. I was utterly charmed by this movie.The story revolves around an elderly woman, Apple Annie, who is quite poor. She sells apples for a living and sends all her money to her daughter, Louise, who lives in Spain. Annie is ashamed of her lifestyle, and she leads her daughter to believe she's a high-society lady by writing letters on the stationery of a posh hotel. Annie even has a friend on the inside of the hotel who passes Louise's letters that are sent to the hotel to Annie.One of Apple Annie's clients is "Dave the Dude", the head of a local mob. Before he does any business dealings, Dave always buys an apple from Annie for good luck.Well, not to spoil the movie too much, let me just say that Annie finds out her daughter is coming to town (New York) and she panics. Her panhandler friends talk Dave into setting Annie up in a suite at the posh hotel so that she can continue the pretense for her daughter's sake. Dave gets most of his mobster and street friends involved in one way or another -- the potential is here for great sappiness, but amazingly the story unfolds with just pure sweetness and lots of humor that has held up very well over the past 3/4-century.The performances by the lead actors were terrific. May Robson as Annie was wonderful; she gave a tender, subtle performance as the mother who loved her daughter so much, yet was so ashamed of the way she (Annie) lived. Warren William was terrific as Dave the Dude - I think his was probably the toughest role to play as he had to be a "bad guy" mob head as well as a softie who went out of his way to make Annie a lady for a day. Guy Kibbee as Annie's husband was superb, a common pool hustler who played an upper-crust gentleman. The rest of the cast were pretty good too ... I especially enjoyed the actor who played the dry and sardonic "Happy"; he had some of the best lines in the show.So, in conclusion, snappy dialogue, nice mix of drama and humor, and just the right amount of sweetness make for a wonderful pre-Code movie. If you enjoy old movies, this is a movie that you definitely won't be sorry you watched. Highly recommended.

this is the film that precedes IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT for the team of Frank Capra (director) and Robert Riskin (screenwriter). Sadly it's not regarded as one of his beloved classics...it deserves to be. William Warren is the perfect Dave the Dude, who's heart of gold aids the distressed aged damsel (May Robson...the titled LADY FOR A DAY). Most of it's innocent charm and humor haven't faded over the 71 years since it's release. Speaking of 70's...at 74 May Robson was the oldest actress to receive a Best Actress nomination.the scene near the end; where she's received by the real mayor of New York and his party guests at her phony party (meant to show off her "society" friends to her daughter, and future inlaws) is priceless. Miss Robson's quiet, teary eyed smile will still bring the viewer to near tears today. Also, Guy Kibbie, and Ned Sparks provide reliable comic support. a must see for all Capra fans.