I caught a 35mm screening of MY WEAKNESS at the 12th annual Capitolfest in Rome, NY and absolutely adored it. It's a twist on Pygmalion in which an uncouth office cleaning woman (Lilian Harvey) with hidden intentions, agrees to a make-over, leading her to deceive three different men into wanting to marry her... Charles Butterworth, Henry Travers and Lew Ayers. The dialogue is often reminiscent of what one might expect from the mouth of Groucho Marx, and it is laden with innuendo (when chastised for not taking an interest in his uncle's brassier manufacturing business, the playboy nephew indicates he does his best to stay in touch with their product," and in another scene, a saleswoman announces that "brassieres will be half-off on Tuesday".) Best of all is a song titled YOU CAN BE HAD - BE CAREFUL sung by animated nick-knacks, toys, human wine-stopper cork figurines and Rodin's "The Thinker", one figurine ridiculously having the voice of Popeye. Additionally, movie star magazine portraits join the chorus, adding the (imitated?) voices of - among others - Janet Gaynor, Clara Bow and Will Rogers (whose daughter, Mary, also has a role in the film). Also featured in the film - as Cupid - is Harry Langdon.
Review of My Weakness
