Another pre-Code entry of interest is the 1930 "Paid" (which I would rate as a 9/10 DVD from Warner Archive) in which Joan Crawford kicks up a storm in Bayard Veiller's smash-hit 1912 Broadway success, "Within the Law".
Actually, as filmed here anyway, the 3rd Act belongs not to Joan Crawford but to John Miljan who suddenly seizes center stage., while Joan hardly manages to get a look-in.
Nonetheless, Crawford does make the most of her pre-3rd Act opportunities and she receives great support from Marie Prevost, Douglass Montgomery and two or three others, but not, in my opinion, from Robert Armstrong who seems all wrong as a romantic (or would-be romantic) lead.
Another problem is that the plot is full of holes, but director Sam Wood keeps it moving along at an agreeably fast pace, until he and the scriptwriters throw in the towel for the aforesaid 3rd Act which takes place entirely on the stage set and even commences with a typical curtain-raising episode in which John Miljan sets up the scene's elaborate props.
Actually, as filmed here anyway, the 3rd Act belongs not to Joan Crawford but to John Miljan who suddenly seizes center stage., while Joan hardly manages to get a look-in.
Nonetheless, Crawford does make the most of her pre-3rd Act opportunities and she receives great support from Marie Prevost, Douglass Montgomery and two or three others, but not, in my opinion, from Robert Armstrong who seems all wrong as a romantic (or would-be romantic) lead.
Another problem is that the plot is full of holes, but director Sam Wood keeps it moving along at an agreeably fast pace, until he and the scriptwriters throw in the towel for the aforesaid 3rd Act which takes place entirely on the stage set and even commences with a typical curtain-raising episode in which John Miljan sets up the scene's elaborate props.