Ladies’ Man (1931) is the pre-code film starring William Powell, Kay Francis, and Carole Lombard.
Certified ladies’ man Jamie Derricott (Powell) lives off rich society women, but his recent acquisition of the Fendley women becomes complicated when Mrs. Fendley leaves on business, and her daughter, Rachel (Lombard), falls in love with him.
Jamie, in turn, falls for Norma Page (Francis) and decides to stop being a gigolo and settle down. But Jamie’s actions will soon have consequences.
Tropes:
- Awful Wedded Life: Mrs. Fendley is neglected by her husband which leads her to her affair with Jamie.
- Bad Date: Jamie charms Norma and tells her that he’ll give her the best night on the town. What really happens is all of Jamie’s problems confront him. A drunk Rachel follows him home and is heartbroken when she realizes that he’s not going to marry her.
- Downer Ending: Jamie is murdered by Mr. Fendley for avenging the affair he had with his wife and for leading his daughter on.
- Extreme Doormat: At first, Mr. Fendley is portrayed as one when Rachel tells him about Jamie and her mother’s affair. He seems unbothered by it. However, once he finds out that Jamie toyed with Rachel’s emotions, he decides to get revenge.
- Foreshadowing: Mrs. Fendley and Jamie admire the portraits of Catherine the Great and Gregory Potemkin. Potemkin dies. Guess who’s going to die?
- Idle Rich: The Fendleys have nothing better to do than have parties, get drunk, and mess up their personal lives.
- Lady Killer In Love: Jamie falls in love with Norma for her simplicity and for helping him realize the empty life he's been living.
- Love Triangle: Jamie doesn't love Mrs. Fendley or Rachel, but they're both in love with him. He's truly in love with Norma.
- Revenge Before Reason: Mr. Fendley decides to kill Jamie, running on pure jealousy and revenge for what he’s done to his family.
- Secret Relationship: Mrs. Fendley, Rachel, and Jamie. Although no one really knows about Rachel and Jamie other than the immediate family, all upper-crust society knows about Mrs. Fendley and Jamie.
- Sharp-Dressed Man: Jamie to a T. Since he’s played by William Powell, he has to be well-dressed and debonair.
