Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Ralph Graves, Lowell Sherman, Marie Prevost

Hosted by Caroline Golum and Cristina Cacioppo. Followed by an afterparty in Trees Lounge with a DJ set of pre-code era tunes from Owen Kline plus our signature cocktail special “Blonde in Hell.”

When self-professed “party girl” Kay (Barbara Stanwyck) meets aspiring artist Jerry (Ralph Graves), he sees something inspiring in her late night make-up smeared face. He propositions her to pose for a painting – and to her consternation, nothing more. At first they are at odds: he suspects she might be after his family’s wealth, she questions his interest in her. Soon enough, their feelings for each other surface, but his parents are determined to stop it at all costs.

In Ladies of Leisure, director Frank Capra lovingly captures Stanwyck in the role that made her a star. Although her portrayal of Kay is way more vulnerable than we’re used to, with the movie administering punishment contrary to what we typically cheer for in pre-codes, well, it’s just emotionally resonant enough to give a pass, thanks in part to a save-the-day physical feat by Kay’s trooper friend Dot (Marie Prevost).