Masterful Movie

i must have seen a different film!!

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Although known mostly for his comedy and mystery-action roles, Cary Grant was in a number of drama films. Those were mostly in his early years, and he was quite good. In "Born to be Bad," Grant plays opposite Loretta Young who also is in a type of role she was much lesser known for in her career. Here, she plays a loose character, con artist and small-time crook who's willing to perjure herself and try any scam to make some money. She has no compunction about the proper upbringing of her young son, or concern for his future and well-being. She's quite happy to use him in any scam.Young was much more the established actor in 1934 and over time she became known for her roles as a decent woman, and caring and loving person. In this film, she commands top billing, along with a much meatier role. She plays Letty Strong. A young Jackie Kelk plays her son, Mickey, who's about 10 years old. He does very well in his role here, but as with most other childhood actors, he didn't have much of a career in films as an adult. Grant plays Malcolm Trevor, a wealthy dairy owner and caring and kind man. He's also no dupe to be hoodwinked by a scam, except possibly one of the heart. He and his wife, Alyce (played by Marion Burns) haven't been able to have children.The story takes off after Mickey is hit by a milk truck that Malcolm is driving; and Letty comes up with a scheme to bilk Trevor's company for serious damages. I won't divulge how the story plays out, except to say that a love triangle soon develops with the alluring Letty duping Malcolm into a romance that may lead to an end to his marriage.The film is a good look at Cary Grant in an early dramatic role, and Loretta Young in a diverse role. It's an interesting and entertaining film, but nothing special.

This picture was right on the cusp of the Motion Picture Production Code, and as such it ran into quite a bit of trouble before its release.This film is on another "cusp" -- right during that period from about 1932-1934 when films were beginning to be sophisticated. This film was more sophisticated than some, but not as sophisticated as others.And interestingly, this film was made when Cary Grant had been making films for only a little over a year, and it shows Cary Grant before he was...well, Cary Grant. You see none of the Cary Grant persona here. He's just another actor near the beginning of his climb "up".So this film is interesting in the annals of film-making for several reasons, but that is not saying it's a very good film. It's overly simple and almost funny in a few places where it's not supposed to be. Loretta Young is quite good here, but her character is almost as low as they go...so you're not apt to like her role very much. But, she sure was beautiful.Watch this film...once...for the time frame in which it was made. But I doubt you'll come back a second time.

Letty (Loretta Young) is a tramp. Early in the film she is established as a classy, attractive girl who appreciates fine things. The viewer is then given a shock when she suddenly changes in demeanor. I was impressed with the way Loretta Young was able to go from "nice" to "naughty" in one scene, giving away her character's true nature beyond a doubt. For nearly the full length of the movie we see Letty trying to cheat her way through life, convinced it is the only way to survive.Audiences of 1934 may have been looking for escapism in motion pictures, but I do not believe they could have found Loretta Young's character appealing. Pregnant at 15, she was taken in by a kind book store owner, but as she reached her early 20's she had taught herself and her son to win at any cost. In doing so, she becomes an escort to prominent men while her son, Mickey (Jackie Kelk), learns to be "street-wise" at a very early age. You could easily imagine Mickey ending up in prison. Having a lawyer offer advice on how to commit a new scam was a nice touch. Surely no one could feel sorry for Letty losing her son as an unfit mother. Loretta played that "unfit" part perfectly.Cary Grant really blended into the background in Born To Be Bad. His star was rising, but virtually any lead actor could have played Mal Trevor. Jackie Kelk was slightly older than his character, Mickey, at the time the movie was made. I found Mickey's change of heart to be a bit too easy, but as others have commented the movie is a bit short. Maybe with more time to show the supporting characters develop the movie would have made more sense. The only characters that really had any depth were Letty and Mickey.

I want to comment on that the romance was there...I just want ed to say that I thought the ending would be better, but she just leaves.. I think eventually in the future if this was a true story that she would stay with him... Like if they made a sequel to this that she would come back and be with him in the end with Mickey...With saying that.. I pretty much liked the rest of the movie.. I think that Cary Grant is very gorgeous in his younger years in this movie.. and Loretta Young is just as beautiful as she is in The Bishops wife (Which Cary Grant plays her guardian angel also in which he falls in love with her)... The movie is a lesson to stay strong and tough....and lie... to get out of unbeatable predicaments.