Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Employees' Entrance is a drama about keeping a business afloat during the Great Depression. The business is a large department store called Monroe's and the owner Hale Hamilton is said to be a descendant of both James Monroe and Benjamin Franklin. But while this worthless heir enjoys his yacht, Warren William is doing whatever it takes and doing it ruthlessly to keep the store afloat.There won't be too many people in mourning when William shuffles off the mortal coil. But that's all right by him. Every fiber of his being is devoted to his job. He's quite the user of people and one of them he spots a possible protege, Wallace Ford. He likes single men with no families working for him. But William doesn't know that Ford is secretly married to a young model William has hired, Loretta Young. That's going to present problems.A lot of similar theme are present here as in Billy Wilder's classic The Apartment. No romantic angle like in The Apartment for William however, he's 100% business. However Young and Ford reach the same conclusions that Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine do in The Apartment.A few familiar faces from Warner Brothers stock company are present like Ruth Donnelly and Allen Jenkins. Stealing every scene she's in is man trap Alice White. William has her on special assignment.Employees' Entrance holds up well though this is a film firmly set in the time of The Great Depression.

The history of Hollywood's Pre-Code talkies constantly cites 'Employees' Entrance, 'Babyface' and 'Red-Headed Woman' as films which finally convinced the major producers to unleash Will Hays and Joseph I. Breen to make use of the Production Code before special interest groups, such as the Legion of Decency, became official censors.When considering 'Employees' Entrance' it is important to get certain facts correct: The central male lead character 'Kurt Anderson' is played by the experienced stage actor WARREN WILLIAM, who came to Hollywood in 1931, after silents were no longer being produced.Because one of the actors playing an important character part of 'Ross' died in an auto accident on 16 December 1932, after principal photography ended, we know that co-star LORETTA YOUNG (playing 'Madeline') was not yet 20 when this film was made. She was born on 6 January 1913. She was photographed as well as in any of her films. The film was released in later January 1933.ALICE WHITE who plays 'Poly Dale' had been a secretary in the movie business and became a major star from the end of silents to the first wave of musical talkies. One problem was she did not sing or dance as well as taller women. 'Employees' Entrance' was to be her comeback, but another scandal finished her move career as an actress. She returned to being a secretary in the studios and did very well.IMDb does not list ALLEN JENKINS as being credited, and many reviewers say this. However, in the official posters, he is prominently credited, as would be expected because he was one of Warner Bros most popular character actors.I completely agree, all the elements needed for a classic, such as 'Casablanca' click for 'Employees' Entrance'. The script is typical of WB, ripped from the contemporary headlines about the Depression, and then exceptionally polished. The casting was ideal. The production values were 'A' level. This film was released a few weeks before '42nd Street' so it was not the top box office hit for WB in 1933, but it made a lot of profit.Although Pre-Code, it is only suggested that any character slept with another, with fade-outs and dissolves as later standard after The Code was enforced.I admit to being a Warren William fan. I never cared for Loretta Young in her post 1935 films, but because at 19 she was so fresh and beautiful, I have watched a lot of films she made before 'Employees' Entrance' to see her learn to act dialog on camera. Loretta was on top of her game as 'Madeline' here.Do yourselves a favor and watch 'Employees' Entrance' when it is shown and ask for it to be released on DVD. I bought a VHS copy and watch it often.

If you are looking for a subtle film about the corporate world, then this is NOT the film for you! Instead, Warren William plays an over-the-top caricature of a businessman that is highly reminiscent of Hitler--and as a result is highly reminiscent of some of Williams' other films, SKYSCRAPER SOULS and THE MATCH KING! Despite this all being a bit silly and hard to believe, in an odd way, the film is still very entertaining and is sleazy fun. I especially like how again and again, the writers chose NOT to take the subtle path but chose to make the story a trashy soap opera. For example, when William forces yet another employee off the job after years of service, one jumps to his death from the 9th floor. Later, when he gets in an argument with a floozy in his employ, she tosses her Pomeranian at him--at which point he stares at it and then tosses the poor pooch into the trash can! With such silly scenes abounding, it's obvious that the film makers did NOT take themselves too seriously and Williams' character is so awful, you probably will laugh at some of his hysterics.By the way, after seeing this film, didn't you also get strong gay vibes from Williams' character? He did everything he could to separate his #2 man from his wife because he wanted him all to himself! Considering this is a so-called "Pre-Code" film, I seriously think they intended many in the audience to pick up on this undercurrent.

I have never been a fan of William Warren's, but this is the perfect role for him. I usually find him thoroughly unlikable and obnoxious; imagine my surprise when he is cast in just such a role and pulls it off so perfectly I find I must now respect his prowess as an actor. Well done, WW! In Employees' Entrance, we find Warren playing Kurt Anderson, an unapologetic cad who rules the Franklin & Munroe Store like a dictator. He is so flawless at playing someone so reprehensible, I loved hating him, I hoped he'd win. I especially loved him telling off the rich fops who run the store in the opening board room scene, "Do you think YOU did it?!" he demands in reference to the store's unprecedented success. I worked for a man like that once, I was crazy about him. No one ever got more work out of me. And the viewer actually doesn't feel too terribly sympathetic to the people Anderson fires throughout the movie, so much as they wonder why they were ever stupid enough to make such silly suggestions or resist Anderson when they had no ideas of their own.As the great department store enters the great depression, things get even tougher, and Anderson must drive his staff even more ruthlessly than before; but he does this to protect their jobs. And what an eye-opening time-capsule! The Franklin & Munroe store is said to employ 12,000 people...you'd be lucky to find 12 in a department store today! Imagine a store that actually provides SERVICE.Note the pre-code relationships between the characters: Anderson sleeps with Madeline twice and neither character seems to feel it is the end of the world as would have been required of them in films just a couple of years later. Further, Anderson literally pimps Polly out to divert the attention of a troublesome board member. She doesn't mind; not because she's easy but because she's figured out how to work the system.Lots of faces familiar to the Depression-era movie fan. Alice White is perfect as Polly Dale, perhaps the most amusing character in the film. Loretta Young plays Madeline with more depth than was probably written into it. Ruth Donnelly is her usual self as Miss Hall, and Allen Jenkins has an unbilled but significant role as the security chief, Sweeney. Wallace Ford is surprisingly good as Martin West; the scene where he flirts across the store with Madeline by holding up sheet music with titles like "I want to call you Sweetheart" and "You're Beautiful" is adorable.I highly recommend this entertaining film.