“Ladies of Leisure was Barbara Stanwyck’s first collaboration with Frank Capra, and boy, with every close-up he gives her through the lens of Joseph Walker’s camera, you can practically feel Capra basically falling in love with her on the spot…Stanwyck exudes a wide-eyed sense of wonder that is well-nigh irresistible.” – Kenji Fujishima

Barbara Stanwyck shot to fame thanks to this zippy! peppy! jazzy! gay! romantic dramedy. Stanwyck stars as a a self-described “party girl” bopping around New York City’s nightlife scene on the prowl for a sugar daddy who strikes up a relationship of convenience (and maybe more) with an aspiring painter (Lowell Sherman) from a wealthy family. Directed by Frank Capra, Ladies of Leisure helped established the legendary director’s socially conscious style, while also inaugurating a fruitful partnership with his leading lady. Thanks in no small part to a scene of Stanwyck taking a bath, this early talkie scandalized some of the more prudish regions of the country, where it was slapped with a “pink ticket,” restricting attendance to adults only—but that likely only boosted its success! A critical and commercial hit, Ladies of Leisure is a key early talkie, notable for its frank treatment of class, morality, and female independence in Hollywood’s daring pre-Code era.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.