''Cocktail Hour'' is a 1933 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was an era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry that occurred between the widespread adoption of sound in film in the late 1920s and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship gui ...

romantic drama film Romance films involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion (emotion), passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their ...

produced and distributed by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

and starring

Bebe Daniels Phyllis Virginia "Bebe" () Daniels (January 14, 1901 – March 16, 1971) was an American actress, singer, dancer, writer, and producer. She began her career in Hollywood during the silent film era as a child actress, became a star in musicals s ...

. This film was directed by

Victor Schertzinger Victor L. Schertzinger (April 8, 1888 – October 26, 1941) was an American composer, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His films include ''Paramount on Parade'' (co-director, 1930 in film, 1930), ''Something to Sing About (1937 fi ...

. A copy of the film is preserved in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...

.''Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress'', p. 32, c. 1978 by The American Film Institute

Plot

Cynthia Warren is an attractive and talented illustrator for major magazines, living the high life in a fashionable New York City penthouse. Proud of her accomplishments and her independence, she has no interest in marriage or children despite her many suitors seeking her hand in marriage. Prior to leaving on a vacation to Europe, she throws herself a going-away party and plans to leave on the ship at midnight, but her boss, Randolph Morgan, calls and insists she bring over her latest leggy cigarette ad illustration before her departure. He professes his love for her and locks her in the bathroom when she attempts to leave through the wrong door; a watchman hears her screams and lets her out in time for her to make it to her ship. In her suite, she gives one last party. Randolph turns up just before the ship sets sail and tells Cynthia he wants to marry her, to which she objects again. During the trip, Cynthia falls for William Lawton, a fellow wealthy passenger who takes her for a "sporting girl"; they spend a rather intimate night together. While getting off the ship, he informs her he is married and can only see her on the sly. She and another friend she made on the ship, Olga Raimoff, decide to go out to a bar and get drunk to celebrate Cynthia's newly-free status—and wake up several days later. At a party given by her friend, Princess de Longville, William shows up with his wife who publicly insults her. Lawton follows her to her hotel, as does de Longville's son Philippe; a fight breaks out between the two of them, resulting in Philippe pushing Lawton out a window and leaving him for dead. Cynthia takes the blame for the spat. Eventually Randolph arrives and pretends he doesn't care about her, saying he only wants illustrations for his magazine. She realizes her love for him and finally consents to marry him.

Cast

as Cynthia Warren *

Randolph Scott George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor, whose Hollywood career spanned from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in dramas, come ...

as Randolph Morgan *

Sidney Blackmer Sidney Alderman Blackmer (July 13, 1895 – October 6, 1973) was an American Broadway theatre, Broadway and film actor active between 1914 and 1971, usually in major supporting roles. Biography Blackmer was born and raised in Salisbury, ...

as William Lawton * Muriel Kirkland as Olga Raimoff, aka Tessie Burns * Jessie Ralph as Princess de Longville * Barry Norton as Prince Philippe de Longville * George Nardelli as Raoul Alvarez * Marjorie Gateson as Mrs. Pat Brown * Jay Eaton as Jerry (uncredited) *

Wild Bill Elliott Wild Bill Elliott (born Gordon Nance, October 16, 1904 – November 26, 1965) was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B Westerns, particularly the Red Ryder series of films. Early life Elliott was born G ...

as Party Guest (uncredited) * Willie Fung as Mori (uncredited) *

Forrester Harvey Forrester Harvey (27 June 1884 – 14 December 1945) was an Irish film actor. Career From 1922 until his death year Harvey appeared in more than 115 films. He was credited for about two-thirds of his film appearances, but some of his roles ...

as Barfly (uncredited) * Kenneth MacDonald as Ship's Steward (uncredited) * Alphonse Martell as French Butler (uncredited) * Paul McVey as Attorney (uncredited) *

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vance Flanagan; March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor. Early years O'Keefe was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, as Edward Vance Flanagan, the son of Edward J. Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan ( ...

as Party Guest (uncredited) * Lorin Raker as Well-Wisher (uncredited) * Rolfe Sedan as Hotel Clerk (uncredited) *

Phillips Smalley Wendell Phillips Smalley (August 7, 1865 – May 2, 1939) was an American silent film director and actor. Biography Born in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York, he was the grandson of Wendell Phillips; he was the son of George Washburn Smalle ...

as Captain (uncredited) * Oscar Smith as Porter (uncredited) * John St. Polis as French Police Investigator (uncredited) * Larry Steers as Dick (uncredited) * Florence Wix as Party Guest (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * {{AFI film, 7472
Lobby poster
images.moviepostershop.com; accessed July 24, 2015. 1933 films Columbia Pictures films Films directed by Victor Schertzinger 1933 romantic drama films American romantic drama films American black-and-white films Films produced by Robert North 1930s American films Films with screenplays by Richard Schayer Films set in New York City Films about artists 1930s English-language films Films scored by Victor Schertzinger English-language romantic drama films