PRIVATE NUMBER
US, 1936, 80 minutes, Black-and-white.
Robert Taylor, Loretta Young, Basil Rathbone, Patsy Kelly, Paul Harvey, Jane Darwell, John Mian.
Directed by Roy Del Ruth.
Private Number is a strange title for this film. Whose private number?
The film opens as a 1930s US equivalent of Upstairs/downstairs. The butler in charge of the household is a very prim and strict martinet, dressing down the servants in public, yet taking a cut of their wages to support himself – played in very British style by Basil Rathbone before his villains at Warner Bros and his Sherlock Holmes series. Also amongst disturbance are Jane Darwell as the head of the kitchen and an amusing Patsy Kelly.
The family is very wealthy and the son, Richard, played by Robert Taylor in his handsome yet rather stolid manner, returns from college, encounters the new maid, mistaking her for a guest, and is attracted. She is played with charm by Loretta Young, taken on as a servant, the maid to the mistress of the family, favoured by the butler who also has a lecherous eye on her and is subject to jealousy.
At a holiday house, Richard falls in love with the maid and they secretly marry, she returning to work, he returning to college, everything secret including her pregnancy. However, she is denounced by a jealous maid to the butler, reported to the family, blackmail is suspected, news of her being arrested at a raid, though innocently present, and the matter goes to court. And becomes rather serious, the clashes between the couple, the son believing the worst, finally the butler being exposed (and punched out by Richard). And happy reconciliation.
1. The title? Meaning? With reference to whom?
2. The atmosphere of the middle of 1930s? Wealthy families? Households and servants? The background for romantic comedy? And the background for legal proceedings, alleged blackmail?
3. The mansion, interiors and exteriors? The home in the country, the beauty of the countryside? New York City, apartments, fashionable apartments, the courts? The musical score?
4. The opening, establishing the family, its wealth, status, the household and the range of servants?
5. Basil Rathbone as Wroxton, the suave manner, imperious, dressing down the servants, yet taking a cut of their wages? His ruling the household? Indispensable to the family?
6. The comic background of the servants, the criticisms of Wroxton and, Gracie and her cheeky attitude? Mrs Meacham and her ruling the roost, defying Wroxton? The encounter with Ellen at the door, Gracie liking her, offering to help?
7. Ellen, her background, age, wanting a job, coming to the house, the help from Gracie, the interview with Wroxton and, his eye on her, a touch of the leering? His employing her, testing her? The later favouring her, the touch of the lecturers in his eye, he is angry and jealous reactions?
8. Work in the house, the maid to Mrs Winfield?
9. Richard, his return, studies, wealthy, his friends, mistaking Ellen for a guest, dancing? Wroxton observing?
10. Helen and Gracie going out, Gracie’s friend, the sailor date being inarticulate, the fight? Ellen’s escape, the flash man and the early encounter, her purse, taking her money, offering a lift, taking her to the bordello, the Madame posing as grandmother, the gamblers? The raid, Ellen innocent, hiding, the arrest, in jail, owning Wroxton and, his rescuing her, paying the fine, keeping the document?
11. Richard, his manner, plans for future, the personalities of his parents? Going to the holiday house, Ellen going despite Wroxton and his objections?
12. Richard, the romance, Ellen responding, being careful? Her birthday, Richard’s mother and the gift of the dress and the hat? Planning the marriage, keeping it quiet, Richard going to college, Ellen going back to service?
13. Wroxton and reporting that Ellen was pregnant? The interrogations, her explanations, not wanting to take money? Her being ousted? The issue of blackmail, suing? Gracie and her friend helping Ellen? The lawyers? The newspaper headlines, Richard and his comments? Ellen hurt? Going to the wealthy apartment, Richard and his visit, assuming the worst?
14. The court case, the witnesses, the flash man and his being bought by Wroxton and, changing his testimony? Richard, discovering the truth, punching Wroxton? Speaking in court, declaration of love for Ellen, anticipation of the baby – and his going to the apartment and the happy reunion?
