Let Us Be Gay | 1930 | Romantic Comedy, Drama

Описание: Title: Let Us Be Gay | 1930 | Romantic Comedy, Drama
Director: Robert Z. Leonard
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Starring: Norma Shearer, Marie Dressler, Rod La Rocque, Gilbert Emery, Hedda Hopper, Raymond Hackett, Sally Eilers, Tyrell Davis, Wilfred Noy, Helene Millard, Dickie Moore
Release Date: August 9, 1930
Runtime: 79 minutes
Format: Black and white; sound film
Country: United States
Language: English
Genres: Romantic Comedy, Drama
Series / Serial: Standalone feature
Episode: N/A

---
Chapters:
00:00:00 Kitty’s domestic devotion and marital disillusion
00:15:00 Bob’s infidelity revealed
00:30:00 Kitty’s divorce and Paris transformation
00:45:00 Weekend at Mrs. Bouccicault’s estate
01:00:00 Kitty’s flirtations confuse suitors
01:15:00 Reunion with Bob and emotional resolution

---
Summary:
Housewife Katherine “Kitty” Brown is devoted to her husband Bob, only to discover he’s been unfaithful. Heartbroken, she leaves him, divorces him, and spends three years abroad, returning as a confident and glamorous woman. When society doyenne Mrs. Bouccicault invites Kitty to her Long Island weekend to help divert a young suitor from her granddaughter, Kitty is surprised to encounter Bob among the guests. Pretending they’ve never met, the two engage in flirtatious banter and playful deception that confound the other attendees. As past affections and present attractions collide amid elegant society games and romantic mischief, Kitty and Bob must confront their shared history and decide whether love and forgiveness can reconcile them.

---
Background:
Produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Let Us Be Gay was directed by Robert Z. Leonard and released in the summer of 1930 as a pre-Code romantic comedy-drama. Adapted from a 1929 stage play by Rachel Crothers and scripted by Frances Marion and Lucille Newmark, the film showcases Norma Shearer in a role that contrasts early-scene dowdiness with later sophistication, reflecting themes of self-reinvention and marital dynamics during Hollywood’s early sound era. The production featured Marie Dressler in a lively supporting role and included performances that balance light comedy with emotional depth.

---
Trivia:
Norma Shearer portrays Kitty before and after her transformation, offering a striking contrast in appearance and confidence within the same film.

Marie Dressler’s performance as socialite Mrs. Bouccicault adds humor and warmth, helping drive the weekend’s romantic machinations.

The picture was filmed quickly due to circumstances surrounding Shearer’s pregnancy, leading to a tight, efficient production schedule.

A French-language version (*Soyons gais*) was produced the following year using the same story.

The stage play on which the film is based was concurrently produced in London, with Tallulah Bankhead starring in the theatrical version.

---
Public Domain / Rights:
Original Release: August 9, 1930
Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Copyright Status: Public Domain
Renewal: Unknown

---
Hashtags:
LetUsBeGay1930 PublicDomain MGM NormaShearer MarieDressler PreCode RomanticComedy DramaClassicFilm