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Based on the play "The Church Mouse" by Ladislas Fodor and Paul Frank, Beauty and the Boss stars Marian Marsh and Warren William. Although billed second in the credits, DM's part is brief and undeveloped.
Baron Josef Von Ullrich (Warren William) is a high-powered Viennese banker who discharges his comely secretary Olive (Ollie) Frey, (Mary Doran) when he finds himself distracted by her from his work. Susie Sachs (Marian Marsh) tricks her way into his office and procures the just vacated position, impressing Von Ullrich with her secretarial abilities. Plain, poor, and unsophisticated, Susie is just what Von Ullrich is looking for. Performing her job with expert precision, Susie accompanies Von Ullrich, his brother Paul (DM), and Count Von Tolheim (Frederick Kerr) to Paris where a big business deal is consummated. Taking a tip from Ollie, who is staying at the same hotel, Susie blossoms into a charming young woman and is noticed as such by the Baron who falls for her. After discharging her as he did with Ollie, he proposes via dictation.
Fast paced but of little substance, Beauty and the Boss is unexceptional. The dialogue, although well handled by Marsh, is unwieldy and the plot is predictable. The stars do their best and it is fun to see Frederick Kerr of Frankenstein fame in a supporting role. Charles Butterworth supplies the comic relief while DM is wasted in his tiny role although he does proclaim his love for Susie. Variety remarked, "Unconvincing in its basic import, – not that those things haven't happened – its of such elementary Cinderella stuff that even the Woolworth sirens will chew their cud in dubious reflection." Also, "Warren William was alright up to a certain point as the big business man. Warners has been trying to give William a build up as a new type of male lead, but he has yet to find his opportunity. Same went for David Manners, for a time, but here the juve is sloughed off in a bit."
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