A cleaning woman scrubs floors while a poet scrubs his soul—Pre-Code poetry hits different.
Lummox is a 1930 American Pre-Code sound film directed by Herbert Brenon, released through United Artists, and based on a 1923 novel by Fannie Hurst. The story of Bertha, a young immigrant woman who cleans the homes of the rich and is largely ignored by them, except for a young poet who considers her a muse.
Acting
Winifred Westover's silent-era eyes do ALL the talking.
Production
Wealthy mansions vs. immigrant tenements—visual class warfare.
Director
Herbert Brenon
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fannie Hurst fought the studio to keep Bertha Swedish instead of made generically 'ethnic'—rare author win in 1930.
This was Herbert Brenon's sound debut after silent stardom; his career tanked within five years, making this a fossil of failed transition.
US
