Richard, a millionaire in love with his secretary, Diane, is dispirited when his wife refuses to divorce him. Concerned that Diane will now lose interest, Richard offers her an all-expense-paid cruise to Argentina so that she can think it over. While traveling, however, Diane falls in love with fellow traveler Mike. She resolves to come clean to Richard, but upon return she becomes conflicted when she finds out he was able to get divorced after all.
Acting
Crawford's eyes do three acts of conflict.
Direction
Brown makes a ship feel like fate itself.
Costume
Crawford's gowns scream money she might not choose.
Director
Clarence Brown
Joan Crawford
Diane Lovering
Clark Gable
Michael 'Mike' Bradley
Otto Kruger
Richard I. Field
Stuart Erwin
John L. 'Johnnie' Smith
Una O'Connor
Amy, Diane's Maid
Marjorie Gateson
Mrs. Louise Field
Akim Tamiroff
Pablo, the Ranch Chef
Hooper Atchley
S.S. Official (uncredited)
Ward Bond
Ship Steward (uncredited)
Wade Boteler
Max (uncredited)
Tommy Bupp
Boy Fishing on Dock (uncredited)
Francis X. Bushman Jr.
Gun Salesman (uncredited)
Nora Cecil
Edith (uncredited)
Colin Chase
Photographer (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Crawford and Gable's fifth film together; their chemistry was so potent MGM kept pairing them despite the Hays Code breathing down their necks.
The 'rich older man/younger woman' plot hit differently in 1934 — audiences knew women had few economic options, making Diane's 'choice' more tragedy than romance.
US
