Pre Code Hollywood Season: FD Cinematheque

The Constant Woman AKA Hell In a Circus (1933)

Director: Victor Scherzinger

Cast: Conrad Nagel, Leila Hyams, Tommy Conlon, Claire Windsor, Stanley Fields, Fred Kohler, Alexander Carr, Robert Ellis, Lionel Belmore, Ruth Clifford, Mickey Daniels

76 min

 

The Constant Woman (1933), also known as Auction in Souls and Hell in a Circus, is an American Pre-Code film directed by Victor Schertzinger. It is based on an early Eugene O’Neill play called Recklessness.

Plot

Marlene Underwood is a star circus performer, whose husband Walt buys the circus while their son Jimmie worships everything his mother does. Marlene leaves them both to go join a larger show, then is killed in a fire, resulting in Walt going into a downward spiral of alcohol and sorrow.

A woman called Lou helps restore Walt’s faith in human nature, but she is resented by young Jimmie, who feels she is trying to take his mother’s place. Walt gets back on his feet, but now must try to stop Jimmie from joining the circus himself.

Cast

• Conrad Nagel as Walt Underwood
• Leila Hyams as Lou
• Tommy Conlon as Jimmie Underwood
• Claire Windsor as Marlene Underwood
• Stanley Fields as “Beef”
• Fred Kohler as Bouncer
• Robert Ellis as Leading Man
• Lionel Belmore as Character Man
• Ruth Clifford as Floozie

External links[edit]

• The Constant Woman on Internet Movie Database
• The Constant Woman is available for free download at the Internet Archive

Film Collectors Corner

Watch The Constant Woman Now – Instant Video on You Tube

 

Blu Ray

Not released on Blu Ray

 

DVD

Not released on DVD