Born to Be Bad1934
Born to Be Bad (1934)
Born to Be Bad Photos
Movie Info
Cast
as Letty Strong
as Malcolm Trevor

as Mickey Strong
as Fuzzy
as Steve Karns
as Max Lieber

as Dr. Dropsy
as Adolph
as Alice Trevor
as Lawyer

as Butler

as Truant Officer
as Miss Crawford

as Headwaiter

as Admirers at Club

as Admirers at Club

as Admirers at Club
as J.K. Brown

as Judge McAffee
as Detective

as Doctor
Critic Reviews for Born to Be Bad
All Critics (1) | Fresh (0) | Rotten (1)
Even by standards of Depression melodramas, this banal woman's picture, about a single mom forced to give up her son to guardian parents, further suffers from a weak perfromance by Cary Grant and unconvincing one from Loretta Young.
Audience Reviews for Born to Be Bad
An early attempt on Grant's part, most of the film is less of an actual film and more of a cautionary tale for the nymphets and flappers still left over from the roaring twenties. At least the film is carried on the backs of two of the best stars of the day. Old Hollywood legends Cary Grant and Loretta Young are the main reason to watch this venture, not for any superb performances, because neither shines in this dour picture. Grant is still wet behind the ears, having followed Mae West around like a lovesick puppy in his last two films, and was completely wrong for the part of the golden boy philanthropist with a bendable will. Loretta, as the loving mother with a bad girl streak, is perfectly in her element but falls flat with extremely lax dialogue and ridiculous supporting characters. The financial aspect of the film, which is part of the plot, makes no sense, and the fact that she's a mother makes even less sense. The film feels cut up and censored, and most of the more mature themes are so watered down and ill used that it's little more than a morality tale. It's short, and mind numbingly self-indulgent, soapy and melodramatic, and there's little to this film except some early examples of Grant and Young's acting. Easy to miss, I assure you.
Super Reviewer
Bad acting (yes, even The Mr. Cary Grant - it was before he found his style). Bad filming. Cliched and ill-paced story.

Super Reviewer
How can you judge a woman as fit to be a mother or not? This movie doesn't discuss this question even though it really should. Personally I didn't think Young was a horrible mother in this movie, she treated her son well. I didn't like the ending either.
Super Reviewer
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