Who is the modern girl of the 30s? Before I went to the premiere of The Whole Town’s Talking, I wasn’t sure. Was it Claudette Colbert, Jean Harlow. or Carole Lombard? Tonight I am absolutely convinced, it must be Jean Arthur.
She is fresh, sassy and individualistic — just like a modern young woman ought to be. Jean Arthur’s character Miss Clark demonstrates her independence by coolly dropping her hat, before she sits down in a restaurant. The office manager reminds her, “You’re late!” And Miss Clark replies, “Late, what for? Has something happened?” Her “idea of a boyfriend” is the lookalike of a dangerous killer. When they both get arrested by the police, she socks one of the detectives on the jaw.
Arthur’s leading man, Edward G. Robinson, actually plays two characters in this comedic mystery: the killer and his clumsily harmless lookalike. But although he is much more present in The Whole Town’s Talking, Jean Arthur is the winner of this new Columbia picture. She doubtlessly is the best-selling female star Columbia Pictures has to offer at the present time.
Being fairly whimsical, in a wonderfully sophisticated way, this new Jean Arthur is the girl of modern time, and we need to see her face on magazine covers — just to remind us how we ought to be.
Clarissa Smith — February 22, 1935
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