They Call It Sin

They Call It Sin is a gripping pre-Code drama film from 1932 that follows an intriguing narrative of passion, ambition, and heart-rendering reality checks set against the enthralling backdrop of New York City. It stars the luminous Loretta Young as the charming small-town ingenue, Marion Cullen, alongside the charismatic George Brent as the urbane New York executive, Jimmy Decker. Directed by Thornton Freeland, the film captures the stark contrast between the naive optimism of those who venture into the fast-paced life of the metropolis and the jaded reality that greets them.

Loretta Young's incandescent performance as Marion Cullen brings to life a compellingly complex character who is equal parts innocence and determination. When the sophisticated businessman Jimmy Decker (played by George Brent) arrives in her small Kansas hometown, Marion is immediately entranced by his glamour and suaveness. Impulsively, she follows him to New York City, abandoning her impending marriage to the local minister and fleeing the restrictive routines of provincial life.

However, life in the Big Apple is not as rosy as Marion initially dreamed. Jimmy's confident exterior hides a more fragmented reality and despite his initial attraction, he shows little interest in providing for Marion's well-being beyond the ephemeral thrills of the city's nightlife. The film intricately builds upon the dynamics of their relationship as Marion seeks to establish her place in the vast metropolis.

The supporting cast further enriches the storytelling with Una Merkel as Dixie Dare, a fellow chorus girl who befriends Marion and offers her a realistic perspective of the city's harsh realities. Merkel's performance adds depth to the narrative, illustrating the resilience and camaraderie that bond the city's struggling artists.

They Call It Sin also showcases the vibrant New York of the 1930s, capturing the feverish atmosphere of a big city, overflowing with unfulfilled dreams and unending ambition. From the hustle and bustle of Times Square to the faded glamour of vaudeville theaters, the vivid cinematography transports viewers to a world where dreams are as plentiful as the city lights, but the harsh light of reality cast long shadows.

The screenplay, based on the novel of the same name, offers a unique balance of romanticism and realism. It presents a poignant study of how a change in environment can dramatically affect relationships and personal development. The dialogues are smart and crackling, reflecting the lexicon of the era while truthfully depicting the relationships between the characters. The clever script makes for rich narrative texture, capturing the ironies and contradictions that characterize the human experience.

They Call It Sin delves into the American dream's darker undercurrents with maturity and subtlety not often encountered in films of its period. It explores broader themes of ambition, innocence, and the perils of unchecked aspiration without ever losing sight of its characters' deeply human flaws and aspirations. It presents a fascinating portrait of a time and place filled with promise and disappointment, joy and hardship, and the critical junctions at which dreams meet reality.

While They Call It Sin is, at its core, a story about chasing dreams and coping with failures, it's also a story about courage. In Marion, we see the embodiment of a dreamer's grit and tenacity. Despite the city’s unwelcoming harshness, she remains strong, embodying an unwavering aspiration and courage that keeps her moving forward. It's a testament to the human spirit's strength and tenacity, and in Marion's journey, viewers may just find something relatable, even inspiring.

The combination of powerful performances, an engrossing narrative, and thoughtful themes makes this pre-Code era film an unexpected gem worth revisiting. They Call It Sin remains a riveting exploration of ambition and reality, a cinematic ode to the hopeful, the dreamers, and those who dare to break free from their constraints to chase a sparkling but challenging dream called 'City life'.