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Strangers May Kiss

1931 Directed by George Fitzmaurice

Another Great Role - Another Blazing Triumph for the Winner of the 1930 Best Performance Award

After years of fighting off the advances of her old flame Steve, Lisbeth settles into a steamy, casual romance with journalist Alan. Against the advice of her happily married aunt Celia -- who encourages her to demand a serious commitment -- Lisbeth continues to see Alan, even after she hears he may have a wife in France. When Alan's work sends him abroad, a lovesick Lisbeth struggles to understand her feelings.

Norma Shearer Robert Montgomery Neil Hamilton Marjorie Rambeau Irene Rich Hale Hamilton Albert Conti Jed Prouty George Davis Henry Armetta André Cheron Bess Flowers Wilbur Mack Karen Morley Sandra Morgan Kane Richmond Edward Nugent Ray Milland Jack Trent Chris-Pin Martin Lee Phelps Conchita Montenegro

Theatrical

04 Apr 1931

USANR

USA

04 Apr 1931

TheatricalNR

81 mins More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by sarah ★★ 2

There was a TCM documentary I recently watched called Complicated Women— an hour all about exploring roles for women in pre-code Hollywood— that painted pre-codes in an extremely positive light, discussing how sophisticated, sexually-liberated career women were allowed this space in time to really exist on screen. That’s one of the many reasons why I love watching these films— they feel so separated from the Classic Hollywood I’m used to, not as confined or stuffy or suppressed. Something that bothered me about the documentary, though, was its repeated claim that women in pre-codes still had their sense of agency by the end of their films, unlike the endings of post-codes. I actually don’t find this to be entirely true, at…
Review by Gentry ★★★½ 3

“I’m in an orgy. Wallowing. And I love it.”
If your 1930s film features a young woman proudly proclaiming they are “free, white and 21” it usually means they are going to be put through the wringer and come out slightly more humble on the other side*. I can’t say Lisbeth, played by Norma Shearer, learns anything in Strangers May Kiss besides the fact that she can get whatever she wants as long as she waits long enough and stays true to her “carefree” values.
Lisbeth (maybe the most “Norma Shearer character name” ever) is a sophisticated, well-off, free spirited soul. Giggling and staring off into space. Paired up with Robert Montgomery again after The Divorcee. Still setting herself up…
Review by Emily ★★★★

Norma how could you choose that brickhead over Robert Babegomery?? But, when Bob and Norma were on screen together, they were delightful!
Review by Jillian Michelle ★★★½

Norma and Bob are always lovely together, w/ sizzling chemistry. Bob's character, Steve, is the ultimate catch and settling down with him doesn't sound so bad to me........Lisbeth (Norma) you're crazy!
Spotted Eddie Nugent in a heartbeat, AND Ray Milland?!? Lucky lucky Norma....all of her admirers make her final decision even more shocking (dare I say disappointing)!
(higher rating props to Bob Montgomery being dreamy)
Review by Kari ★★½ 1

I wasn't feeling this one. Mostly because I didn't think Norma Shearer and Neil Hamilton had chemistry. I did think Robert Montgomery and Shearer did, though.
Review by TajLV ★★★½

Part of my Pre-Code Hollywood Challenge
Adapted from Ursula Parrott's 1930 novel, this film from producer-director George Fitzmaurice takes us on a bit of a world tour in this tale of love and rejection. The main character is an heiress named Lisbeth (Norma Shearer). It starts in a private airplane. Lisbeth and her companion, the pilot, a foreign correspondent named Alan Harlow (Neil Hamilton), share a smooch that almost causes them to crash.
Later, in New York, Lisbeth and Alan meet to watch a football game with her longtime friend Steve (Robert Montgomery), who has been fond of her since they were kids in Boston. He would like her to be his wife. In fact, Lisbeth's Aunt Celia (Irene Rich),…
Review by Emily ★★★★

Bob Montgomery steals the whole movie to be honest.
Review by Jake ★★★½

what if we kissed 😘💋 and we were strangers 🫢👥 haha jk! 😜🤣 unless... 😳👀
jokes aside, this is one of Norma Shearer's pre-Codiest pre-Codes. She verbally and explicitly rejects the institution of marriage. The plot reinforces her belief system, and it doesn't turn her into a "fallen woman." This was not without controversy; Strangers May Kiss was heavily chastised, edited, and straight-up banned in several markets. Norma Shearer literally invented hot girl summer.
Review by AttaboyClarence ★★½ 1

Intriguing set-up spoiled by the worst ending of all time
Review by Kayla ★★½

SOURCE: Personal Collection
This film is included on one of the Forbidden Hollywood collections. Despite the somewhat titillating title, it unfortunately did not deliver on that front. It only has an 81 minute runtime, but felt much longer.
In this film, Norma Shearer plays Lisbeth, a young woman who is helplessly enamored with Alan (Neil Hamilton), a newspaper reporter. Lisbeth is progressive for the 1930s and believes in freedom and just wants to have sex with whom she wants and outside the confines of marriage. So far, this seems promising. But ugh, it goes off the rails quick. Because these types of films usually need a love triangle, Lisbeth's childhood friend, Steve (Robert Montgomery), is in love with her, but…
Review by AAlgar ★★½

The thing that keeps me coming back to movies from the 30s is that overwhelming feeling that people have always been the same. I’m always delighted and fascinated to see people from nearly 100 years ago acting exactly like someone would today. I did not get that feeling from this movie. Watching a woman apologize for not putting her entire life on hold for a guy who was already married and gave no indication he would ever be otherwise just… what.
Review by matnol9 ★★★

“If I send a kiss in your general direction, will you provide terminal facilities for it?”
An early pre-code romantic melodrama has Norma Shearer going foolishly overboard for a dashing looking, globetrotting Neil Hamilton and winds up getting swept off her feet..or its maybe the rug pulled out from under her….Robert Montgomery sadly takes the backseat in this film as the third wheel..not much screen time..but when he’s on practically steals the scenes…definitely needed more Rob. I enjoyed the witty and snappy dialogue…which reminds me Marjorie Rambeau as Geneva the “take it from me” type gal.

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Where to watch

Strangers May Kiss

Synopsis

Another Great Role - Another Blazing Triumph for the Winner of the 1930 Best Performance Award

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Releases by Date

Theatrical

04 Apr 1931

Releases by Country

USA

04 Apr 1931

Popular reviews

Where to watch

Strangers May Kiss

Synopsis

Another Great Role - Another Blazing Triumph for the Winner of the 1930 Best Performance Award

Cast

Director Director

Producer Producer

Writer Writer

Original Writer Original Writer

Editor Editor

Cinematography Cinematography

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Art Direction Art Direction

Sound Sound

Costume Design Costume Design

Studio

Country

Language

Genres

Theatrical

04 Apr 1931

USA

04 Apr 1931

Popular reviews

Director

Producer

Writer

Original Writer

Editor

Cinematography

Assistant Director

Art Direction

Sound

Costume Design