The Easiest Way
| The Easiest Way | |
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Opening titles
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| Directed by | Jack Conway |
| Produced by | Hunt Stromberg |
| Written by | Edith Ellis |
| Based on |
The Easiest Way by Eugene Walter |
| Starring |
Constance Bennett Adolphe Menjou Robert Montgomery Anita Page Marjorie Rambeau Clark Gable |
| Cinematography | John J. Mescall |
| Edited by | Frank Sullivan |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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73 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $310,000 |
| Box office | $903,000 |
The Easiest Way is a 1931 American Pre-Code MGM drama film directed by Jack Conway. Adapted from the 1909 play of the same name written by Eugene Walter and directed by David Belasco, the film stars Constance Bennett, Adolphe Menjou, Robert Montgomery, Marjorie Rambeau, Anita Page and Clark Gable
Growing up in a poor working-class family, Laura (Constance Bennett) works hard to support her family. Laura's father, Ben (J. Farrell MacDonald) encourages his other daughter Peg (Anita Page) to marry a hard-working man named Nick (Clark Gable). Laura rejects a marriage proposal from the boy-next-door to become involved with William Brockton (Adolphe Menjou) a wealthy man many years her senior whom she met at a modeling job. She allows him to shower her with expensive gifts and moves into his luxury apartment.
Her newly found wealth does not come without any backlash, though. Her mother Agnes (Clara Blandick), notices a difference in Laura and that she is working more nights. Dressing in wealthy attire, and arriving in a chauffeur driven car, she pays a visit to Peg, (now married to Nick). Nick noticing her style, demands that she leaves his house immediately, as he wants no association with a kept women. Even though Laura realizes that she has become estranged from her family, she continues to stay with Brockton.
Sometime later, while vacationing in Colorado, she meets and falls in love with young newsman Jack Madison (Robert Montgomery). After a brief affair, and pledging their fidelity to one another, Jack is stationed in Argentina for a several months, as Laura promises him that she will leave Brockton. She breaks the news to Brockton, returns all of his gifts, leaves his apartment, and takes a job at Macy's department store.
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