Lilly Turner

Lilly Turner is a 1933 American pre-Code melodrama directed by William A. Wellman, starring Ruth Chatterton and produced by First National Pictures. It is based on the 1932 play of the same name by Phillip Dunning and George Abbott. Warner Brothers (which absorbed First National in November 1929) attempted to reissue the film in 1936, but the Production Code Office denied them a certificate.^[1]

Lilly Turner
Directed by	William A. Wellman
Written by	George Abbott (play) Gene Markey Kathryn Scola
Based on	Lilly Turner 1932 play by Phillip Dunning and George Abbott
Produced by	Hal B. Wallis (uncredited)
Starring	Ruth Chatterton George Brent Frank McHugh
Production company	First National Pictures
Distributed by	First National Pictures The Vitaphone Corporation
Release date	May 13, 1933 (1933-05-13)
Running time	65 minutes
Country	United States

Plot

A woman who marries a bigamist, then a drunk, and falls in love with another man, all while working at a carnival.

Cast

• Ruth Chatterton as Lilly Turner
• George Brent as Bob Chandler
• Frank McHugh as Dave Dixon
• Guy Kibbee as Doc Peter McGill
• Robert Barrat as Fritz
• Ruth Donnelly as Edna Yokum
• Marjorie Gateson as Mrs. McGill
• Gordon Westcott as Rex Durkee
• Arthur Vinton as Sam Waxman
• Grant Mitchell as Dr. Hawley
• Margaret Seddon as Mrs. Turner
• Mae Busch as Hazel

Reception

A critic of the Modern Screen stated: "The entire cast, including Guy Kibbee, is very good, especially Frank McHugh, but the story is sordid and quite dull."^[2] Variety wrote: "Picture is Miss Chatterton's all the way, star making every effort to give what the story lacks and what is missing in the direction."^[3] The Movie Mirror stated: "It's sordid and weak. You'll wish they'd given Chatterton something better."^[4]