Through the 1930's and 1940's, Maysie Greig was considered the most prolific woman novelist of the time. Her genres were romance and mystery, usually driven by enterprising young women striving to carve their own careers. In Professional Lover (1933), our heroine moves from her love of a man to putting her own career first, regardless of the consequences.
Starr Thayle knew she was going to dislike Rex Brandon even before she met him. A reporter for the newspaper, she was assigned to get a story on the dashing movie star. She fit right into the studio party as she used to be secretary to the famed director of Rex's films, Stephen Desmond. When Rex overhears her saying he is almost too attractive, and men like that are vain peacocks, he is intrigued and plays it up, pleased to discover she really isn't impressed with his fame. "I could never stand a man of that type. The professional lover!" Her derision is fresh, as he cannot make anyone see he is not the brash character he portrays onscreen.
Her secret love for director Stephen was so strong it was impossible to be around him, as he was already married to spoiled Rita, so she left his employ to become a reporter. Rita makes no effort to hide her adoration of Rex, openly seducing him, going so far as to abandon Stephen for Rex, arriving at his door with bags packed, unrequested and unencouraged. Rex finds a way to foil her attempt but he looks a cad.
Impressed with her dislike for him, Rex hires Starr as secretary on his next film, and they all fly down to Mexico. Stephen again directing but doing poorly as he is angry at Rex, and he asks Starr to be his secretary, too. As the two men vie for her attention, she takes a small one-line part in the film, which is such a success the studio offers her a contract to become the next talkie star. In fact, Rex states he will only do his next film if Starr is his leading lady! for he is now enamoured with her, the one girl in America who would turn her tiny, adorably freckled nose at him...sweet darling that she is! A woman not blinded by stardom, maybe there is a chance she would love him for who he is.
Recap: Starr still loves Stephen, Rita still loves Rex, Rex loves Starr but won't let her know, and now Stephen finds he is in love with Starr. He is ready to leave Rita behind and asks Starr to marry him - if she leaves her film career behind. Wasn't that what she wanted all along?
This convoluted whirlpool of emotions is only the tip of the shenanigans in this novel. I am happy to say Starr is always looking out for herself, above the changing whims of the men. She finds she can build her own career, and even have the love she desires, just like a man would do. Well written with a breezy pace, I enjoyed reading this in an evening.
This takes place in 1933, the early days of the talkies when star like Ginger Rogers, Kay Francis, Dick Powell and James Cagney were top of the box office. This may be too light a film for stars like Bette Davis and George Brent, but I can see Joan Blondell and Warren William as a good couple, they already did it in Gold Diggers of 1933.
My other Maysie Greig reviews:
1933 / Paperback / 187 pages
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