SLANDER HOUSE (1938) Adrienne Ames, Craig Reynolds & Esther Ralston | Adventure, Crime, Drama | B&W

Slander House is a 1938 American drama film directed by Charles Lamont. The film's producer was Ben Judell of Progressive Pictures, known for low-budget exploitation films with provocative titles; other films released by Progressive the same year included Rebellious Daughters and Delinquent Parents.

SYNOPSIS
Owner of salon catering to fat society dames must deal with a dull fiance, a romantic stranger, the jealous blond who loves him, and the lecherous husband of a client.

Helen Smith and Mazie Mason run a salon for wealthy women to keep their figures and bodies in shape. Helen is dating a doctor whose aunt is in high class society. Mazie is a more working-class girl and she dates a reporter, Terry Kent. The film shows the women exercising, getting rub downs and lined up in steam baths. The women gossip and some women learn their husbands are cheating on them. Comedy is added when one customer brings in her dog and another woman has a pet monkey.

Mme. Helene is dating Dr. Stallings but after a long day, she calls off the date to go home and rest. At home she finds flowers and the hot shot and aggressive Pat Fenton waiting. He tells her the doctor is all wrong for her and asks does she really love Stallings. Pat takes her out on the town but ends up in a fist fight with his attorney. Helen flees the night club but the event makes the society news. Helen keeps rejecting Pat but is not sure if she and the doctor are the right fit.

Mrs. George Horton is a customer of the salon. Her husband has made advances toward Helen and one day Helen and George are in a car accident together. Helen assures Mrs. Horton that nothing is going on and that her husband loves her.

CAST & CREW
Adrienne Ames as Helen "Mme. Helene" Smith
Craig Reynolds as Pat Fenton
Esther Ralston as Ruth De Milo
George Meeker as Dr. Herbert Stallings
Pert Kelton as Mazie Mason
William Newell as Terry Kent
Dorothy Vaughan as Mrs. Horton
Edward Keane as George Horton
Vivien Oakland as Mrs. Conway
Ruth Gillette as Mme. Renault
Dot Farley as Mrs. Willis
Bonita Weber as Mrs. Richards
Blanche Payson as Hilda
Mary Field as Bessie, an attendant
Louise Squire as Olga
Fay McKenzie as Anna
Harry Depp as Higginbotham
Robert Homans as The Irish Policeman

Directed by Charles Lamont
Written by John W. Krafft (writer), Gertrude Orr (writer), Madeline Woods (novel Scandal House)
Produced by Ben Judell
Cinematography M.A. Anderson
Edited by S. Roy Luby
Production company Progressive Pictures
Release date 4 October 1938
Running time 65 minutes
Country United States
Language English