UNTAMED (1929)Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery & Ernest Torrence | Drama | Vintage Cinema

Please visit our streaming service at https://lostnfoundfilms.uscreen.io/

Untamed is a 1929 American pre-Code Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer romantic-drama film directed by Jack Conway and starring Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery, Ernest Torrence, Holmes Herbert, Gwen Lee, and Lloyd Ingraham. The script was adapted by Sylvia Thalberg and Frank Butler, with dialogue by Willard Mack, from a story by Charles E. Scoggins.

Made during MGM's transition from silent to sound movies, Untamed was Crawford's first non-musical talkie. It was the first role as a leading man for Montgomery, who made several silents before this film.

Synopsis

An oil prospector, Henry "Hank" Dowling (Lloyd Ingraham), has raised his free-spirited daughter, Alice "Bingo" Dowling (Joan Crawford), in the jungle of South America. He asks his friend, Ben Murchison (Ernest Torrence), to come work with him on oil wells that have made him rich. Just as Ben arrives with his friend, Howard Presley (Holmes Herbert), Hank is killed by a transient oil worker who has designs on Bingo.

At a relatively young age, Bingo has now inherited her father's company and wealth and Ben is appointed her guardian. She calls him and Howard both uncles, but they are not related. She is sassy and without refinement, hitting anyone she disagrees with. Her "uncles" decide that the wild Bingo should move to New York City, learn proper deportment and enter society. While they are aboard the ocean liner, she meets the young, good-looking and well-educated charmer Andy McAllister (Robert Montgomery).

It is love at first sight for Bingo and Andy while on the boat, but because Andy lacks money to care for Bingo, Ben convinces the two to part in New York and see if they still miss each other after a few months. Life goes on in New York, but roughly a year later, the two reunite and declare that their feelings for each other have not departed. The two begin seeing each other again. Still, because she is very wealthy and he is not, he is afraid of what people might think and tells her that he cannot marry her and live off her money. To complicate the situation further, Bingo's Uncle Ben discourages the relationship and "Uncle" Howard actually has feelings for Bingo himself. As Bingo is about to declare their intention to marry, Ben even offers Andy $20,000 to start a new life, knowing full-well that would cause him to leave Bingo.

When Andy turns to second-string Marjory (Gwen Lee), an irate Bingo loses her temper and shoots him in the shoulder. They make up immediately after the shooting and forgive each other. Changing his mind about leaving her, Andy decides that Bingo is the woman for him and wants to marry her. Ben offers him a job in the oil wells making a substantial salary, and the two intend to live together now.

Cast & Crew

Joan Crawford as Alice 'Bingo' Dowling
Robert Montgomery as Andy McAllister
Ernest Torrence as Ben Murchison
Holmes Herbert as Howard Presley
John Miljan as Bennock
Gwen Lee as Marjory 'Marge'
Edward Nugent as Paul
Gertrude Astor as Mrs. Mason
Lloyd Ingraham as Henry 'Hank' Dowling
Wilson Benge as Billcombe, the Butler

Directed by: Jack Conway
Written by: Sylvia Thalberg, Frank Butler
Dialogue: Willard Mack
Based on: Short story by Charles E. Scoggins
Cinematography: Oliver T. Marsh
Edited by: Charles Hochberg, William S. Gray
Music by: William Axt
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Date: November 23, 1929
Running Time: 86 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $229,000