Maisie Was a Lady
Encyclopedia
Maisie Was a Lady is the fourth in a series of films starring Ann Sothern
as good-hearted showgirl Maisie
Ravier.
) loses Maisie her carnival sideshow job as the Headless Woman, he offers her the use of his car to get to town. However, she is pulled over and arrested by a motorcycle policeman who recognizes the automobile. The next day, when Maisie tells her story to the judge, a hung over
Bob remembers enough to admit that he probably did lend her the car.
The judge orders Bob to hire her for two months at $25 a week, the terms of her previous employment. She refuses to accept money for nothing, but offers to work as a maid at the Rawlston family mansion. Bob hands her over to the head butler, Al Walpole (C. Aubrey Smith), who has worked for the family for 30 years.
When one of the guests, Link Phillips (Edward Ashley), makes a pass at her the next morning, she disdainfully brushes him off. The other guests are not much better; they ridicule her for her lack of polish. However, Bob's sister, Abigail "Abby" Rawlston (Maureen O'Sullivan
), apologizes for her friends' rudeness and makes her her personal maid.
Maisie learns that Bob and Abby's father, "Cap" (Paul Cavanagh
), has been away frequently. When Cap sends word that he will be unable to attend the announcement of his daughter's engagement, Abby is deeply disappointed. Maisie becomes distressed when she learns that Link is Abby's fiance.
Things come to a head when Link's jilted girlfriend and supposedly Abby's friend, Diana Webley (Joan Perry), arrives, determined to avenge herself. Abby is devastated when she discovers that Link is only marrying her for her wealth, and that all her so-called friends knew about it and were laughing at her behind her back. She tries to commit suicide. The doctors are none too optimistic; Abby has lost her will to live.
When Cap shows up, Maisie gives him a tongue lashing for his neglect of his children. Abby had sought from Link the love and support she did not get from him, while Bob had turned to drink. Seeing the error of his ways, Cap encourages Abby to get well. When Abby is recovered enough, the whole family decides to take a vacation, with Maisie along as Abby's companion.
Maisie realizes that she and Bob have fallen in love. For a moment, she cherishes the possibility, then decides that the social gulf between them is too great. She leaves and joins a vaudeville show. Bob tracks her down, overcomes her resistance, and embraces her.
Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
as good-hearted showgirl Maisie
Maisie
Maisie Ravier is a popular fictional character, the star of ten films and a radio show. She was played by Ann Sothern.After a string of films that failed to attract an audience, Sothern left RKO Radio Pictures and was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, making her first film for MGM in 1939...
Ravier.
Plot
When wealthy drunkard Robert "Bob" Rawlston (Lew AyresLew Ayres
Lew Ayres was an American actor, best known for starring as Paul in All Quiet on the Western Front and for playing Dr...
) loses Maisie her carnival sideshow job as the Headless Woman, he offers her the use of his car to get to town. However, she is pulled over and arrested by a motorcycle policeman who recognizes the automobile. The next day, when Maisie tells her story to the judge, a hung over
Hangover
A hangover describes the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. The most commonly reported characteristics of a hangover include headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy, dysphoria, diarrhea and thirst, typically after the...
Bob remembers enough to admit that he probably did lend her the car.
The judge orders Bob to hire her for two months at $25 a week, the terms of her previous employment. She refuses to accept money for nothing, but offers to work as a maid at the Rawlston family mansion. Bob hands her over to the head butler, Al Walpole (C. Aubrey Smith), who has worked for the family for 30 years.
When one of the guests, Link Phillips (Edward Ashley), makes a pass at her the next morning, she disdainfully brushes him off. The other guests are not much better; they ridicule her for her lack of polish. However, Bob's sister, Abigail "Abby" Rawlston (Maureen O'Sullivan
Maureen O'Sullivan
Maureen Paula O’Sullivan was an Irish actress.-Early life:O'Sullivan was born in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, the daughter of Roman Catholic parents Mary Lovatt and Charles Joseph O'Sullivan, an officer in The Connaught Rangers who served in The Great War...
), apologizes for her friends' rudeness and makes her her personal maid.
Maisie learns that Bob and Abby's father, "Cap" (Paul Cavanagh
Paul Cavanagh
Paul Cavanagh was an English film actor. He appeared in over 100 films between 1928 and 1959. He was born in Chislehurst and died in London from a heart attack....
), has been away frequently. When Cap sends word that he will be unable to attend the announcement of his daughter's engagement, Abby is deeply disappointed. Maisie becomes distressed when she learns that Link is Abby's fiance.
Things come to a head when Link's jilted girlfriend and supposedly Abby's friend, Diana Webley (Joan Perry), arrives, determined to avenge herself. Abby is devastated when she discovers that Link is only marrying her for her wealth, and that all her so-called friends knew about it and were laughing at her behind her back. She tries to commit suicide. The doctors are none too optimistic; Abby has lost her will to live.
When Cap shows up, Maisie gives him a tongue lashing for his neglect of his children. Abby had sought from Link the love and support she did not get from him, while Bob had turned to drink. Seeing the error of his ways, Cap encourages Abby to get well. When Abby is recovered enough, the whole family decides to take a vacation, with Maisie along as Abby's companion.
Maisie realizes that she and Bob have fallen in love. For a moment, she cherishes the possibility, then decides that the social gulf between them is too great. She leaves and joins a vaudeville show. Bob tracks her down, overcomes her resistance, and embraces her.
Cast
- Ann Sothern as Maisie Ravier / Mary Anastasia O'Connor
- Lew AyresLew AyresLew Ayres was an American actor, best known for starring as Paul in All Quiet on the Western Front and for playing Dr...
as Robert Rawlston - Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'SullivanMaureen Paula O’Sullivan was an Irish actress.-Early life:O'Sullivan was born in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, the daughter of Roman Catholic parents Mary Lovatt and Charles Joseph O'Sullivan, an officer in The Connaught Rangers who served in The Great War...
as Abigail Rawlston - C. Aubrey Smith as Al Walpole
- Joan Perry as Diana Webley
- Paul CavanaghPaul CavanaghPaul Cavanagh was an English film actor. He appeared in over 100 films between 1928 and 1959. He was born in Chislehurst and died in London from a heart attack....
as "Cap" Rawlston - Edward Ashley as Link Phillips