In this story, Nancy Carroll is the smart working class Irish lass working for old money aristocrats. The family includes an eccentric grandfather, a lecherous father, a self-possessed alcoholic mother, and two useless adult children. The servants, who are weighted down with self-importance, perfectly mirror their employers. It's clear that Nancy has her hands full with this crew, but equally clear that she can handle them. The most enjoyable part of the film is watching Nancy make her way skillfully through this maze of schemers and creeps.
She certainly puts the charming but worthless grandson, played by Gene Raymond, in his place after his numerous, unsubtle attempts to seduce her on in a Pullman. It's not so sure she can handle her smooth, upscale Irish dream man played by Pat O'Brien. He's kept at a distance from both Nancy and the audience, and puzzling out his motives is an interesting aspect of the film.
Though this cast of characters sounds like something out of screwball comedy, director Monta Bell never lets the humor get too wild, or presents the wealthy family as too daffy. (Unusually, Bell constantly reminds us that the rich aren't nutty and lovable, but rather have one agenda - hanging on to their loot.) Nancy's working class family are slightly more appealing, but only in contrast to her employers. Our sympathies and perspective are always, and only, with Nancy's character.
If the resolution to Nancy's search for love and success seems contrived and unsatisfying, chalk it up to the need for a happy ending. For me, she could have done better than any of the choices presented.
-Shawn Stone
Very few of Nancy's movies aren't guilty of some form of modern-day political incorrectness, and this one is no exception. It's the Irish who suffer at the hands of the screenwriters this time. Nora Ryan's family is portayed as loud-mouthed working-class poor, who will offer the finest of champagne in exchange for a beer.
The story is classic girl from the wrong side of the tracks, or in this case, the wrong side of the borough, aspiring to raise her standard of living for the present, and her station in life for the future. Convinced the quickest way to accomplish her goal is by seeking employment as a personal maid in a wealthy household, Nora does just that. I happen to adore the scene in which Nora is educated about the duties and responsibilities of a personal maid. It's priceless!
After landing a job as a personal maid in the wealthy Gary household, Nora is excited when she meets a well-heeled Irishman named Peter Shea. She immediately sets her sights on him. In the meantime she is assigned the task of " babysitting " her employer's college dropout son, who soon becomes smitten with her. Does Nancy get her dream man ? Does Sonny-boy get Nancy? You'll have to see the movie to find out. As usual, Nancy does the best she can with the given material. One thing I must say -- there is so much emphasis on Nancy's legs and ankles in this movie, it surely must have helped to increase nylon sales, but, there is little doubt it did nothing to increase ticket sales.