Shopworn

Directed by Nick Grinde, Shopworn follows Barbara Stanwyck’s Kitty Lane as her romance with a law student named David Livingston (Regis Toomey) is continuously threatened by his imperious mother (Clara Blandick’s Helen). It’s familiar subject matter that’s employed to erratic yet mostly watchable effect by Grinde, as the filmmaker, armed with a screenplay by Jo Swerling and Robert Riskin, delivers a briskly-paced endeavor that benefits from Stanwyck’s commanding performance – with the actress’ fiery turn periodically infusing the proceedings with bursts of much-needed electricity and energy. (Toomey’s comparatively bland presence stands in sharp contrast to his costar’s engrossing efforts, ultimately.) There’s little doubt, too, that the picture’s growing emphasis on agreeable salacious plot developments ensures that it becomes more and more watchable as it unfolds, and while the almost comically abrupt (and thoroughly unsatisfying) conclusion is disappointing (to put it mildly), Shopworn has already confirmed its place as a decent-enough melodrama that receives plenty of mileage out of Stanwyck’s completely captivating work.

**1/2 out of ****