She Had to Choose

1934 film by Ralph Ceder

October 1, 1934 (1934-10-01)

Running time

65 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

She Had to Choose is a 1934 American romantic comedy crime drama film directed by Ralph Ceder and starring Buster Crabbe, Isabel Jewell and Sally Blane. Distributed by Majestic Pictures, it is set in California during The Depression.

Plot

Sally Bates (Isabel Jewell) leaves Texas, headed for Hollywood, in the 1930s. She is tempted to take a job as a mechanic, with Pop (Arthur Stone), on the highway, but presses on in to town.

She's going to sleep in her old "Tin Lizzie". But after she saves Bill's neck (Buster Crabbe) with her old six-shooter during a botched hold-up, Bill takes her home to live with his mom (Maidel Turner), and gives her a job at his drive-in restaurant.

Sally's friendly and easy going manner is very popular with the customers, but Bill gets jealous when Jack (Regis Toomey), the reckless younger brother of his well-to-do girlfriend Clara (Sally Blane), starts paying Sally attention, following her around in his roadster.

Sally is so humiliated when Clara rips off the dress Jack gave her, at a nightclub, she ends up at his hotel room, married to Jack, after an ill-conceived night of drinking.

Bill arrives in the morning to confront the drunken Jack and take Sally home, but Jack trips and smashes his head, killing himself. Bill is under investigation for murder of the wealthy socialite.