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The Bad Sister

The Bad Sister (1931)

1h 8m | PG-13

⭐ 5.4 / 10

Marianne falls in love with con man Valentine who uses their relation to get her father's endorsement on a money-raising scheme. He runs off with the money and Marianne, later dumping her. Her sister Laura loves Dr. Lindley although she knows he loves Marianne. Marianne returns and marries a wealthy young man, and Lindley turns his love toward Laura.

Director: Hobart Henley

Studio: Universal Pictures

Genre: Drama

Video: 720p

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Cast

Conrad Nagel

Conrad Nagel

as Dr. Dick Lindley

Sidney Fox

Sidney Fox

as Marianne Madison

Bette Davis

Bette Davis

as Laura Madison

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart

as Valentine Corliss

Charles Winninger

Charles Winninger

as Mr. Madison

Emma Dunn

Emma Dunn

as Mrs. Madison

Reviews

By CinemaSerf

Sidney Fox ("Marianne") is the rather over-indulged daughter who falls for con-artist "Valentine Corliss" (Humphrey Bogart). When he manipulates her into forging her father's signature on a document endorsing his rather dodgy business venture, he absconds with the money raised from his life-long friends and colleagues and the girl - before abandoning the girl. Conrad Nagel ("Dr. Lindley") meantime has always had a soft spot for the spoiled girl even though he is loved from afar by her younger sister "Laura" (Bette Davis) so the deceit has a bit of a love triangle to it, too. It's an interesting example of both Davis (still only 23) and Bogart as youngsters learning their craft, and Fox is really the star - though her character is rather unattractive - with a gentle moral that offers little indication of just we ought to expect.