Part of January Viewing
When
two handsome men are vying for your affection, what's a gal to do? If
you're Jean Arthur, you bask in the attention. If you are pre-code
Miriam Hopkins, however, you take the triangle as far as it can go--all the way.
In Design for Living (1933), Gilda (Hopkins) meets a pair of struggling artists, painter George (Gary Cooper) and playwright Tom
(Frederic March). Both make her tingle--one from toe to head, the other
head to foot, and she cannot decide whom she likes best. So what does
she do? Moves in with them to act as their muse. Nothing more per a "Gentleman's Agreement." It works fine until Tom is called away on business and carnal desire proves too strong for the remaining two.
Hopkins dramatically proclaims, "I am no gentleman."
The triad is broken up. Gilda and George go one way, Tom the other. All is well until Tom turns up one day while George is away. Gilda's bell still rings for Tom--figuratively and literally--she really does ring the bell of his old typewriter.
All that is needed to land March in the sack: a little ring-a-ding-ding.
