WHY BE GOOD?
Starring Colleen Moore and Neil Hamilton
VARIETY
May 8, 1929
After the first mild three-quarters of an hour, "Why Be Good?" becomes a series of questions, back and forth, as to whether the flaming Pert is a "good girl." At the finish, when Pert and Peabody Jr., both in pajamas, inform Peabody Sr. that they have wed, the boy assures his father that, yes, she is a "good girl."
He took her to a roadhouse and showed her a bedroom to find out whether she really was. The way she acted, she must have been. So that proved his original contention, which, unfortunately, was not shared by papa.
Previously, after Pert had stayed out till 3 in the morning with her sweetheart, her mother asked, "Is everything all right?"
Story of poor but pure department store girl who falls for the wealthy boss' son, and vice versa. Usual complications and windup.
Without Colleen Moore and an average Moore performance, films rates slight attention. No dialog, and that's against it from any possible exploitation.
The flaming youth theme, the basic content in this tale, is becoming well worn in the manner used and all are using it in the same manner.
Louis Natheaux, through his playing of an unsympathetic and
typical dance hall lizard, should have the featured male billing
that is now allotted to Neil Hamilton.
For more information, see "Why Be Good?" as our "Feature of the Month"