In small-town Marysville, attractive bank clerk Nancy Carroll (as Ruth Brock) is desired by several young men. She prefers to play the field. One of Ms. Carroll's more ardent admirers is wealthy playboy Cary Grant (as Romer Sheffield). He invites Ms. Carroll and her friends over to his lakeside estate for alcohol and fun, on a "Hot Saturday" night in July. Carroll arrives, on a date with co-worker Edward Woods (as Connie Billop). She refuses to make-out with him during a boat ride, so he dumps her ashore. That's not very gentlemanly. Carroll walks to Mr. Grant's house and he sends her home in his chauffeured car. Jealous banker's daughter Lilian Bond (as Eva Randolph) sees Carroll sneaking in late and spreads the rumor that Carroll spent the night with Grant. Carroll's reputation is ruined...
Soon, girl-shy geologist Randolph Scott (William "Bill" Fadden) returns to town, after seven years. A childhood friend, Mr. Scott discovers Carroll has grown out of her pigtails and into a bra. Carroll sees quick marriage as a solution to her problems. "Hot Saturday" is about malicious gossip, which has turned out to be a timeless problem. It's interesting to see it play out in the 1930s. Director William Seiter and the Paramount studio crew really go to town on "Marysville". The automobiles and fashions gleam. There are almost too many people in early background scenes; probably, everyone ran errands on Saturday. Watch for a scene occurring at just under 15 minutes of running time; in it, Carroll wrestles her squealing teenage sister Rose Coughlan (as Annie) to remove some stolen under-shorts.
****** Hot Saturday (10/28/32) William Seiter ~ Nancy Carroll, Cary Grant, Randolph Scott, Edward Woods
