Based on a play by
George Abbott and John V.A. Weaver, Love 'Em and Leave 'Em stars
Evelyn Brent and
Louise Brooks as sisters in competition over the affections of
Lawrence Gray. One sister covers for the other when a large amount of money is stolen, but her selflessness is rewarded when "bad" sis steals Gray away. Things eventually get straightened out, no thanks to would-be seducer
Osgood Perkins, who, as the title tells us, "spent three years curing himself of halitosis, only to find out that he was unpopular anyway." The two leading ladies are far more interesting than the vapid hero, who spends half his time looking cow-eyed or comporting about in a silly party costume. Louise Brooks would later recall that director
Frank Tuttle didn't inform her that the film was a comedy; he wanted her to play the material straight, which turned to be most effective. Love 'Em and Leave 'Em was remade as a talkie starring
Clara Bow and
Jean Arthur, 1929's The Saturday Night Kid. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide