This was the third film McCrae had made with Constance Bennett, and backed by Selznick and directed by Cukor, I'm surprised it wasn't made into a bigger production (it's only 68 minutes). According to a review on TCM.com, this film was a dud at first. Cukor did many reshoots and edits to fix it up. Lead Judy Carroll (Bennett) has to testify against Al Howard (Walter Pidgeon), and because of that, she is not allowed to adopt the little girl she had been raising. To get her career going again, Judy wants to do a play written by "Jakobs" ( McCrae), but she has become so "refined", that he doesn't think Judy can do the part justice. Judy takes him around to her old, rough neighborhood to prove she started off at the bottom, and can do the part justice. Bennett even sings a song in a pub during a night on the town. Of COURSE they fall in love, and if Jakobs' jealousy doesn't get in the way, it could work out. Then more complications arise, and they must decide if you CAN have it all. Jobyna Howland plays Judy's mother, and she's so over the top, and drunk half the time that she really steals the scenes in which she appears. Also a couple lines for Sterling Holloway (Winnie the Pooh !) in the pub. This seems to have started as a play by Lucia Bronder, her only film project. There are a couple of abrupt, rough edits, but after reading the history of the film, I guess that's to be expected. It's pretty good... I'm actually surprised at the low rating that this has... of course, it IS only 200 votes so far.

Rockabye is both the title of this film and the title of a play that society writer Joel McCrea wants Constance Bennett to star in. She's a hit in the play, the movie left a bit to be desired.This movie is strictly Connie's show and she has three men panting after her. First is Walter Pidgeon who is a political fixer of sorts who is on trial for bribery. Her relationship with him causes her to be subpoenaed as a witness by District Attorney Charles Middleton. Though Pidgeon is acquitted both their reputations have suffered. As a result the baby she has adopted is taken from here by the blue noses who run the Bureau of Child Welfare. What this crowd might have done with Angelina Jolie or Madonna today is something to contemplate.Her second man is agent Paul Lukas who suggests a nice long European trip till the scandal talk dies down which she does and where she meets McCrea. His character seems to be based on that real society playwright George Kelly, uncle of Grace. He writes a play that proves to be her biggest hit.Connie's lucky in her career on stage, but singularly unlucky in love. The rest of Rockabye will show that should one care to view it. Bennett and McCrea were a screen team of sorts doing four films including this one in the early Thirties. According to Tony Thomas in the films of Joel McCrea and THE authority on such matters Robert Osborne, the film was originally shot with Phillips Holmes in Joel's role, but Connie got George Cukor the director to re-shoot her scenes with McCrea. Personally in this somewhat maudlin film I think that Phillips Holmes might have been done the real favor.George Cukor who usually had such a good touch in these 'women's' pictures went off the mark in this early work of his.

Rockabye (1932) * 1/2 (out of 4) Growing up trashy but turned into a lady, an actress (Constance Bennett) wants to adopt a child but isn't allowed after her past is brought up in a court trial. This is an early film from George Cukor that really doesn't have any of the charm or spirit that his later films have. The film is incredibly slow moving and the 67-minute running time feels longer than three hours. Bennett is good in her role but she doesn't have a lot to work with and Joel McCrea is wasted as is Walter Pidgeon. With a cast like this you'd expect a lot better.

Possibly because her heyday was 70+ years ago, the beauty and glamor of Constance Bennett is not mentioned much today. It's a pity, because she was a vivacious film presence and remained so until her death in 1966. Lana Turner was a bit taken aback when, on the set of Madame X in 1965, she first saw the woman who was to play her formidable mother-in-law - a gorgeous Bennett. If Turner was to wear mink, Bennett wanted sable and got it. Unfortunately, she died shortly after the film's completion.Rockabye is a 1932 film about an actress with a certain reputation. She has three suitors - her ex-fiancée, Walter Pidgeon, whose trial begins the film, in a very small role, youthful Joel McCrea as a married playwright, and her agent, played by Paul Lukas. Directed by Cukor, it's an interesting film (and I believe pre-code), fueled by Bennett's performance, who is especially charming in scenes with the child. She also does all her own singing.This is a good one to catch on TCM.