False Pretenses

One night in a chance encounter, pretty waitress Mary Beekman (Irene Ware) meets millionaire Ken Alden (Sidney Blackmer). Unhappy with her station in life, Mary convinces Ken to introduce her (as the daughter of a wealthy friend) to high society. Banking on Mary's good looks, the two conspire to land her a rich husband at a social gathering, where Mary masquerades her way through a throng of admirers. She sets her sights on Pat Brennan (Russell Hopkin), who, unbeknownst to anyone, has a questionable past of his own. With hearts and hard cash invested in this deceptive social gamble, the stakes just keep rising and no one knows who holds the upper hand.

Irene Ware, former Miss America 1926, appeared in many films of the thirties including The Raven (1935) with Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Prolific Tony-award winning actor Sidney Blackmer starred with Shirley Temple in Heidi (l937) and played the coven leader in Rosemary's Baby (1968). Director Charles Lamont turned out numerous western, action and comedy films, including several late period Abbott and Costello and Ma & Pa Kettle productions.

Actual Miss America Irene Ware plays waitress Mary Beekman who plans on marrying her way into high-society in this 1935 comedy. Along the way she gets some help from charming millionaire Kenneth Alden (Sidney Blackmer).