Were Women Stronger in Pre-code Film?

One of the things I love most about pre-code movies is how real women were portrayed. Not all of it was good, but real nonetheless. Heat Lightening (1933) with Aline Macmahon and Ann Dvorak is a gem. Two sisters run a gas station/auto repair shop in the middle of the dessert at the Mexican border in California. Olga (Macmahon) is an auto mechanic and when it comes to men, she’s been jaded, and so she is very distrusting. Her younger sister Myra, played by Dvorak is just dying to taste life, but Olga keeps her on a tight leash.

Two losers killed a cashier and are on the run to the Mexican Border. They come across Olga’s gas station and decide to kill some time there. One of the losers, George, played by Preston Foster, recognizes Olga. George and Olga used to be lovers. George knows Olga very well. It turns out she wasn’t always a plain Jane with greasy, dirty hands. In fact, she was a beautiful cabaret dancer in her day. Olga decides to trade in her overalls for a beautiful dress to prove to George that she still “has it.” Actually, I think she was trying to prove it to herself. Long have been the days and nights in the dessert.

Two very rich divorcées drop by the station with car problems and decide to stay the night. George notices their jewels and realizes they have “dough” and decide to stay the night so as to steal the jewelry from the safe. He plans to seduce Olga while his crony steals the jewelry. He sleeps with Olga, and while this went on, baby sister Myra makes a run for the door to meet a guy she has fallen in love with.

Myra returns used by her boyfriend who no longer wants her. She catches George sneaking out of her sister’s room and realizes what has gone on. Distraught and confused she sits on a chair in her bedroom. Olga walks in to the room and indignantly reprimands her sister for what she has done. But Myra confronts her about her own “sinful” ways, and just rubs it in her face. Olga realizes she has no right to ask of her sister, what she herself is not able to do. She leaves the room, and overhears a conversation with the losers trying to break into the safe. She hears it all, how George used her just to get the jewelry.

A distressed Olga can’t take the pressure, gets a gun and shoots George dead. The character of Olga was that of an unemotional woman. A woman that had been jaded, and once again tried to get love, and was betrayed. It was as if she was in a spell for many years, until George came in to her life and snapped her out it, only to shove her back. Only this time, Olga was going to let her lack of emotion work for her. Olga knew very well she had many faults, but wanted to spare here baby sister the heartache and pain she had endured.

I was impressed with Olga’s “life goes on,” attitude after experiencing all of this. She realized she couldn’t have any emotions if she was going to survive. She was strong, determined, and powerful even after George.