Really? I didn't think Myrna Loy's character was ugly in this at all.
shareYes but, being a lowly female (and thus displeasing her father), she was rendered insignificant in his eyes (at least when introducing her to others).
"I'm not reckless . . . I'm skillful!"
In addition to curlew-2's comment, I'd like to add that in a lot of Eastern cultures it's a way to downplay or humble one's situation. If he said his daughter was beautiful and intelligent, then that would be seen as boasting or bragging - something that is frowned upon there.
In the West, a lot of people seem to like to brag about what they have - "My private jet set me back fifty million dollars"! That is not done in cultures such as Japan and China. It is seen as being in very poor taste, especially in front of a guest.