Billie Burke did a great job with the role. She had some of the best lines in the film and I completely loved the way she delivered them.
I roared with laughter at her line about Dan Packard "You're joking! Ask that common little woman to the house with that noisy, vulgar man? He smells Oklahoma!" It wasn't just the line that was good, her delivery made it even more hilarious. The bit with the butler being stabbed and the aspic later on was equally as priceless. "I'm half out of my mind! Do you know what's happened to me? I've had the most ghastly day anybody ever had! No aspic for dinner! And Ricky in jail and Gustav dying for all I know, and a new butler tonight and that Vance woman coming in. And having to send for crab meat. Crab meat!"
Well, *I* thought she was a hoot, but by the same token, you can't dismiss the "hootiness" of some of the other cast: Marie Dressler, Lee Tracy and Jean Harlow - and perhaps even some of the others. Also, Harlow's maid, Tina, was a hoot. That's what makes this film so memorable and enjoyable: a mix of quirky people hamming it up for a helluva' story that bleeds both comedy and tragedy. It's a telling, slice-of-life sort of story that ultimately makes you think, because it has more than a grain of truth in it.
The way she picks up that poor little doggie because she walked him for 15 min and then he POOS on the carpet was HORRIFIC.
Poor thing.
Since this was prior to concern with hurting animals in films ... Wonder if she really was holding him by the back of the hair on his head and letting him dangle in MID AIR that way?
Also wonder how may takes it took to do that scene and why the doggie tolerated being held that way as well as he did???
The little Pekinese, Tarzan, was Carlotta Vance's dog. Pekes are usually picked up by the very loose skin on their shoulders. You even see it at Dog Shows.
I wonder if 'crab meat' was seen as low(er) class in those days. It costs a FORTUNE now. The aspic is just gelatin, but requires some skill (and a mold) to make.