Judith Allen — Repenting at Leisure (1934) 🇺🇸

You know the old adage, “Marry in haste and repent at leisure”? That’s what Judith Allen has been doing — the Cecil B. DeMille discovery whose work in “This Day and Age,” Too Much Harmony, “Hell and High Water” and The Thundering Herd you remember. She’s been repenting at leisure for quite a long time.

by Martha Kerr

Like everyone who has been hurt by an unsuccessful marriage she swears she won’t try it again for a long, long time. For the two years that she was married to Gus Sonnenberg left an indelible mark upon Judith’s heart. They were the worst two years of her life.

She doesn’t like to talk about them. She isn’t the sort of girl who babbles her troubles to everybody. Young as she is, there is about her a New England reserve that makes it difficult for her to talk about the things that are close to her heart. But she has wanted to clear up some wrong impressions — principally, that she squandered her husband’s money and then, when she signed a movie contract, threw him over.

As a matter of fact, she knew two months after they were married that it wouldn’t last. She realized that all of the things that made Gus attractive as a sweetheart — his boyish charm, his gayety, his irresponsible good humor — were the things that did not make a good husband. She realized it during the first two months of their marriage — when he told her fantastic lies about everything and then, confronted with the truth, confessed he had fibbed — and thought he could make it all right by giving her an expensive ring or bracelet. She, who wanted the peace of a home, the stability of a good husband and children, found that she dared not have children for fear they might inherit their father’s faults. In her own heart she knew that it was over in two months — but she also knew that she could not accept alimony (she has a New England conscience about that) and that she could not leave him until she was able to support herself.

In order to understand the trouble that came into the home of Judith and Gus, one must understand Gus Sonnenberg.

I’m sure you’ve known men like him. He is the sort of lad that people like instantly. Judith’s mother thought he was a dear lad and heartily approved of the match. His success as a wrestler had not gone to his head. When he walked into a room his charm instantly electrified everyone. But he was totally irresponsible. He could not tell the truth. He was happy only when surrounded by a group of gay, laughing people. And he could not resist the sociability inspired by too many highballs.

Nothing can so completely devastate a woman as life with a man who does not tell the truth. When Gus went out, Judith had no idea when — or how — he would come home. He had had innumerable automobile accidents. Judith was frightened stiff every time she knew he was driving a car. One of the accidents ended in a manslaughter trial — to which Judith went with him — and stuck by him — and helped him in every way she could.

Argue with him she would, of course. There was the time for instance, when he came home eager with enthusiasm.

“Listen, baby,” he said to her, “I’m going to be rich. You’re going to be wearing diamond bracelets up to here — and you’ll be swathed in sables. We’ve got to take all the money we have and put it in a fine investment that a friend of mine just let me in on.”

With her heart sinking Judith asked, “What is the investment, Gus?”

He smiled — that charming, ingratiating smile. “I know it sounds like a sucker game, baby. But this one is on the level. It’s a marvelous gold mine!”

The next morning she was out early consulting with their lawyer. He began work on it immediately and in a couple of days she had all the data to show Gus that it was just a fantastic scheme.

She had the absolute proof. But would he believe it? Would he believe her? He would not! Time and time again he invested his money in fake schemes.

Nothing could dampen his good spirits. Each time he had an accident, each time he lied to Judith, each time he made her hopelessly miserable by staying out all night, each time he lost his money he would promise solemnly that this was the last time.

At first she believed him. She would say, “He has changed — I know it.” And for a few days he would be an angel. But he could only keep his promises for a few days. And those maddening nights when she was alone and the ring of the telephone sent a knife of terror through her heart would begin again.

Then she knew that she must do something to make a living so she could leave him. She went back to dramatic school. She wanted nothing, as I’ve said, but a home and a good husband and children. But these things apparently were not to be for her.

Gus disapproved of dramatics. He wanted her to go on parties with him all the time. He couldn’t understand why she insisted upon studying. And all the time she was learning an art that would, she felt, eventually release her from the bondage of marriage to such a charming but thoroughly irresponsible person, her heart was torn by the continual uncertainty of life with Gus.

She had married in haste — fallen for his sweetness and charm. She was repenting now.

It was while she was in New York trying to crash Broadway that she secured a screen test. And that led to a contract with Paramount. Then — at last — she was free. She was independent of him. She could get a divorce without having to accept alimony.

But was she free? How could she be sure? Gus had promised to give her her freedom. But Gus had promised so many things — and had kept so few.

In this state of mind she arrived in Hollywood. To the studio she explained the situation and they told her it was best to keep quiet about her marriage.

One day she met Gary Cooper on the lot. She saw him several times at the studio and chatted with him and he seemed to be a nice sort of lad — quiet and understanding. So one night, at a party, she sought his advice.

She told him something about Gus and asked him, “Do you really think the studio is doing right in demanding my silence? You know much more about Hollywood than I do. I don’t want to jeopardize my career when it’s only just beginning!”

Gary sided with the studio. He thought a policy of secrecy was best.

But while they were talking a photographer snapped their pictures together. You could tell by that picture that they were in earnest conversation and since every time Gary Cooper is photographed with a new girl, it’s news — that photograph went out over the country and was printed (with appropriate captions) in most of the newspapers and magazines.

In the East Gus saw it and read the caption: “Gary Cooper’s new flame.” “Hollywood’s latest romance,” etc., etc. And the next thing that happened was that Gus appeared in Hollywood.

For he had not believed Judith when she said that she wanted her freedom. He had thought that this going to Hollywood was just a lark and that, of course, she would come back to him.

When he saw the picture of her and Gary in the paper he thought that it was time to stop this Hollywood lark. But when he arrived in Hollywood he found that Judith had changed. She was no longer the little wife who would forgive him his lies.

She was free now — and independent. She had made a remarkable success, considering that she had been in Hollywood so short a time. This was what she had been waiting for, for two years — this moment when she could assert her freedom. And there was no budging her now — no matter what he did.

So, at last, Judith is free. Living a new life. And although she is free from worry, one could not say she is happy.

Two years of misery and unhappiness she has had and although she is her own woman now she has been left embittered.

“I repented at leisure,” she said. “I know something about marriage I didn’t know before. I am skeptical of everyone. I believe nothing. Perhaps I’ll change — but right now I feel that I never, never want to be married again.”

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(Above) Gus Sonnenberg, former champion wrestler, was a most ingratiating chap. But so unstable! Always getting into financial scrapes and motor accidents. Judith Allen loved him dearly, but she knew she must escape for both their sakes.

(Right) Her ballyhooed “romance” with Gary Cooper caused no end of trouble.

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Collection: Modern Screen Magazine, January 1934

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Judith Allen, in a most striking study, depicting some of the feel for the dramatic this young actress possesses. You undoubtedly remember her work in the very recent Bright Eyes. Judith has been in the movies less than two years, but, ’tis said, she's a comer!

Collection: Photoplay Magazine, March 1935