Working Girls (1931)

In the bustling heart of New York City, two sisters, May and June, fresh from a rural life, find a new home in a boarding house tailored for single women. May, the elder sister, is tinged with innocence, whilst June, the younger, carries a worldly wisdom far beyond her years. The dawn of their first day in the city sees them embarking on a job hunt, with June ensuring May secures a position while she herself lands a job and a charming saxophonist beau, Pat Kelly. While June revels in the city life and the gifts showered upon her by Kelly, May finds herself entangled in a romantic web with Boyd Wheeler, a Harvard-educated lawyer. Despite a proposal from her boss, the enigmatic archaeologist Dr. von Schrader, May's heart remains loyal to Boyd, leading to her dismissal. Now jobless, she invests more time in her relationship with Boyd, ignoring her sister's cautionary advice. Her heart shatters when she learns of Boyd's engagement to a high-society lady. In an attempt to mend her sister's broken heart, June persuades Dr. von Schrader to rehire May. Touched by this gesture, May accepts the doctor's previously rejected proposal. However, a week before the wedding, Boyd's engagement falls apart. Despite June's warnings, Boyd cannot resist May, whose love for him remains undiluted. Amidst this, a revelation shocks June: May is pregnant. June decides it's time for a hasty wedding between May and Boyd. In the aftermath, when June informs Dr. von Schrader about the cancelled wedding, he confesses to being in love with her all along, leading to the blossoming of a new romantic chapter. The story of 'Working Girls' thus unravels, a tale of love, struggles and sisterhood set amidst the vibrant backdrop of New York City in the 1930s.

Working Girls is a comedy movie featuring Judith Wood.

Working Girls is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.