Good start, but then it gets ruined

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

This was a great showcase for Warren William's pre-code amorality. He plays a financial wheeler dealer who apparently feels no need to examine his conscience or alter his slippery Roaring Twenties' ethics in the face of the Depression's financial pressures. In addition to the joy of seeing William strut his stuff as the owner of a new NYC building that's even taller than the Empire State Building, the viewer is allowed to gaze at some really interesting art deco touches, such as a swirling lobby floor shot from above by the masterful cinematographer, William Daniels, and, among other stylish set design details, the almost seamless doorways with a curved pattern that resemble 33 1/3 gold records cut in half, and, of course, the sleek Mr. William himself.However, for me, the most enjoyable thing about this film were the supporting players: Verree Teasdale, who gives a truly nuanced, sympathetic and ultimately poignant performance as William's longtime mistress and right hand gal. This role would probably not even exist once the production code took hold. She also lends her considerable elegance to this part in a series of lovely high end "working girl" outfits.Hedda Hopper--yes, before she took up her pen--who plays the bemused, estranged wife of Warren William who shows up occasionally to comment cynically on his behavior and to ask for some dough. Too bad Ms. Hopper didn't have more chances to play this sort of woman-of-the-world role. Perhaps we could've remembered her more vividly as a actress rather than a gossip columnist. She too is surprisingly elegant here.Edward Brophy, who plays an uncredited part as a besieged man on an elevator who interjects some needed earthiness and humor in the story whenever the rather earnest secondary leads, Norman Foster & Maureen O'Sullivan, threaten to annoy this viewer with their pallid pursuit of a banal skein of the story.Miss O'Sullivan, who was very early in her MGM career, injects her somewhat underwritten role with a fleeting vibrancy and self-delusion, but this unfortunately turns into an unattractive tendency to whine and simper about wanting to marry - as long as a fellow has a good bank account. This rather realistic attitude probably rang true to many in the Depression era audience, but the script never fully developed her character, unfortunately, and probably couldn't with such a large ensemble cast.Among the most ironic of situations is Jean Hersholt as a jeweler who in the process of doing something good - showing a girl (Anita Page) that she is good for more than sex, she is good for a lifetime of companionship - unknowingly kills somebody. The only person who knows cannot tell or rescue the person, still alive, or else that person will be admitting to a host of indiscretions to which they were a party. Thus this person just staggers away, lost.Catch it if you can. You'll notice many similarities to Grand Hotel, although this film came out first. It stars many of MGM's lesser players, and speaks more directly to American Depression era audiences than Grand Hotel ever could.

Story about a 100 story skyscraper in New York--David Dwight (Warren William) helped finance the building but is running out of money. He needs more and will do anything to get it. Other characters in the movie are Jenny (Anita Page) a model who openly sleeps with guys for money; sweet virginal Lynn (Maureen O'Sullivan); Tom (Norman Foster) who loves Lynn--but Dwight wants her too; Sarah Dennis (Verree Teasdale) who is Dwight's mistress and Myra (Helen Coburn) who loves her husband but he can't find work..and Slim (Wallace Ford) wants her.As you can see there are multiple story lines crisscrossing each other. The movie moves quick and is pre-Code meaning it was pretty open about adultery, sex, suicide and murder. Nothing TOO racy by today's standards (the TV rating is G) but pretty strong for 1932. The acting is good--William, O'Sullivan, Page and Teasdale come off best. No masterpiece of cinema but quick, fun and well worth searching out--TCM shows it occasionally. An 8.

I absolutely loved every square foot of this movie and want to own a copy of it. It could be remade today and be a huge hit. Maureen O'Sullivan was gorgeous, the dialog was witty, the plot line complex...it had so many modern qualities, I had to rub my eyes to make sure I was watching a 30's film. I give it a thumbs up. Loved the nefarious banker, "Dave", Hedda Hopper as the dilettante wife...loved the long suffering assistant...loved Shep the jilted lover. Loved it all. It was an eerie look into the stock market crash leading up to the great depression, and of the heights and desperation the human soul can reach during trying times. The ending was literally a cliff hanger. Whew - I could not believe it! A Boffo hit! I give it two thumbs up.

Skyscraper Souls is a witty and provocative look at business in the early 1930's. Full of risque and snappy comments, the movie is a fascinating look at a building and how its builder worked to keep it.The cast is brilliant led by Warren William as an astute but unscrupulous banker. Verree Teasdale is very sharp as Williams' lovely adminstrative aide. Her mature attitude towards Williams' advances is a highlight of the picture. She accepts that she will never be his wife, even though she loves him. He is too busy maintaining appearences, even though his wife and he are never together. Hedda Hopper is delightful as the wife who maintains a relationship from another continent, but comes to see William for money from time to time.A subplot involving Maureen O'Sullivan and Norman Foster is rather annoying.There is social commentary here as the workers in the building attempt to make a living while the big businessmen play with millions of dollars.The movie is sexy too. A scene with Jean Hersholt and Anita Page is very suggestive as are some scenes with Warren William and Verree Teasdale.Overall, the movie is very interesting and moves very quickly.