The Bad Sister (1931) in Color — Starring Conrad Nagel & Sidney Fox

The Bad Sister (1931) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover The Bad Sister, Hobart Henley’s 1931 pre-Code drama featuring early performances by Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, now available as a professionally colorized version. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

In the quiet, respectable atmosphere of a small Midwestern town where everyone knows everyone’s business and propriety governs every social interaction, the Madison family maintains a comfortable existence built on the modest success of patriarch Sam Madison’s local business. But beneath the placid surface of this conventional household, two sisters embody dramatically opposite responses to their sheltered world. Marianne Madison (Sidney Fox), the beautiful, restless eldest daughter, chafes against the suffocating predictability of small-town life with a burning desire for glamour, excitement, and escape that makes her fatally vulnerable to the charms of any man who promises something beyond the ordinary.

Into this vulnerable household walks Dr. Valentine Corliss (Conrad Nagel), a smooth, sophisticated confidence man whose elegant manners and grand talk of business ventures instantly captivate Marianne while arousing the suspicion of everyone around her. Corliss weaves an elaborate scheme to swindle Sam Madison out of his savings by exploiting Marianne’s infatuation, convincing the lovestruck girl to help him access her father’s money under the guise of a brilliant investment opportunity. Meanwhile, Laura Madison (Bette Davis, in one of her earliest film roles), the quieter, plainer younger sister who works diligently at the local bank, watches helplessly as her sister plunges headlong toward disaster. Laura harbors her own secret feelings for Wade Trumbull (Humphrey Bogart, also in an early career appearance), a decent young man who is himself hopelessly smitten with the flashier Marianne. As Corliss’s true nature gradually reveals itself and Marianne’s romantic fantasies crumble into the harsh reality of deception and financial ruin, the Madison family is torn apart by scandal that forces each member to confront the consequences of vanity, gullibility, and the dangerous allure of a charming stranger. The quiet, overlooked Laura ultimately emerges as the family’s moral center, her steadfast character proving that substance and integrity outlast the shallow glitter that her wayward sister pursued so recklessly.

Cast & Crew

Director: Hobart Henley

Stars: Conrad Nagel, Sidney Fox, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Charles Winninger, Emma Dunn, ZaSu Pitts, Slim Summerville, Bert Roach, David Durand

Bette Davis, in one of her very first screen appearances, already demonstrates the fierce intelligence and emotional intensity that would make her the greatest dramatic actress of Hollywood’s golden age, bringing surprising depth to the overlooked younger sister. Humphrey Bogart appears in a rare early romantic role, years before his iconic tough-guy persona emerged, showing a youthful vulnerability that would soon be replaced by the world-weary cynicism that defined his legend. Conrad Nagel brings the necessary charm and menace to the villain, while Sidney Fox delivers an effectively sympathetic portrayal of a foolish woman destroyed by her own romantic illusions.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The Bad Sister was originally filmed in black and white during the early sound era, its visual style reflecting the transitional period between silent film aesthetics and the polished studio look that would define the 1930s. This professionally colorized restoration brings frame-by-frame precision to the warm tones of the Madison family home, the sunlit streets of small-town America, the elegant wardrobe that distinguishes the sophisticated con man from the honest locals, and the subtle visual contrast between the glamorous Marianne and the understated Laura. The colorized version adds visual depth and atmospheric intensity to this restored classic film, bringing early performances by two of cinema’s greatest legends to vivid new life. Now also available in colour.

Buy The Bad Sister in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Released in 1931 during the brief, uninhibited pre-Code era before Hollywood imposed strict censorship, The Bad Sister offers a fascinatingly candid portrait of desire, deception, and social hypocrisy that later productions could not have attempted. The film holds special significance as one of the earliest screen appearances of both Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, two performers who would become the defining dramatic stars of their generation. Adapted from Booth Tarkington’s novel The Flirt, the film captures the morality-tale tradition of American small-town drama while allowing its characters more complexity than the later Production Code would permit. Through colorization, this rare pre-Code gem is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 68 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this really an early Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart film?
A: Yes, The Bad Sister features both future legends in early career roles — Bette Davis as the quiet, virtuous younger sister and Humphrey Bogart as a young romantic suitor, years before either achieved the iconic stardom they are remembered for.

Q: What makes this a significant pre-Code film?
A: Made before Hollywood’s strict Production Code censorship, the film addresses themes of female desire, confidence schemes, and small-town hypocrisy with a frankness and moral ambiguity that would be impossible in films made just a few years later.

Q: How does colorization enhance this early talkie?
A: Colorization brings warmth and visual richness to this early sound-era production, enhancing the small-town atmosphere, distinguishing the characters’ social worlds, and breathing new life into the pioneering performances of Davis and Bogart.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• Baby Face (1933)
• Night Nurse (1931)
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• The Petrified Forest (1936)
• Of Human Bondage (1934)