Beautician Jean Russell finds herself jilted by cosmetic salesman Denny Williams after Denny ensnares the wealthy but dowdy Flora Barton. Denny marries the Barton millions, while Jean, in her loneliness, perfects a new facial cream, in which she interests Jeffrey Martin, head of an advertising agency. Jeffrey devises a clever advertising scheme around the product, which attracts the financial backing of Flora, who invests in the product to put her new husband in business. The cosmetics line becomes a financial success, and Denny, who is unhappy in his marriage and is thrown together with Jean everyday at the office, begins to renew his attentions toward her. Jean admits that she is still in love with Denny after Jeffrey confesses his own love for her and, to preserve her sense of honor, sends Denny to the West coast to open a new branch of the business. In Denny’s absence, Flora comes to Jean for advice on how to save her marriage, and Jean counsels her to glamorize herself and play hard to get. When Denny returns, however, he rushes back to Jean, who then goes to Flora and confesses all. Flora agrees to release Denny in exchange for the cosmetics company stock, but Denny refuses to relinquish his wife’s wealth. Flora divorces Denny anyway, and Jean, heartbroken, consoles herself with an extended trip. Upon her return, Jean’s spirits are lifted when she finds Jeffrey awaiting her. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Watch Beauty for the Asking (1939)
