The Social Lion | 1930 | Comedy Romance

Title: The Social Lion | 1930 | Comedy Romance Director: A. Edward Sutherland Studio: Paramount Pictures Starring: Jack Oakie, Mary Brian, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Olive Borden, Charles Sellon, Cyril Ring, E. H. Calvert Based on: Original screenplay by Octavus Roy Cohen, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Agnes Brand Leahy Release Date: June 21 1930 Runtime: 72 minutes Format: Black and white with sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Comedy Romance --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to Marco Perkins and garage life 00:10:00 Polo team invitation and country club debut 00:20:00 Social climbing and new acquaintances 00:30:00 Break with faithful girlfriend 00:40:00 Pursuit of debutante’s attention 00:50:00 Revelations of true worth 01:00:00 Reconciliation and resolution --- Summary: The Social Lion is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy romance about Marco Perkins, a garage mechanic and would-be prizefighter who gains a spot on an elite country club’s polo team because of his skill learned in the U.S. Army. His sudden exposure to affluent high society inflates his sense of status and leads him to abandon his loyal girlfriend in favor of a glamorous debutante whose interest is more social than sincere. As Marco pursues the upper-crust world, he gradually learns that true value lies not in wealth or pretension but in loyalty and authentic relationships, steering the narrative toward self-realization and humorous social commentary. --- Background: Directed by A. Edward Sutherland and released by Paramount Pictures, The Social Lion was written by a team including Octavus Roy Cohen and future Hollywood figure Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The film reflects early sound era comedy trends and the “fish-out-of-water” motif of a working-class protagonist navigating elite society. --- Trivia: The Social Lion features Jack Oakie in a brash comedic lead role typical of his early career. Olive Borden appears as the fashionable Gloria Staunton, embodying the socialite archetype of the era. The title plays on the phrase “social lion,” referring to someone eager to be admired within high society. The film blends elements of romance and class satire common in early 1930s Hollywood. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: June 21 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: Paramount Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #TheSocialLion1930 #JackOakie #ParamountPictures #PreCodeComedy #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain