Here's the chance to see what I've been waiting for for years: Kay Francis singing (obviously dubbed) "Home on the Range" in an operatic voice to Edward G. Robinson. That standard American ditty is heard over the opening credits, and later on when Robinson requests it. It becomes their love theme, albeit a silly one, but somehow it adds charm to this saga of a meat baron's life from taking over the family business to his later years after he's pretty much lost everything and ended up like Michael Corleone in "The Godfather Part III": All alone.Robinson as usual is commanding, although this is very similar in nature to his 1932 drama "Silver Dollar" and another 1933 Warner Brothers film about a wealthy man's rise and later disappointments, "The World Changes", with Paul Muni. His character's rise is often sketchy, as the film focuses on the various scandals that plague his years in the business, including his relationship with his pretty wife, Genevieve Tobin, who is obviously shallow at the start and never completely stands by her man. She loses his love to opera singer Francis who is faithful to him for years, but suddenly leaves him for another man, turning him cold and bitter and ruthless in his quest for power.There are political and historical references in this film with passing mentions of the Spanish/American War, McKinley's shooting (which eventually lead to Teddy Roosevelt becoming president and fighting the wealthy barons like Robinson's) and World War I. This was a Warner Brothers "A" picture running in at 90 minutes, so there's plenty of time for various details to be explored, but sometimes it does seem to be missing some important ones to fully explain everything which was going on at the time this took place. Robinson's character remains consistent in his manner and desires, often torn so his performance is one that deserves re-discovery.As for the two women, they couldn't be any more different. When first seen, the beautiful blonde Tobin is sitting in her fancy wagon in the middle of the mud in the Chicago slums, and Robinson quickly charms her with his memories of their childhood friendship. But she quickly reveals to the viewer that she never really loved Robinson and only married him for status, eventually becoming a bitter older woman still beautiful but the hatred in her displayed on her soulless face. She reminded me of Miriam Hopkins in the film version of Theodore Dreissler's "Carrie" without the spitting venom.The always ravishing Kay Francis is the true strength behind Robinson's character, prompting him to go after what he truly wants and encouraging him to be ruthless in getting it, something she is obviously doing in her efforts to become an A class opera star. I had first thought that Francis was the gypsy girl who sings to Robinson as he stands on his balcony, later returning as a hopeful star to be, but my research in the credits proved that to be incorrect. So the women in Robinson's life are far from perfect, far from completely loyal, and this is much more realistic than the many films which had the long-suffering wife willing to put up with all sorts of trauma as her husband neglected her for success. A far from flawless film, this is aided in its lavish presentation and the performances by the three stars plus a gallery of familiar faces in the supporting cast.

Young Edward G. Robinson is discovering the art and culture of Greece and finding himself, when he gets a telegram from home. Heir to a beef- packing business, he reads his father has just died. He rushes home but didn't have much plans or a business mind to take over, when he meets Genevieve Tobin, who is an heir to a competitor. In fact, there are several meat-packing companies, but they don't all use pure beef in their product/business. Edward's father did and their business was number one in the industry, in this film was takes place in 1892, just before Teddy Roosevelt becomes President. In fact, Teddy and Eddie meet and become enemies of sorts. But, I'm ahead of myself. Getting married to Genevieve Tobin, and using only prime beef, Eddie does take over, but the business does not do so well, just adequate and others become more successful. Meanwhile, a young aspiring opera singer (Kay Francis) looking for a backer comes to him, asking for capital as an investment. When he hears her sing and she knows his favorite song, "Home on the Range," he obviously falls for her. But what he didn't realize was that she was what she was. She did form a fond attachment for him, but never claimed to love only him. She was a very cavalier lover. When he is inspired by her gusto to live life fully and go for the gold, he becomes ruthless in getting contracts for his business and in cutting costs, not always using premium beef, like everyone else. But in his getting fat deals, his food affects more people, more important people. So when the fit hits the shan, he is the scapegoat. Meanwhile, Genevieve learns about Kay and she lives for the day to show Edward up. This is a very well-made film that does not overdo its dramatics. In fact, this played out very well and was very realistic. While not a very important film or that great a film in the long run, it really delivers with great performances by all. This was not a turkey by no means, as Edward felt he was being thrown into them by the movie studio all the time. They were uninspired and repetitive to him, as he was a stage actor by heart. He never understood the appeal of "Little Caesar," despite the fact it made him an overnight movie star. Playing a gangster was not all that it was hyped up to be, but this film he felt at least was "about something," as he said in his autobiography. And, he had fond memories of Kay Francis. If you see this on TCM one day, watch and enjoy Edward G. Robinson, one of Hollywood's most versatile actors, who earned an Honorary Oscar for his performances of men in all walks of life.

This film is a rollicking tour-de-force that has as its primary focus the incredible acting talents of the incomparable Edward G. Robinson. Robinson takes us on a roller-coaster of a ride, as he sails back and forth from joy and elation to depression and pathos and back again. It is sometimes dizzying trying to keep up with the swinging emotions of Robinson's multi-millionaire meat-packer John Hayden. Robinson carries it off beautifully, and I think this film really proves what a fine, fine actor he was.And how lucky we are that a film company like First National existed in the early 30's, pumping out films with stars like EG Robinson at a rate that would leave a current studio breathless. What an exciting time it must have been. We are the beneficiaries of this fascinating time, when studios had to release new films in a rapid succession, such was the hunger for new films."I Loved a Woman" takes place over a 40 year period, taking us from late Victorian Chicago of 1892 to industrial Chicago of just a few decades later. The fashions change subtly over the 90 minutes this film takes. While some of the romantic scenes with Kay Francis are a bit dated, and the lovers' dialogue a little stilted, Robinson never fails to captivate us when he is on screen. If anybody can carry this stuff off, it is him (Robinson even sings in this movie, though happily not too much).The supporting cast is strong and full of First National perennials, such as Robert Barrat, playing EGR's father-in-law. A special treat is the speaking appearance of one of John Ford's silent screen favorites, J. Farrel MacDonald.This movie also features a speaking role for Theodore Roosevelt, who personally threatens to destroy the meat packer Hayden for selling rotten meat to the soldiers of the Spanish-American War.Perhaps the only annoyance is having to put up with Kay Francis repeatedly singing Home on the Range in an opera voice while playing an upright piano. Once, maybe, but three times?....One funny thing to look for early in the film: Robinson returns home from abroad after hearing of his father's death. A painting of dad hangs on the office wall - looking exactly like EG Robinson with full whiskers! A very nice touch.This is a strong entry from First National Films, and a great way to get know the many sides of Edward G. Robinson. I highly recommend this one.

Forgotten epic of a meat packer played well by Edward G. Robinson who takes over his fathers business and becomes ruthless.I agree with the previous reviewer who complained about the many holes in the plot and inconsistencies- Robinson is first presented as a lover of humanity and the arts. He has a complete personality switch and becomes a ruthless, amoral business man all because of a little Machiavellian advice from lover Francis.That said, the movie is interesting, well produced, historically accurate in a lot of ways and finally quite moving as Robinson ends up alone, back in his beloved Greece but afflicted with dementia so the events of his life become momentary snapshots that come and go.I also liked the portrayal of the deterioration of his marriage. As in many 30's movies, there is a lot of truth that is hinted at but not fully explored.Sometimes, this leads to a superficiality which is unsatisfying but sometimes it leads to motifs that suggest subtly the inner workings and leave it up to us to connect the dots.