The Bachelor Father 1931

Sir Basil Algernon Winterton C. Aubrey Smith is an elderly, never-married baronet who decides to bring together his three illegitimate children, scattered around the world, on a whim. He assigns his young friend John Ashley Ralph Forbes the task. Antoinette ‘Tony’ Flagg Marion Davies is an American showgirl whose mother died when she was young. She was raised by Mrs. Berney, along with Mrs. Berney’s son, Dick Berney. Mrs. Berney, seeing this as a wonderful opportunity for Tony, keeps a secret from her.

Tony goes to England. There, she meets her half-siblings, Geoffrey Trent Ray Milland and Maria Credaro Nina Quartero, and together they see their father for the first time. They at first mistake him for a fish monger (as he is returning from fishing) and are engaging in youthful hijinks, making a bad first impression. While initially he bristles at their behaviour, with Tony especially trying his patience, he soon comes to love them all. Also, Tony and John fall in love.

One day, Dick Berney comes to England to attempt a dangerous flight over the Atlantic Ocean. He visits and tells Tony the secret: she is not Sir Basil’s daughter. That was her half-sister, 20 years deceased. While she tries to tell Sir Basil, she discovers that both Maria and Geoffrey are leaving; Maria has been offered a wonderful singing job. That and his love for her (and hers in return) prevent her from doing so. It eventually comes out when Sir Basil’s lawyer, Mr. Creswell James Gordon, discovers the truth and informs his employer. She tries to explain her behavior, but neither Sir Basil nor John are in a forgiving mood.

Heartbroken, Tony persuades Richard to let her come along on his risky trans-Atlantic flight back to New York. Meanwhile, John has had second thoughts and still wants to marry Tony. Sir Basil, hearing about Tony’s recklessness, realizes how much he cares for her and dispatches John to try to stop her. He is too late, but the overloaded airplane crashes into trees just off the end of the runway. Richard and Tony escape serious injury, and John brings Tony back for a reconciliation. When John insists on marrying Tony right away, Sir Basil objects strongly. Tony solves the problem by saying she will be Sir Basil’s daughter during the day and John’s wife at night.