Love Me or Leave Me

In 1920s Chicago, Ruth Etting is a dime-a-dance girl facing the threat of losing her job after she defends herself against a lecherous customer. This vulnerable moment triggers powerful men in her orbit to step in. It sets the stage for the intervention that follows.

Martin Snyder, a man with clout and a front business (laundry) and a protection racket, intervenes on Etting's behalf. He uses his influence to secure her a job dancing in a floor show and begins steering her career. This marks the start of his growing control over her professional life.

Snyder pays for a singing coach named Johnny Alderman who is attracted to Etting. The coaching helps her talent blossom and broadens the circle around her. Snyder's support deepens his influence over her career.

Snyder makes it clear he expects Etting to travel to Miami with him for pleasure, not business. Etting declines, setting a boundary that Snyder doesn't respect. His interest in her persists, signaling his growing control.

An agent, Bernie Loomis, arranges a radio program to feature Etting. The exposure paves the way for a potential job with the Ziegfeld Follies. Snyder's plan is to boost her profile while tightening his grip on her.

As Etting's career begins to bloom, Snyder's crude behavior and violent temper threaten her professional progress. The pattern creates ongoing trouble in her personal life and fuels the tension between them. The seeds of later conflict are sown in these moments.

Johnny Alderman continues to woo Etting, and she marries him under Snyder's pressure. The marriage seems to advance her career, but Snyder's heavy-handed management persists. The union marks a pivotal shift in both her personal life and professional path.

Driven to control Etting's growing stardom, Snyder invests in his own nightclub, sinking his wealth into the venture. The gamble reflects his obsession with power over her life. Etting's career continues to blossom despite the turmoil around them.

During the filming of a Hollywood movie, Snyder senses a renewed closeness between Etting and Johnny. In a jealous rage, he strikes Etting. She escapes and begins seeking a divorce, escalating the personal danger she faces.

Snyder catches Etting and Johnny together, shoots Johnny, and is arrested. The violent act shocks Etting and forces a reckoning with the dangerous forces shaping her life. The incident dramatically alters the power dynamics between them.

Horrified by the violence but conflicted because of Snyder's past contributions to her career, Etting arranges for Loomis to bail him out of jail. The gesture highlights the tension between gratitude and moral accountability. It also keeps Snyder lingering in her professional circle.

At Snyder's nightclub, Etting discovers him waiting for the night to be deserted, only to find her performing there herself. His initial rage appears to be a bitter act of control, but her performance signals a final boundary. He ultimately realizes she cannot be part of his life any longer.