AllMovie

The popular husband-wife team of John Bowers and Marguerite de la Motte starred in Flattery. Bowers plays civil engineer Reginald Mallory, who having been reared in the lap of luxury has turned into an insufferable wastrel. Extremely susceptible to flattery (hence the film's title), Reggie is sweet-talked into purchasing substandard material for his latest building project. Before disaster can strike, however, Reggie is redeemed by the love of a good woman (De La Motte). John Bowers' later fall from popularity and his suicide by drowning is said to be the inspiration for the 1937 and 1954 versions of A Star is Born.