The Gem of the Ocean (1934)
** (out of 4)
Two-reeler from Warner/Vitaphone has a French woman (Jeanne Aubert) being blackmailed on board an ocean liner by a man (Sheldon Leonard) who wants a valuable jewel that she owns. The man plans to get the jewel away from the woman because her brother is in trouble with the law but also on the ride she finds love. THE GEM OF THE OCEAN really isn't a very good movie but there are enough interesting moments to make it worth viewing by film buffs who enjoy watching these rare films when they pop up on Turner Classic Movies. I think the main appeal of this is going to be those wanting to see Leonard in an early role. Most will remember him as playing Nick in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and he's pretty good here playing a character you really wouldn't expect to see him play. Aubert isn't too bad in the lead, although she's really not given too much to work with and the love story things just never add up. The mystery of what the brother did or didn't do never add up either for that matter. I was a little surprised to see a couple musical numbers thrown in because they really don't mix too well with the "story" trying to be told. Both numbers are pretty forgettable musically but visually there's an interesting one that takes place on the ocean floor.