silent-12

With a cast like this, how can you go wrong? And the film is a delight from beginning to end. Although all the players were great, special kudos to William Powell, whose uncompromising morals cause him to lose almost everything he has. His is a gut-wrenching performance, and the scene in which he addresses the assembly with tears in his eyes to tell of his own "weakness"--wow. It's rare to see Powell in a role with so much complexity and it is a marvelous performance.

I first read about this film in "Complicated Women" and was eager to see this pre-Code gender-reversal film. What a delight! Chatterton was fantastic, the art deco sets amazing and the costume design mouth-watering. Not to mention an intelligent, funny, and realistic screenplay in which the woman isn't the only one to compromise in the end. After seeing this I am on to more Ruth Chatterton films. I highly recommend this! 10 stars!

This is a flawed, but fascinating adaptation of the short story with a complete about-face in characterization by Farrell and Gaynor. They handle the sometimes silly dialogue and abrupt transitions in character with grace, which makes the sometimes-unbelievable narrative of the story seem more realistic. Kudos to them for playing against type and doing it so well. The scene in the opium den is particularly affecting--watch it without sound and you can see their old silent chemistry at work.

The direction by Raoul Walsh is jumpy and overly talky, not surprising for 1931.

Not my favorite Farrell/Gaynor but a fascinating film to watch.