Post by rmichaelpyle on Nov 19, 2011 11:28:42 GMT -6
I'm on a Fay Wray kick, so last night I watched "Woman in the Dark" (1934) [re-titled on my DVD "Woman in the Shadows" because this is a TV print from the 1950's). This one stars Wray and Ralph Bellamy, with a strong performance by Melvyn Douglas, too. Also around are Roscoe Ates and Ruth Gillette, Joe King and Nell O'Day, and Granville Bates as the sheriff and father of Nell O'Day.
Bellamy is released from prison where he's served three years of a sentence for manslaughter where he accidentally killed someone in a brawl. He goes back to his priviledged life to a cottage in the mountains where he thinks he'll get away from all the hassle. Instead, his old girl friend comes around. Played by Nell O'Day, her father is played by Granville Bates who is the sheriff of Denton, New York. He doesn't want his daughter to have anything to do with the "troublemaker". Well, Bellamy doesn't necessarily want anything to do with her, either! Nevertheless, she's in his cabin when a knock is heard at the door. In comes Fay Wray in a very sexy negligee (appropriate for Fay Wray, don't ya' think?!), rather bruised and perhaps beat up, and wishing to get away from a pursuing - ahm, person(s). They come a few minutes later: Melvyn Douglas and a younger man accomplice, both rather tipsy and - very nasty!
This is how the film begins. It's a very nicely done little drama/mystery, and the ending is tense. Nothing major about the film at all, but certainly worth the 68 minutes it takes to reach the ultimately satisfying conclusion. But, of course, Bellamy gets Fay Wray rather than Nell O'Day - and in real life that may not occur, but it was good here! And Melvyn Douglas - well, I've not seen him play such a bad guy role like this before. He could be really nasty! You just don't expect it from Melvyn Douglas. But the man was a pro: he was quite good. Fay Wray never looked so ravishing as this film. There's just something about that lady...
If you like films on the brink of pre-code, and you don't want anything heavy - this was tailor-made for you!
Bellamy is released from prison where he's served three years of a sentence for manslaughter where he accidentally killed someone in a brawl. He goes back to his priviledged life to a cottage in the mountains where he thinks he'll get away from all the hassle. Instead, his old girl friend comes around. Played by Nell O'Day, her father is played by Granville Bates who is the sheriff of Denton, New York. He doesn't want his daughter to have anything to do with the "troublemaker". Well, Bellamy doesn't necessarily want anything to do with her, either! Nevertheless, she's in his cabin when a knock is heard at the door. In comes Fay Wray in a very sexy negligee (appropriate for Fay Wray, don't ya' think?!), rather bruised and perhaps beat up, and wishing to get away from a pursuing - ahm, person(s). They come a few minutes later: Melvyn Douglas and a younger man accomplice, both rather tipsy and - very nasty!
This is how the film begins. It's a very nicely done little drama/mystery, and the ending is tense. Nothing major about the film at all, but certainly worth the 68 minutes it takes to reach the ultimately satisfying conclusion. But, of course, Bellamy gets Fay Wray rather than Nell O'Day - and in real life that may not occur, but it was good here! And Melvyn Douglas - well, I've not seen him play such a bad guy role like this before. He could be really nasty! You just don't expect it from Melvyn Douglas. But the man was a pro: he was quite good. Fay Wray never looked so ravishing as this film. There's just something about that lady...
If you like films on the brink of pre-code, and you don't want anything heavy - this was tailor-made for you!
