Taking a look at film maker James Whale's IMDb page a few days ago,I noticed that actress Gloria Stuart was one of his regular collaborators.With a poll being held on IMDbs Classic Film board for the best films of 1934,I started searching round for titles that Stuart had made that year,which led to me stumbling across a great sounding movie,that caused me to start talking to the world.
The plot:
Being credited as the reporter who has landed his newspaper with the world's biggest stories, journalist Stanley Brown is told by his editor to cancel all of his holiday plans and instead head to Greece.Brown is told that this is due to there being reports that Grand Duke Ferdinand ,(whose real life tragic ending the movie stays miles away from!)is going there with his family for a birthday celebration.
Arriving in Greece,Brown soon begins using all of his journalistic skills,which leading to Brown gaining entry to the Ferdinand's hideout. Attempting to get any scrap of info from the Grand Duke,Brown begins talking to a beautiful woman called Jane Hamilton,who appears to be one of the Ferdinand's advisers .Unknown to Brown,Hamilton is actually Princess Ferdinand,who is planning to return to her home country as queen,but first must face some deadly plans from the Ferdinand's advisers.
View on the film:
Whilst the print to this Pre-Code (complete with short-cut dresses!) is sadly a bit "jumpy",director Edward Sedgwick & cinematographer Jerome Ash's delightful atmosphere is still able to shine,with Sedgwick using long distance,lingering shots,to create a sinister mood which bubbles over the smooth Comedy.For the screenplay of the film,the writers (deep breath) Lincoln Quarberg/Ralph Spence/Dale Van Every & Frank Wead keep the slap-stick Comedy moving at a lightning fast pace,as the writers match quick one liners ("Here your phone!")with extremely funny physical Comedy (such as the distance that Brown will go to get some breaking news.)
Along with the joyful Comedy,the writers also use the real life Ferdinand as a route to giving the title a deep Crime cut,which gradually reveals itself,as Brown begins to realise that he has dug up a story that he never expected.
Looking absolutely dazzling, Gloria Stuart gives an excellent performance as Jane Hamilton, (who is not based on Veronica Hart!)thanks to Stuart slowly melting Hamilton's icy vibes,to reveal a real warmth for her country,and for Brown.Keeping track of the Ferdinand's every step of the way, Lee Tracy (who in 1945,would appear in another movie with the same title!) gives a fantastic performance as Stanley Brown,with Tracy lighting up the screen in fast-paced slap-stick scenes which allow Tracy to display all of his Comedy skills,as Brown tries to escape from danger.Matching his Comedy bite,Tracy also gives Brown a strong rugged edge,which along with giving the scenes with Stuart a wonderful melodramatic tone,also have Tracy showing desperation in Brown's eyes,as Brown attempts to stop the Ferdinand's from making the front page.
The plot:
Being credited as the reporter who has landed his newspaper with the world's biggest stories, journalist Stanley Brown is told by his editor to cancel all of his holiday plans and instead head to Greece.Brown is told that this is due to there being reports that Grand Duke Ferdinand ,(whose real life tragic ending the movie stays miles away from!)is going there with his family for a birthday celebration.
Arriving in Greece,Brown soon begins using all of his journalistic skills,which leading to Brown gaining entry to the Ferdinand's hideout. Attempting to get any scrap of info from the Grand Duke,Brown begins talking to a beautiful woman called Jane Hamilton,who appears to be one of the Ferdinand's advisers .Unknown to Brown,Hamilton is actually Princess Ferdinand,who is planning to return to her home country as queen,but first must face some deadly plans from the Ferdinand's advisers.
View on the film:
Whilst the print to this Pre-Code (complete with short-cut dresses!) is sadly a bit "jumpy",director Edward Sedgwick & cinematographer Jerome Ash's delightful atmosphere is still able to shine,with Sedgwick using long distance,lingering shots,to create a sinister mood which bubbles over the smooth Comedy.For the screenplay of the film,the writers (deep breath) Lincoln Quarberg/Ralph Spence/Dale Van Every & Frank Wead keep the slap-stick Comedy moving at a lightning fast pace,as the writers match quick one liners ("Here your phone!")with extremely funny physical Comedy (such as the distance that Brown will go to get some breaking news.)
Along with the joyful Comedy,the writers also use the real life Ferdinand as a route to giving the title a deep Crime cut,which gradually reveals itself,as Brown begins to realise that he has dug up a story that he never expected.
Looking absolutely dazzling, Gloria Stuart gives an excellent performance as Jane Hamilton, (who is not based on Veronica Hart!)thanks to Stuart slowly melting Hamilton's icy vibes,to reveal a real warmth for her country,and for Brown.Keeping track of the Ferdinand's every step of the way, Lee Tracy (who in 1945,would appear in another movie with the same title!) gives a fantastic performance as Stanley Brown,with Tracy lighting up the screen in fast-paced slap-stick scenes which allow Tracy to display all of his Comedy skills,as Brown tries to escape from danger.Matching his Comedy bite,Tracy also gives Brown a strong rugged edge,which along with giving the scenes with Stuart a wonderful melodramatic tone,also have Tracy showing desperation in Brown's eyes,as Brown attempts to stop the Ferdinand's from making the front page.