In 1921, Norma Shearer starred in her first film, "Sign on the Door". It wasn't a very good film then and when they remade it in 1929 as a sound picture, it wasn't much better. Both films suffered from a major problem--if the wife had just talked to her loving husband, all this could have been avoided. Plus, the ending really was awfully dumb.
When the film begins, Ann (Barbara Stanwyck) is in a room aboard his yacht. While Frank's friends are drinking themselves into oblivion, he's attempting to rape this nice young lady. Fortunately, a police raid on the yacht stops him from completing his assault.
18 months pass. Ann is now happily married to Larry (William Boyd*). But Larry's sister brings home a new man in her life...and it turns out to be the blackguard, Frank!!! Now Ann should have just told everyone about that event 18 months ago but instead she later goes to his apartment to beg him to leave her sister-in-law alone. Soon, Larry arrives and shoots Frank...and leaves Ann locked in the room with the dying man! What's next? Well, if you see the film, you honestly won't care in the least, as the last 15 minutes of the film are just terrible...unbelievable and rather silly as well.
I hate films where a person simply explaining things could have prevented a whole lotta trouble. Plus, the last 15 minutes are just god-awful and stupid. Fortunately, despite these problems, this first starring role for Barbara Stanwyck wasn't too bad, as she soon went on to better and bigger things.
*This William Boyd is NOT the famous William Boyd, also known later as Hoppalong Cassidy. Hoppy was a very famous actor in the late 2os and into the 30s. The one in this film is the less famous and non- cowboy version!
When the film begins, Ann (Barbara Stanwyck) is in a room aboard his yacht. While Frank's friends are drinking themselves into oblivion, he's attempting to rape this nice young lady. Fortunately, a police raid on the yacht stops him from completing his assault.
18 months pass. Ann is now happily married to Larry (William Boyd*). But Larry's sister brings home a new man in her life...and it turns out to be the blackguard, Frank!!! Now Ann should have just told everyone about that event 18 months ago but instead she later goes to his apartment to beg him to leave her sister-in-law alone. Soon, Larry arrives and shoots Frank...and leaves Ann locked in the room with the dying man! What's next? Well, if you see the film, you honestly won't care in the least, as the last 15 minutes of the film are just terrible...unbelievable and rather silly as well.
I hate films where a person simply explaining things could have prevented a whole lotta trouble. Plus, the last 15 minutes are just god-awful and stupid. Fortunately, despite these problems, this first starring role for Barbara Stanwyck wasn't too bad, as she soon went on to better and bigger things.
*This William Boyd is NOT the famous William Boyd, also known later as Hoppalong Cassidy. Hoppy was a very famous actor in the late 2os and into the 30s. The one in this film is the less famous and non- cowboy version!