1932 was quite a year for MGM, what with the success of "Grand Hotel" and its numerous imitators like "Skyscraper Souls," among Warren William's most noteworthy vehicles as moviegoers' beloved pre-Code wolf. Faith Baldwin's 1931 novel "Skyscraper" celebrated the completion of the Empire State Building and its 102 floors (soon immortalized by "King Kong"), and here the Dwight building owned by David Dwight (William) stands at 100, fully determined to put his own investors out of business so long as he retains total control. Depression audiences were fascinated by such machinations, Maureen O'Sullivan as the secretary balancing William's wooing with the jealousy of new beau Norman Foster, with William's trusting lover Verree Teasdale constantly put off by his marital status with distant spouse Hedda Hopper. Older businessmen played by Jean Hersholt and George Barbier are shown flirting with much younger girls, often seen in their undergarments, another subject that would bring in the crowds until 1934, Maureen O'Sullivan already famous for racy material as Jane opposite Johnny Weissmuller as "Tarzan the Ape Man." One mystery that went completely unnoticed for 80 years is the unexpected presence of Boris Karloff, mere months removed from sudden stardom as The Monster in James Whale's "Frankenstein," whose appearance at the 20 minute mark is so minute it can only be described as a walk on lasting only two seconds, the camera cutting away just as we recognize him. Obviously there was more to it but sadly deleted prior to release, shot while he was engaged in pre production on "The Mask of Fu Manchu," as much a curio for buffs as any one of his 57 silent performances.
Review of Skyscraper Souls
