A crook (Daniels) becomes a maid to steal jewelry.A crook (Daniels) becomes a maid to steal jewelry.A crook (Daniels) becomes a maid to steal jewelry.
Robert Emmett O'Connor
- Detective Kelcey
- (as Robert Emmet O'Connor)
Maude Turner Gordon
- Mrs. Barton - Dowager
- (as Maud Turner Gordon)
Eddy Chandler
- Motorcycle Cop
- (uncredited)
Ray Cooke
- Office Boy
- (uncredited)
Charles K. French
- Appelgetzer
- (uncredited)
Robert Homans
- Prison Warden
- (uncredited)
Arthur Housman
- Bert aka Denver Red
- (uncredited)
Frank Mills
- Cab Driver
- (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook
- Marty the Mug
- (uncredited)
Adele Watson
- Miss Jenks
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFirst film pairing of Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon. They would marry after this production in June 1930 and remain so until her death in 1971.
- Quotes
Gertie Jones - aka Marie: Say, we're heading back to town. Can we give you a lift?
Detective Kelcey: You wouldn't take me for a ride, would you?
- ConnectionsVersion of Smooth as Satin (1925)
Featured review
A very crude early crime flick in all aspects
More than a few movies were made in the 1930s and 1940s about a criminal going straight, and there have been some very good caper films that have involved couples. Most of those were also comedies, or had light touches with some humor. "Alias French Gertie" has something of both of those type of films, without any humor. It's also one of the very early talkies and its crudeness is evident throughout.
The production and technical aspects are raw and the acting mostly stiff, except for Bebe Daniels. But even she over compensates in one long scene of preachy dialog when Gertie dresses down her hubby, Jimmy Hartigan. Ben Lyon still shows some of the deliberate positioning and quick freezes from the silent films he made. Detective Kelcey, Mrs. Matson and other characters also show their stiffness. So, the direction isn't very good in this RKO film either.
All of these things distract from the film. And, since the screenplay itself isn't very good, it's hard to stay with this film. There just isn't much here to enjoy. This is one that might serve in a film history class to show the stages in improvements from various technical aspects, camera work and directing to acting.
One possible aside from this film might be that it's the occasion of Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon meeting that led to their marriage in June of 1930. The couple had a very successful lifelong partnership in film, theater, radio and television. But, few people, even movie buffs, would find this film worthwhile.
Here's the one good humorous exchange of dialog.
Gertie Jones, "Say, we're heading back to town. Can we give you a lift?" Detective Kelcey, "You wouldn't take me for a ride, would you?"
The production and technical aspects are raw and the acting mostly stiff, except for Bebe Daniels. But even she over compensates in one long scene of preachy dialog when Gertie dresses down her hubby, Jimmy Hartigan. Ben Lyon still shows some of the deliberate positioning and quick freezes from the silent films he made. Detective Kelcey, Mrs. Matson and other characters also show their stiffness. So, the direction isn't very good in this RKO film either.
All of these things distract from the film. And, since the screenplay itself isn't very good, it's hard to stay with this film. There just isn't much here to enjoy. This is one that might serve in a film history class to show the stages in improvements from various technical aspects, camera work and directing to acting.
One possible aside from this film might be that it's the occasion of Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon meeting that led to their marriage in June of 1930. The couple had a very successful lifelong partnership in film, theater, radio and television. But, few people, even movie buffs, would find this film worthwhile.
Here's the one good humorous exchange of dialog.
Gertie Jones, "Say, we're heading back to town. Can we give you a lift?" Detective Kelcey, "You wouldn't take me for a ride, would you?"
helpful•25
- SimonJack
- Jan 21, 2021
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Smooth as Satin
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 6 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.20 : 1
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