This isn't the clearest story ever plotted. I know what happens, but tying to explain it with out giving away too much is going to be rather difficult. Basically a woman takes a "vacation" from the radio program on which she is the star. Its not explained why, though her overly emoted good bye to her would be boyfriend suggests that there is an ominous reason. At some point she is killed and an innocent woman is blamed. Will the real killer ever be caught? What was the secret that forced the dead woman from the radio? Will we remain awake long enough to find out? Simple this is not. This is a complicated tale of murder thats interesting despite the fact its very talky, over emoted and just a tad loopy. Its the type of movie that keeps your interest simply because you want to know whats going on not because its very good. Actually it was so dull and talky that it was putting me to sleep, however I had to fight it because I had to know what was going on. If you want to see a movie that makes you stay with it to the end because you have to see whats going on give it a try. If you want to see a film that actually good try something else.
16 Reviews
a female private investigator makes this a little different
kidboots20 October 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Another point of interest is that it is directed by Mrs. Wallace Reid. After her husband's death she turned her hand to writing, producing, directing and acting. She only directed a few films and this, unfortunately, was the last. The star, Claudia Dell was a blonde beauty, who came to films with "Sweet Kitty Bellairs" (1930) but by 1931, she was already playing second female supporting parts. This film gave her a chance to play the lead.
Jane Merrick (Lola Lane), sweetheart of the air, gives her farewell performance. She is frightened and after some cryptic phone calls to a menacing man (Mischa Auer) you get the feeling she is being black- mailed. Jim Wallace (Jason Robards) who cares for her, goes to a private detective agency to hire someone to keep an eye on her.
The most novel part of the film is having a female investigator - although she isn't that good. Claudia Dell plays Barbara Hammond, who is caught trying to break into an apartment and is taken to night court. One of the reporters, Jerry (Richard Hemingway), is taken by her prettiness and concocts a story that she is his fiancée and is always playing practical jokes. The judge lets her off - but marries them before they leave!!!
Barbara is hot on Jane's trail when she is arrested for Jane's murder!!! She seems to have secrets as well and refuses all help from her well meaning husband. A phone number leads Jerry to Dr. Wagner's private sanatorium - specializing in plastic surgery!!! Mischa Auer is the plastic surgeon, who says he was hired by Jane Merrick to remove a birth mark from her face.
I found it enjoyable, if a bit fantastic. If Jane was in hospital - who was the dead person that Barbara found???? Who knows???
Richard Hemingway's claim to fame is that he was once married to Irene Bentley - an actress more mysterious than Garbo!!!
Jane Merrick (Lola Lane), sweetheart of the air, gives her farewell performance. She is frightened and after some cryptic phone calls to a menacing man (Mischa Auer) you get the feeling she is being black- mailed. Jim Wallace (Jason Robards) who cares for her, goes to a private detective agency to hire someone to keep an eye on her.
The most novel part of the film is having a female investigator - although she isn't that good. Claudia Dell plays Barbara Hammond, who is caught trying to break into an apartment and is taken to night court. One of the reporters, Jerry (Richard Hemingway), is taken by her prettiness and concocts a story that she is his fiancée and is always playing practical jokes. The judge lets her off - but marries them before they leave!!!
Barbara is hot on Jane's trail when she is arrested for Jane's murder!!! She seems to have secrets as well and refuses all help from her well meaning husband. A phone number leads Jerry to Dr. Wagner's private sanatorium - specializing in plastic surgery!!! Mischa Auer is the plastic surgeon, who says he was hired by Jane Merrick to remove a birth mark from her face.
I found it enjoyable, if a bit fantastic. If Jane was in hospital - who was the dead person that Barbara found???? Who knows???
Richard Hemingway's claim to fame is that he was once married to Irene Bentley - an actress more mysterious than Garbo!!!
I Get It; No I Don't; Yes I Do; Maybe
Hitchcoc2 October 2007
This is about a woman who is killed (sort of). Other forces move in and people are set up. Now if the woman didn't die, what are the charges, or are there charges? Or are they trying to prove someone is up to no good for past acts. Let's see. People are being operated on. People look in windows. I don't know why? Who's on first? What's on second. There is a romance brewing. If I'd been that guy, I would have dropped that woman after the twelfth time she lied to him. I can't spoil the ending because I'm not sure what the ending was. Suffice it to say, there are lucid periods in the film, but the milieu is so cluttered and there are so many red herrings launched, it goes all over the place.
Dull, shoddy and confused
fredcdobbs531 May 2014
A radio singing star suddenly takes a "vacation" without explanation, and cuts herself off from everybody. Her radio station hires a detective agency to find out what's going on, and the agency sends a female detective to work the case, but when the "star" is killed, the detective winds up being charged with her murder.
This is a very low-buck effort put out by very low-buck producer Willis Kent. Production values are chintzy in the extreme, with poor photography, tinny and unsteady sound and extremely choppy editing. The plot is overly complicated, the dialog is lame and the acting is just awful, although attractive Claudia Dell as the detective gives it her best shot and does have her moments. Director Dorothy Davenport didn't have much to work with in front of and behind the camera, and she didn't do much with them. Very poor effort all around. Don't bother with it.
This is a very low-buck effort put out by very low-buck producer Willis Kent. Production values are chintzy in the extreme, with poor photography, tinny and unsteady sound and extremely choppy editing. The plot is overly complicated, the dialog is lame and the acting is just awful, although attractive Claudia Dell as the detective gives it her best shot and does have her moments. Director Dorothy Davenport didn't have much to work with in front of and behind the camera, and she didn't do much with them. Very poor effort all around. Don't bother with it.
Unfortunate Head-Scratcher
dougdoepke25 January 2017
Plot-- A popular radio performer mysteriously departs her program, only to turn up murdered, while an innocent female detective is held for the crime. Will her reporter boyfriend be enough to prove her innocence.
Thanks reviewer asinyne for filling in a few crucial plot holes. I think a lot of folks, including myself, were flummoxed by the holes because the script is sloppily constructed, while director (Wallace) appears either unaware or unconcerned. Given the programmer's bottom-of-the- barrel provenance (Kent Productions), that's not surprising-- who knows what the production schedule was like. Anyway, the concept of a female detective and a corpse returning to life is an interesting one. And I suspect that a non-penurious Warner Bros., with a better cast and a rewrite, could have turned the material into a satisfying B-movie instead of the head- scratcher it unfortunately is.
Thanks reviewer asinyne for filling in a few crucial plot holes. I think a lot of folks, including myself, were flummoxed by the holes because the script is sloppily constructed, while director (Wallace) appears either unaware or unconcerned. Given the programmer's bottom-of-the- barrel provenance (Kent Productions), that's not surprising-- who knows what the production schedule was like. Anyway, the concept of a female detective and a corpse returning to life is an interesting one. And I suspect that a non-penurious Warner Bros., with a better cast and a rewrite, could have turned the material into a satisfying B-movie instead of the head- scratcher it unfortunately is.
"That's all there is folks, there isn't any more".
classicsoncall9 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Well now, here's the thing - for this movie to work, you'll have to accept the following - a woman who's murdered is alive again at the end of the movie, a detective stops interrogating the dead woman's fiancée because a newspaper reporter asked him not to, and that same reporter, smitten by a good looking blonde hauled into night court for suspicious behavior, winds up getting married to her in exchange for the judge letting her off the hook. Are you following me on this? I can't tell you how many times I paused and rewound the picture to repeat scenes that just didn't make any sense. In the end, the blonde (Claudia Dell) and the reporter (Richard Hemingway) remained married, but I have no idea how they came to that decision. In fact, I can't figure out how the film maker came to the decision to make this flick. Oh I suppose there's some entertainment value here for just the sheer nonsense of it all, but it would have been nice if even a couple of the pieces fit. Still, I'm not ready to add this one to my Top Ten Worst list. I think that night club scene with the feathered ladies might have saved it. But why was it in the movie? I just don't know.
Oh what a tangled Ben we weave when...well, weave a tangled web.
mark.waltz16 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This z grade mystery ponders along at a creeping hour, seldom revealing anything to give the viewer any clues if what's happening other than a radio singer being murdered and the wrong woman being accused of the crime. Lola Lane is the singer who finishes her session, goes home, lies around in bed and tries to avoid those concerned about her. When she is shot dead, Claudia Dell, who was lurking around trying to get a scoop on her, is arrested for her murder, although it's very apparent that she's innocent. Whoever thought up this twisted story had no idea of how to engage their audience or put a story down on paper. Dell overacts to the point of melodrama, but Louise Beavers adds a touch of life to this dreary fiasco.
The Movie Condemned
boblipton12 March 2023
Radio singer Lola Lane goes on vacation, leaving ardent admirer and station manager Jason Robards Jr. In the dark as to her plans. A few days later, reporter Richard Hemingway spots Claudia Dell in night. She was trying to break into an apartment. He tells the judge she's his fiancee and it was her apartment...... she's a terrible practical joker. So the judge marries them. Soon enough, Miss Dell breaks into the apartment, spots Miss Lane dead, shrieks, and is apprehended and found guilty of murder.
Dorothy Davenport's last movie as director has some nice touches -- I was taken by the other defendants in night court, and cameraman James Diamond had worked her before -- but she struggles in vain with a lurid and stupid screenplay written by the always lurid and stupid Willis Kent. The entire series of events in the film, the set of disasters that overwhelm both women, is actuated and worsened by their unwillingness to tell anyone why they are doing what they do, despite their innocent intentions.
Editor Roy Luby does a fine job of keeping the pace up, despite the slow pace of dialogue, but the script sinks everyone. As William Wyler once noted, "It's 90% you get a good script, and 10% the actors. There's nothing else in it." I think that's because Wyler provided everything else; nonetheless.....
Dorothy Davenport's last movie as director has some nice touches -- I was taken by the other defendants in night court, and cameraman James Diamond had worked her before -- but she struggles in vain with a lurid and stupid screenplay written by the always lurid and stupid Willis Kent. The entire series of events in the film, the set of disasters that overwhelm both women, is actuated and worsened by their unwillingness to tell anyone why they are doing what they do, despite their innocent intentions.
Editor Roy Luby does a fine job of keeping the pace up, despite the slow pace of dialogue, but the script sinks everyone. As William Wyler once noted, "It's 90% you get a good script, and 10% the actors. There's nothing else in it." I think that's because Wyler provided everything else; nonetheless.....
Didn't Even Try
view_and_review29 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Sometimes I see a movie and I ask why. Why did you guys bother making this waste of celluloid? I don't ask that just because it's a bad movie, but because it seemed they didn't even try. "The Woman Condemned" didn't even try.
I've seen some very dumb reason for marriages on screen in the 1930's: drunk, a coin flip, a bet, to hideout, and even a business deal whereby the man wouldn't be available for a woman he didn't want to marry, but the marriage in "The Woman Condemned" has to be the worst.
A woman named Barbara Hammond (Claudia Dell) was arrested for prowling. As she was being arraigned a reporter named Jerry Beall (Richard Hemingway) was so stricken by her beauty he told the judge that she was his fiance and she was given to practical jokes. The judge, for unclear reasons, decided the two should get married.
Right then and there!
So, in a criminal court, the judge married them. The same thing happened in "Slightly Married" aka "Strange Marriage" (1932). It was dumb then and it was dumb in 1934.
The only thing dumber than the criminal court marriage was the murder mystery. It was such a convoluted mess I'm still doing mental gymnastics trying to figure it out.
All I can say is that a woman named Jane Merrick (Lola Lane) was shot and presumed killed. Barbara was arrested for her murder because... well... check this out.
Barbara was snooping outside of Jane's apartment and we don't know why. She saw Jane get shot. Barbara's next move was to go inside the apartment and PICK UP THE GUN that the killer dropped for some unknown reason. Soon after Barbara picked up the gun Jane's neighbor entered the apartment and saw Barbara standing there--dead body at her feet and gun in her hand.
Now, we know from experience that Barbara cannot be the murderer. The murderer is never the most obvious person regardless of how guilty they appear. So, who was the murderer and why was Barbara offering no explanation for her actions?
Apparently, Barbara's illogical actions were all part of an elaborate plot to catch the real gunman. Instead of simply stating who the gunman was, Barbara pretended to be guilty to lure the real gunman out of hiding. It was a lame brain trick that has no business being in a movie, and judging by the movie's rating, audiences thought so too.
Free on Odnoklassniki.
I've seen some very dumb reason for marriages on screen in the 1930's: drunk, a coin flip, a bet, to hideout, and even a business deal whereby the man wouldn't be available for a woman he didn't want to marry, but the marriage in "The Woman Condemned" has to be the worst.
A woman named Barbara Hammond (Claudia Dell) was arrested for prowling. As she was being arraigned a reporter named Jerry Beall (Richard Hemingway) was so stricken by her beauty he told the judge that she was his fiance and she was given to practical jokes. The judge, for unclear reasons, decided the two should get married.
Right then and there!
So, in a criminal court, the judge married them. The same thing happened in "Slightly Married" aka "Strange Marriage" (1932). It was dumb then and it was dumb in 1934.
The only thing dumber than the criminal court marriage was the murder mystery. It was such a convoluted mess I'm still doing mental gymnastics trying to figure it out.
All I can say is that a woman named Jane Merrick (Lola Lane) was shot and presumed killed. Barbara was arrested for her murder because... well... check this out.
Barbara was snooping outside of Jane's apartment and we don't know why. She saw Jane get shot. Barbara's next move was to go inside the apartment and PICK UP THE GUN that the killer dropped for some unknown reason. Soon after Barbara picked up the gun Jane's neighbor entered the apartment and saw Barbara standing there--dead body at her feet and gun in her hand.
Now, we know from experience that Barbara cannot be the murderer. The murderer is never the most obvious person regardless of how guilty they appear. So, who was the murderer and why was Barbara offering no explanation for her actions?
Apparently, Barbara's illogical actions were all part of an elaborate plot to catch the real gunman. Instead of simply stating who the gunman was, Barbara pretended to be guilty to lure the real gunman out of hiding. It was a lame brain trick that has no business being in a movie, and judging by the movie's rating, audiences thought so too.
Free on Odnoklassniki.
Where Are the Cheers from All the Feminists?
JohnHowardReid9 September 2008
I won't even try to provide a synopsis of the story. This is one of those mystery thrillers in which everything is thrown into the pot to make the story as intriguingly attention-grabbing as possible. And then having propounded a successfully unusual and highly suspenseful set of situations, the writers throw creativity to the wind in the last five minutes by solving the mystery in some clichéd manner that leaves the most purblind audience breathless with anger and disappointment. At least the elaborately constructed plot doesn't all turn out to be a dream, but the device used here is almost as hackneyed and almost equally a letdown.
Nonetheless, by the extremely humble standard of Willis Kent bottom-of-the-rung-even-for-Poverty-Row productions, this movie is certainly a cut above the average "Z"-grader. It was the last film directed by Mrs Wallace Reid who has tried very hard (and very successfully) to create atmosphere and production values on an extremely meager budget. Given the sort of studio support and largess that Dorothy Arzner worked with, Mrs Reid would undoubtedly have done equally well, if not better. Yet feminists give all their attention to Arzner and none at all to Mrs Reid. Even the Arzner biography in IMDb claims that Arzner "was the only woman director during the Golden Age of Hollywood's studio system during the 1920s and 1930s." (Other Davenport films presently available are The Road to Ruin and Sucker Money).
A major virtue of The Woman Condemned must be the fine performances provided by every member of the cast from charmingly charismatic hero Richard C. Hemingway (who never got anywhere), poorly photographed Claudia Dell (who had the shortest career as a major star on record less than a year) and one-song Lola Lane, through to Neal Pratt's nice cameo as a sarcastic judge
Nonetheless, by the extremely humble standard of Willis Kent bottom-of-the-rung-even-for-Poverty-Row productions, this movie is certainly a cut above the average "Z"-grader. It was the last film directed by Mrs Wallace Reid who has tried very hard (and very successfully) to create atmosphere and production values on an extremely meager budget. Given the sort of studio support and largess that Dorothy Arzner worked with, Mrs Reid would undoubtedly have done equally well, if not better. Yet feminists give all their attention to Arzner and none at all to Mrs Reid. Even the Arzner biography in IMDb claims that Arzner "was the only woman director during the Golden Age of Hollywood's studio system during the 1920s and 1930s." (Other Davenport films presently available are The Road to Ruin and Sucker Money).
A major virtue of The Woman Condemned must be the fine performances provided by every member of the cast from charmingly charismatic hero Richard C. Hemingway (who never got anywhere), poorly photographed Claudia Dell (who had the shortest career as a major star on record less than a year) and one-song Lola Lane, through to Neal Pratt's nice cameo as a sarcastic judge
Jerry's Got a Hunch
Rainey-Dawn15 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I've got a hunch that Jerry's got a hunch that he's got a hunch but that's just my hunch. WOW Jerry's favorite word: hunch. I counted 9 times he used the the word hunch. See how irritating that is? Well, I've just introduced you to Jerry who is a young wannabe investigator - I say wannabe because he's not that good. Jerry's girlfriend... err wife... has been charged with murder and Jerry does not believe that she did it - but that was just his hunch.
This is one of those films that will have you saying to yourself "WTF did I just watch? What just happened?" It kinda makes sense at the end but it's not 100% crystal clear about the twin sister. Was there ever a twin? Did Jane play both parts or was the gun secretly switched with blanks somehow? There is something so weird about this horrible film that I liked it a tiny bit - just for the weirdness and not because it's good.
4/10
This is one of those films that will have you saying to yourself "WTF did I just watch? What just happened?" It kinda makes sense at the end but it's not 100% crystal clear about the twin sister. Was there ever a twin? Did Jane play both parts or was the gun secretly switched with blanks somehow? There is something so weird about this horrible film that I liked it a tiny bit - just for the weirdness and not because it's good.
4/10
The singer's twin sister was the murdered one!!
asinyne18 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoyed this movie because the plot was complex just like everyone said. Maybe I'm crazy but it pretty much made sense to me. A lot of people seemed confused about how a woman was murdered only to come back at the end. IT WAS HER TWIN SISTER WHO WAS MURDERED, NOT THE SINGER! While the singer, who was having a bit of cosmetic surgery (which she was embarrassed about and wanted to keep quiet), her twin sister was having troubles of her own and came to stay in the singer's apartment. Unfortunately the sister had a slimy boyfriend who shows up and kills her. Everyone thinks the missing singer was killed. At the end, the recovered singer pretends to be the murdered sister and shocks the killer into confessing.
I liked the writing, though things could have been put together a bit more cohesive. What would have really helped would have been a couple of better known stars. A better cast, a bit more skillful direction, and a larger budget could have made this film something special. Still, it was interesting like it was despite the somewhat fuzzy print I watched. Unusual movie.
I liked the writing, though things could have been put together a bit more cohesive. What would have really helped would have been a couple of better known stars. A better cast, a bit more skillful direction, and a larger budget could have made this film something special. Still, it was interesting like it was despite the somewhat fuzzy print I watched. Unusual movie.
Wow...what a script! And, I don't mean that in a good way!
planktonrules26 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The plot to "The Woman Condemned" is pretty bad. A woman is found on the fire escape and she can't explain why she was there...so the police take her to see the judge. Before she can say anything, a seemingly looney reporter jumps up to her aid. He tells the judge she is his fiancee...and it's all some sort of practical joke!! Weird, huh? Well, it gets weirder. The judge then orders the pair to marry...and they do...even though they only just met!
If this doesn't sound dopey...it gets worse. Shortly after the wedding, the lady is caught in another woman's room...and the woman was shot and this other woman is holding the gun!! But that's not the end of the silliness...the woman comes back to life a couple times! And then there is the bizarro finale...what were they thinking?!?!
If all this sounds stupid...well, you have the right idea. Some of the acting is good...some isn't. But the one constant is that the script makes no sense...and the ending...uggh!!!
If this doesn't sound dopey...it gets worse. Shortly after the wedding, the lady is caught in another woman's room...and the woman was shot and this other woman is holding the gun!! But that's not the end of the silliness...the woman comes back to life a couple times! And then there is the bizarro finale...what were they thinking?!?!
If all this sounds stupid...well, you have the right idea. Some of the acting is good...some isn't. But the one constant is that the script makes no sense...and the ending...uggh!!!
Good story in search of an ending.
GManfred14 July 2009
This picture held my interest from beginning to end. The more I watched, the more absorbing it became. I felt betrayed by the ending, but by that time it was too late as the picture was nearly over. This was an excellent effort by a Poverty Row company and an excellent Directorial effort by Mrs. Wallace Reid, which almost overcomes some gigantic plot holes.
It was a fascinating story which contains several plot turns and twists and I couldn't turn it off. I thought Richard Hemingway was an attractive lead and would like to know more about him. IMDb notes his career was very short and his birth/death dates are unknown. I was amazed to discover how much Jason Robards Sr. resembles his son - or perhaps the other way around.
I gave this film a rating of 7, and our current IMDb rating does not do it justice. Now, about that ending...
It was a fascinating story which contains several plot turns and twists and I couldn't turn it off. I thought Richard Hemingway was an attractive lead and would like to know more about him. IMDb notes his career was very short and his birth/death dates are unknown. I was amazed to discover how much Jason Robards Sr. resembles his son - or perhaps the other way around.
I gave this film a rating of 7, and our current IMDb rating does not do it justice. Now, about that ending...
You Won't Figure This Mystery Melodrama So Easily . . .
zardoz-1319 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Dorothy Davenport's fifth film to direct, "The Woman Condemned" will give mystery fans something to ponder during its little over an hour running time. Previously, Davenport had helmed "The Road to Ruin" (1928), "Linda" (1929), "Sucker Money" (1933), and a remake of "The Road to Ruin" in 1934. When Davenport wasn't calling the shots, she racked up twenty screenwriting credits.
Popular radio vocalist Jane Merrick vanishes after she announces her plans to take a vacation. Merrick's admirer, radio producer Jim Wallace, dreads the prospect that Consolidated Dairies will withdraw their sponsorship of her program permanently if she doesn't return. Losing this account will irreparably damage the radio station's finances. Wallace worries about Jane and fears the worst may have happened after her maid Sally refuses to divulge her whereabouts, so he resorts to a private detective agency to allay his fears. "There is something strange about the whole affair," Wallace tells the detective bureau chief, "she might even be in danger." The bureau chief explains that policy dictates a detective from another town must be assigned to the case so she won't be recognized. Eventually, the police nab a suspicious female prowler snooping around the balcony window at Jane's apartment after dark. The police take the woman to night court. Smart aleck crime reporter Jerry Beal is immediately infatuated with the dame, who has been identified as Barbara Hammond. He intervenes on her behalf. Not only does he explain to the judge that Barbara is his fiancée, but also that she is "a compulsive practical joker." The judge isn't impressed with Jerry's trumped up tale, and he decides to marry him to Barbara, then releases her into Beale's custody. When she objects that she isn't married, the judge weds them, because Beale had pulled a fast one the previous evening in the case of a drunken bum. The bum, we learn, was Beale's bootlegger and he couldn't get liquor with the guy in jail. Although Barbara assumes that Jerry can get the judge to annul their marriage, she schedules a dinner date later that week on Thursday. Afterward, Jerry drops by to see Jim and learns some of the facts about Jane's vanishing. Like the news hound that he is, Jerry wants to write the story, but Jim convinces to refrain from doing it. Jerry and Barbara dine out, but she refuses to tell him anything about her activities. Later, she goes back to Jane's apartment and sneaks inside where she eavesdrops on a discussion between Jane and an ethnic-speaking guy. For all practical purposes, this man is trying to shake down Jane and wants a stake from her. No sooner has the guy left Jane's apartment than Jane sees an armed killer. She spots him in the mirror and screams as he cuts loose with his revolver. She sprawls lifelessly to the floor, and then the lights go out. The next door neighbors hear the crash of the gunshot, and the husband investigates. Meantime, Barbara checks the body, then trips and loses her flashlight. The first thing that she picks up is a revolver, and the next door neighbor Henry C. Benham appears with his gun drawn. He orders Barbara to dispose of her firearm and he sends his wife, who ventures into the apartment moments later, and screams at the sight of Jane strewn on the floor. She calls the police, and they arrest Barbara. Jerry joins the police, but he cannot believe that Barbara could have killed her. Barbara refuses to give the cops any information. Now, more than ever, Jerry is set on clearing Barbara, and he plays do-it-yourself-gumshoe. His investigation leads him to a Dr. Wagner's private sanitarium. Jerry cannot believe his eyes when he sees who is on the surgeon's table, evidently undergoing an operation. Jerry persuades a reluctant Jim to come and see for himself. No sooner have Jerry and Jim sneaked into the sanitarium that Dr. Wagner gets the drop on them at gunpoint. Initially, he looks as if he is going to conduct an experiment on them when Jane's house maid, Sally walks in and recognizes Jim Wallace. Wagner orders his henchmen to remove their gags and bonds, and he explains to their satisfaction what has really happened. Naturally, Jim is relieved but amazed by this turn of events. Nevertheless, he doesn't understand what has happened.
The revelations that follow would spoil the film for first-time viewers. "A Woman Condemned" has a slick ending that works out happily for everybody involved. You won't figure out the mystery unless you've seen a mystery similar to this one.
Popular radio vocalist Jane Merrick vanishes after she announces her plans to take a vacation. Merrick's admirer, radio producer Jim Wallace, dreads the prospect that Consolidated Dairies will withdraw their sponsorship of her program permanently if she doesn't return. Losing this account will irreparably damage the radio station's finances. Wallace worries about Jane and fears the worst may have happened after her maid Sally refuses to divulge her whereabouts, so he resorts to a private detective agency to allay his fears. "There is something strange about the whole affair," Wallace tells the detective bureau chief, "she might even be in danger." The bureau chief explains that policy dictates a detective from another town must be assigned to the case so she won't be recognized. Eventually, the police nab a suspicious female prowler snooping around the balcony window at Jane's apartment after dark. The police take the woman to night court. Smart aleck crime reporter Jerry Beal is immediately infatuated with the dame, who has been identified as Barbara Hammond. He intervenes on her behalf. Not only does he explain to the judge that Barbara is his fiancée, but also that she is "a compulsive practical joker." The judge isn't impressed with Jerry's trumped up tale, and he decides to marry him to Barbara, then releases her into Beale's custody. When she objects that she isn't married, the judge weds them, because Beale had pulled a fast one the previous evening in the case of a drunken bum. The bum, we learn, was Beale's bootlegger and he couldn't get liquor with the guy in jail. Although Barbara assumes that Jerry can get the judge to annul their marriage, she schedules a dinner date later that week on Thursday. Afterward, Jerry drops by to see Jim and learns some of the facts about Jane's vanishing. Like the news hound that he is, Jerry wants to write the story, but Jim convinces to refrain from doing it. Jerry and Barbara dine out, but she refuses to tell him anything about her activities. Later, she goes back to Jane's apartment and sneaks inside where she eavesdrops on a discussion between Jane and an ethnic-speaking guy. For all practical purposes, this man is trying to shake down Jane and wants a stake from her. No sooner has the guy left Jane's apartment than Jane sees an armed killer. She spots him in the mirror and screams as he cuts loose with his revolver. She sprawls lifelessly to the floor, and then the lights go out. The next door neighbors hear the crash of the gunshot, and the husband investigates. Meantime, Barbara checks the body, then trips and loses her flashlight. The first thing that she picks up is a revolver, and the next door neighbor Henry C. Benham appears with his gun drawn. He orders Barbara to dispose of her firearm and he sends his wife, who ventures into the apartment moments later, and screams at the sight of Jane strewn on the floor. She calls the police, and they arrest Barbara. Jerry joins the police, but he cannot believe that Barbara could have killed her. Barbara refuses to give the cops any information. Now, more than ever, Jerry is set on clearing Barbara, and he plays do-it-yourself-gumshoe. His investigation leads him to a Dr. Wagner's private sanitarium. Jerry cannot believe his eyes when he sees who is on the surgeon's table, evidently undergoing an operation. Jerry persuades a reluctant Jim to come and see for himself. No sooner have Jerry and Jim sneaked into the sanitarium that Dr. Wagner gets the drop on them at gunpoint. Initially, he looks as if he is going to conduct an experiment on them when Jane's house maid, Sally walks in and recognizes Jim Wallace. Wagner orders his henchmen to remove their gags and bonds, and he explains to their satisfaction what has really happened. Naturally, Jim is relieved but amazed by this turn of events. Nevertheless, he doesn't understand what has happened.
The revelations that follow would spoil the film for first-time viewers. "A Woman Condemned" has a slick ending that works out happily for everybody involved. You won't figure out the mystery unless you've seen a mystery similar to this one.
Bland Poverty Row Mystery
Michael_Elliott27 May 2018
The Woman Condemned (1934)
** (out of 4)
Newspaper reporter Jerry Beall (Richard Hemingway) gets caught up with the beauty of Barbara (Claudia Dell) that he pretty much forces himself into her life. It happens at a perfect time because Barbara is accused of murdering a woman but she claims that she is innocent so it's up to the reporter to prove it.
THE WOMAN CONDEMNED is pretty much the standard "B" mystery that you'd expect from Poverty Row. The only thing really notable about it is the fact that it would turn out to be the final directorial job for Dorothy Davenport, better known and credited here as Mrs. Wallace Reid. Davenport had a number of acting credits in her career but she did direct seven movies as well.
As far as this film goes, in all honesty it's a decent time-killer for fans of the genre but it's doubtful too many people will be having a good time with it. The plot is extremely thick for this type of film as it seems something new is being added every few minutes but I'm going to guess that this was done to try and make the film seem smarter than it actually was. The murder doesn't happen until the 35-minute mark, which leaves about half a hour to get it solved.
Hemingway was pretty bland in the role of the reporter so he didn't add anything to the picture. You can spot Jason Robards, Sr. in a small role. Then you've got Dell who doesn't get much to do other than to constantly looked concerned over this or that. Lola Lane appears in a very brief role but she's certainly a highlight to the picture.
THE WOMAN CONDEMNED really doesn't have too much going for it. The biggest bonus is that it's just 65-minutes long so if you have that to kill and enjoy the genre then you might want to check it out.
** (out of 4)
Newspaper reporter Jerry Beall (Richard Hemingway) gets caught up with the beauty of Barbara (Claudia Dell) that he pretty much forces himself into her life. It happens at a perfect time because Barbara is accused of murdering a woman but she claims that she is innocent so it's up to the reporter to prove it.
THE WOMAN CONDEMNED is pretty much the standard "B" mystery that you'd expect from Poverty Row. The only thing really notable about it is the fact that it would turn out to be the final directorial job for Dorothy Davenport, better known and credited here as Mrs. Wallace Reid. Davenport had a number of acting credits in her career but she did direct seven movies as well.
As far as this film goes, in all honesty it's a decent time-killer for fans of the genre but it's doubtful too many people will be having a good time with it. The plot is extremely thick for this type of film as it seems something new is being added every few minutes but I'm going to guess that this was done to try and make the film seem smarter than it actually was. The murder doesn't happen until the 35-minute mark, which leaves about half a hour to get it solved.
Hemingway was pretty bland in the role of the reporter so he didn't add anything to the picture. You can spot Jason Robards, Sr. in a small role. Then you've got Dell who doesn't get much to do other than to constantly looked concerned over this or that. Lola Lane appears in a very brief role but she's certainly a highlight to the picture.
THE WOMAN CONDEMNED really doesn't have too much going for it. The biggest bonus is that it's just 65-minutes long so if you have that to kill and enjoy the genre then you might want to check it out.
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