Directed: William K Howard

Year: 1929

Nominated: Best Actor – Paul Muni

Plot in 25 Words: A man on death row hides his identity in order to protect his sister and mother the same. Some very creepy Lolita-esque situations never explained.

In My Opinion: I wish this film had been longer. I with the copy of the film I watched had been better. I wish the film had been ‘lighter’ and the back story clearer.

I read the recap beforehand and wasn’t overly excited but that changed quite quickly.

The film just sort of started. Straight away. No explanation, no elaborate setup, just straight into the main crux of the story. It was a refreshing change from some of the waffling drawn out bore-fests I’ve suffered through previously.

I’m not sure how dark the film was supposed to be. I was watching a pretty terrible copy and that made it hard to see some of the visual clues.

I really enjoyed the film once it had started and I loved the ending, although the brother and sister quoting romantic sounding Shakespeare did make me feel slightly uncomfortable.

A lot of the film is a mystery was works well. No reason is given for any of ‘James Dyke’s’ actions/ Who and why he killed. Why he handed himself in – much is unknown. I liked that. Much like Sadie Thompson. I liked the ambiguity of certain aspects.

I think there may have been an attempt at showing a previous time but the quality was so bad I couldn’t pick any of the cast out of a lineup so I’ve got no clue.

Star Performer: Paul Muni as James Drake – international man of mystery. Right up until the very end I had no idea if he was James Drake or the brother of Mary Douglas. Very well done.

Overall: I enjoyed it and was enthralled by the story. Very twisty and turny. Just could have done with being longer and a bit more fleshed out.