Directed: E. Mason Hopper

Year: 1929

Nominated: Best Actress – Norma Shearer

Plot in 25 Words: A fairly modern seeming take with love, lies, and mistaken identities. Romance and a near death experience lead to everyone getting a happily ever after.

In My Opinion: I am becoming quite the fan of Norma Shearer. This was my second film of hers and while I might not necessarily enjoy the plot of the films I certainly enjoyed her performances.

I don’t know if she was being particularly typecast or she chose the roles but she has portrayed the two roles so far, with which I’ve been most impressed. In both roles so far, she’s played the sort of character I wouldn’t expect to see for years. An independent woman working for her own money. Wearing trousers, kissing men without first declaring love and intentions? A very modern woman!

The big ‘twist’ in this film was one I didn’t see coming. In retrospect I’m a bit ashamed of that, but it completely surprised me. I’m glad for that, it gave a bit more drama to the proceedings. But maybe if I’d been listening properly I’d have been more aware.

The film was fairly short and sweet and it worked. Any longer and it would have been forced. The story was told well and ambled along nicely. The only thing missing was some context. Time seemed irrelevant and minutes seemed to pass for years with no explanation.

And as a nice little double standard extra, Lewis Stone plays the role of Henry Martell. A man who cheats on and divorces his wife. And she is the one judged.

Star Performer: Norma Shearer. I’m really looking forward to seeing the rest of her work. She was nominated for four Oscars, only winning one, in this case losing to herself in another film!

Overall: I quite enjoyed it, for me, this was Norma’s stronger performance but she got an Oscar one way or another.