Margaret Dale Movies
- 1934
The Man with Two Faces is based on The Dark Tower, a stage comedy-mystery by Alexander Woollcott and George S. Kaufman. Edward G. Robinson is at his hammy best as flamboyant, temperamental, but withal endearing theatrical actor-manager Dawson Wells. Mary Astor co-stars as Damon's beloved actress sister Jessica, making a stage comeback after a disastrously unhappy marriage. Alas, Jessica's caddish husband Stanley Vance (Louis Calhern) soon returns, exerting a Svengali-like hold on the poor girl and setting her back on the road to ruin. Unable to buy off Vance, Wells plots a clever revenge, and shortly afterward, Vance is visited by one Monsieur Chautard, an effusive European producer with murder on his mind. The central "gimmick" in Man With Two Faces, which was adroitly concealed in the original Dark Tower, is a bit more obvious on screen due to the dynamic personalities involved. Also, the play's ending, in which Vance's murderer is allowed to escape scot-free by a sympathetic detective, was obviously altered at the very last minute to appease the new Production Code. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward G. Robinson, Mary Astor, (more)
- 1924
Stage actor Alfred Lunt makes one of his rare screen appearances in this light comedy, based on the novel by Allen Updegraff. Rowland Farwell Francis (Lunt) is a retiring silk salesman at a department store. His reticent demeanor doesn't stop his widowed landlady, Mrs. Benson (Jobyna Howland) and his stenographer from considering him to be husband material. These women don't get Francis' attention, however -- and he falls for the wealthy Anne Winton (Mimi Palmeri), who he meets over the silk counter. Of course, he's too shy to do anything about it, and hat's the way it would probably have stayed if Anne's brother-in-law hadn't dared her to invite a man out to supper. She takes the dare and shows Francis such a good time that he becomes an aggressive and virile lover who wins her heart. He also lands a promotion to assistant buyer. Although the other ladies lose their chance with Francis, they still manage to win mates of their own. Lunt's wife and stage partner, Lynn Fontanne, appears in a bit role. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alfred Lunt, Jobyna Howland, (more)
- 1922
At the time he made this confusing blend of melodrama, mystery, and comedy, D.W. Griffith was in financial trouble. This picture, written by Griffith under the pseudonym of Irene Sinclair, was originally meant to be a small, relatively low-budget (by Griffith standards) production which would hopefully turn a nice profit. And that's what it was -- for a little while. It was previewed and ready for release when the filmmaker decided that it lacked the spectacular climax that often marked his films. His advisors desperately tried to talk him out of it, but he went back into production and created a costly storm scene that, in spite of its high price tag, did not look quite real. It did little for the film, which was, in any event, one of Griffith's weakest features. Carol Dempster stars as Agnes Harrington, an orphan born in South Africa who is adopted by an aristocratic woman of the South and brought to the U.S. Although Agnes' adoptive mother has arranged for her to marry J. Wilson Rockmaine (Morgan Wallace), she really loves John Fairfax (Henry Hull). Fairfax invites her, the adoptive mother, and Rockmaine to stay at his country estate, which has been empty for quite a while. Or almost empty -- bootleggers have been hiding there, and just before the guests arrive, the gang's leader is killed and a huge sum of money is hidden away. A detective comes around to investigate, and there are all sorts of mysterious goings-on. Fairfax seems to be the prime murder suspect, but the real killer is exposed at the height of a hurricane -- it's Rockmaine. After discovering that she is actually the daughter of wealth, Agnes finds comfort and happiness with Fairfax. While this picture received indulgent reviews and performed decently at the box office, its final exorbitant cost only served to put Griffith further into debt. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carol Dempster, Henry Hull, (more)
- 1921
Photos reveal that stage and film luminary George Arliss made a perfect Benjamin Disreli -- this silent was the filmed version of the Louis N. Parker play in which he had starred. The backdrop of this story reveals the prejudice surrounding the Jewish, middle-class Disraeli when he becomes prime minister, and his successful efforts to overcome Russian intrigues and acquire the Suez Canal for England. There's also romance offered by Arliss' wife, playing Disraeli's adored spouse, Lady Beaconsfield, and young lovers Louise Huff and Reginald Denny as Clarissa, the daughter of the Duke of Glastonbury and Charles, Viscount Deeford respectively. Arliss remade Disraeli as a highly successful talkie in 1929. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Arliss, E.J. Ratcliffe, (more)
