When Ann Harding was chosen to play the title role in the play "The Trial of Mary Dugan" which opened in September 1927 (it ran for 437 performances) it was considered a sensation at the time. The theatre was decked out as a court room with audience members the jury, policemen were lounging in the lobby and scrub women were dusting the furniture during intermission. It found favour with critics and public alike but Ann, who before this had been in "A Woman Disputed" lost her enthusiasm for the role wanting a proper break so she could enjoy her new baby daughter.
When talkie films came in court room dramas were just the thing - they had drama, suspense and they only needed one sound stage (to help contain the microphones that seemed to pick up every little sound in those primitive times). Warner Bros. had already bought out an early (1928) film "On Trial" but the sound was dreadful and when MGM brought the rights to "The Trial of Mary Dugan" they gave it the lush and opulent MGM treatment as well as the perfect star in their own Norma Shearer. Shearer was a standout and her voice was beautiful and clear and didn't have the "tewebbly, tewebbly" British tones that, even in 1929, audiences were fed up with.
It added to the suspense by having Mary, who was talked about and the focus from the start, not actually talking until at least half an hour into the film. Norma is Mary Dugan, a Broadway showgirl moonlighting as a prostitute so she can pay for the legal studies of her younger brother Jimmy (Raymond Hackett). When her latest "sugar daddy" is found murdered, she is put on trial, defended by her old friend Edward West (Lewis Stone) who, when a chief witness (the murdered man's wife) is put on the stand, refuses to cross examine her. Before that there is a parade of dizzy chorus girl friends who unintentionally paint Mary as a shallow party girl. Lilyan Tashman is just so hilarious, flirting with the judge, calling businessmen "wet sugars" (heavy with money) etc. Suddenly Jimmy appears and disgusted with West's low key handling of the case, replaces him with himself!!
From the time Norma Shearer takes the witness stand - you are just riveted by her powerhouse performance. Her emotions and masterful acting are on display as she relates her sordid story - all done to give her brother a decent start in life and at the end liking and getting used to the luxuries her "clients" showered on her. Raymond Hackett is just superb as well and steals most of his scenes.
Working conditions were bad according to script writer Bayard Veiller - all to do with the intensity of the lights, no fans were allowed because of the noise and actors and crew worked in temperatures close to 120 degrees!!
Highly, highly Recommended.
When talkie films came in court room dramas were just the thing - they had drama, suspense and they only needed one sound stage (to help contain the microphones that seemed to pick up every little sound in those primitive times). Warner Bros. had already bought out an early (1928) film "On Trial" but the sound was dreadful and when MGM brought the rights to "The Trial of Mary Dugan" they gave it the lush and opulent MGM treatment as well as the perfect star in their own Norma Shearer. Shearer was a standout and her voice was beautiful and clear and didn't have the "tewebbly, tewebbly" British tones that, even in 1929, audiences were fed up with.
It added to the suspense by having Mary, who was talked about and the focus from the start, not actually talking until at least half an hour into the film. Norma is Mary Dugan, a Broadway showgirl moonlighting as a prostitute so she can pay for the legal studies of her younger brother Jimmy (Raymond Hackett). When her latest "sugar daddy" is found murdered, she is put on trial, defended by her old friend Edward West (Lewis Stone) who, when a chief witness (the murdered man's wife) is put on the stand, refuses to cross examine her. Before that there is a parade of dizzy chorus girl friends who unintentionally paint Mary as a shallow party girl. Lilyan Tashman is just so hilarious, flirting with the judge, calling businessmen "wet sugars" (heavy with money) etc. Suddenly Jimmy appears and disgusted with West's low key handling of the case, replaces him with himself!!
From the time Norma Shearer takes the witness stand - you are just riveted by her powerhouse performance. Her emotions and masterful acting are on display as she relates her sordid story - all done to give her brother a decent start in life and at the end liking and getting used to the luxuries her "clients" showered on her. Raymond Hackett is just superb as well and steals most of his scenes.
Working conditions were bad according to script writer Bayard Veiller - all to do with the intensity of the lights, no fans were allowed because of the noise and actors and crew worked in temperatures close to 120 degrees!!
Highly, highly Recommended.