Fox was the one Hollywood studio that truly embraced the German
expressionism of "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari", "Metropolis" etc and
by 1932 many of their films still had a European look.
A beautiful film with a very elegant look, it is part romance/sci-fi/ drama/fantasy - even a touch of Ruitanian romance with the hero excelerating events by taking a stand for his little principality of Sylvarna. The setting is a Geneva world peace conference with Captain Paul Onslow (Warner Baxter) the lone holdout to signing a pledge which would see his little country crushed under the weight of bigger nations. He has already been receiving death threats. Meanwhile Val (Miriam Jordan) a Baroness has become infatuated and intrigued with Paul, even though her old faithful friend Carl (John Boles) is supportive but sceptical. Also arriving at the house is a friend of the father's (Halliwell Hobbes), a quirky inventor (George Marion) who brings along his machine which can bring back the dead - it is worked seamlessly into the plot, for whatever reason!! Aha - Onslow is assassinated and he is hastened to the machine which unfortunately can only revive the person or animal for six hours. Warner Baxter comes into his own, he sometimes has a quiet desperation with his acting("42nd Street") and the scenes where Paul, knowing not only does he only have six hours left but is given clarity enough to realise that he was just carried away with Val's adoration and gently tries to persuade her that she and Carl are meant for each other is very poignant. Miriam Jordan was luminous as Val - she was a British actress and this was her first film. She was only in a handful, usually opposite top stars ie Warner Baxter, Clive Brook and was always praised by the critics but she eventually returned to England. She gives a restrained but intense performance. Cinematographer John Seitz who put his stamp on films like "The Big Clock" creates a scene almost out of "Spione" as Onslow driving his car at breakneck speed crashes into a store front, people murmer "only the devil could escape that", he establishes that for 6 hours he is immortal.
He now begins an allegorical walk through the town encountering people he was brusque with earlier in the day and with his new spiritual insight is able to comfort the little old lady (who else but Beryl Mercer) by telling her she will soon see her son, the little flower seller (Marilyn Harris, the little girl from "Frankenstein") and the beautiful Irene Ware, almost unrecognisable as a prostitute who Paul helps to a better life. With a stunning beginning of a mob raging through the town the film ends (and has a lot in common with "Death Takes a Holiday" of only a couple of years later) with Val watching a bunny hoping around on the grass who soon after dies. Paul, realising he will only have a few minutes left, sends her to Carl - a dreamy, poignant finale.
Highly Recommended
A beautiful film with a very elegant look, it is part romance/sci-fi/ drama/fantasy - even a touch of Ruitanian romance with the hero excelerating events by taking a stand for his little principality of Sylvarna. The setting is a Geneva world peace conference with Captain Paul Onslow (Warner Baxter) the lone holdout to signing a pledge which would see his little country crushed under the weight of bigger nations. He has already been receiving death threats. Meanwhile Val (Miriam Jordan) a Baroness has become infatuated and intrigued with Paul, even though her old faithful friend Carl (John Boles) is supportive but sceptical. Also arriving at the house is a friend of the father's (Halliwell Hobbes), a quirky inventor (George Marion) who brings along his machine which can bring back the dead - it is worked seamlessly into the plot, for whatever reason!! Aha - Onslow is assassinated and he is hastened to the machine which unfortunately can only revive the person or animal for six hours. Warner Baxter comes into his own, he sometimes has a quiet desperation with his acting("42nd Street") and the scenes where Paul, knowing not only does he only have six hours left but is given clarity enough to realise that he was just carried away with Val's adoration and gently tries to persuade her that she and Carl are meant for each other is very poignant. Miriam Jordan was luminous as Val - she was a British actress and this was her first film. She was only in a handful, usually opposite top stars ie Warner Baxter, Clive Brook and was always praised by the critics but she eventually returned to England. She gives a restrained but intense performance. Cinematographer John Seitz who put his stamp on films like "The Big Clock" creates a scene almost out of "Spione" as Onslow driving his car at breakneck speed crashes into a store front, people murmer "only the devil could escape that", he establishes that for 6 hours he is immortal.
He now begins an allegorical walk through the town encountering people he was brusque with earlier in the day and with his new spiritual insight is able to comfort the little old lady (who else but Beryl Mercer) by telling her she will soon see her son, the little flower seller (Marilyn Harris, the little girl from "Frankenstein") and the beautiful Irene Ware, almost unrecognisable as a prostitute who Paul helps to a better life. With a stunning beginning of a mob raging through the town the film ends (and has a lot in common with "Death Takes a Holiday" of only a couple of years later) with Val watching a bunny hoping around on the grass who soon after dies. Paul, realising he will only have a few minutes left, sends her to Carl - a dreamy, poignant finale.
Highly Recommended