In The Trial of Mary Dugan, Norma Shearer introduces for the first time her voice to audiences who adored her in silent movies. It's a heavy drama about a wronged woman on trial for murdering her married lover, and while it's a prime part for any actress of the time period, it's not a very good movie. It's very obvious this is a movie made in the transition from silent films to talkies. Some actors flub their lines, the set is very simple, and the camera angles are unimaginative. Norma doesn't even speak for a good chunk of the movie, but instead gives exaggerated expressions in close ups. When she is given the opportunity to speak, she's pretty awful. She either screams, rushes her words, or covers her mouth in mock-horror. I think she needed a year or two to get used to the microphone.
This is also very obviously a pre-Code drama, with prostitution at the forefront of many scenes. There's an incredibly unrealistic interrogation with the district attorney, H.B. Warner, attacking Norma Shearer about her relationships with her sugar daddies. The line of questioning would have been stopped in real life, and objections of irrelevancy would have raised constantly, but it's all a dramatic show to make the audience feel for Norma-and also to shame women into not becoming mistresses. If you take money and an apartment in exchange for other favors, you might wind up on trial airing every single bit of dirty laundry from every single man you've ever seen! After 1934, the entire line of questioning wouldn't have been allowed, and neither would the words "naked" and "go to bed". However, in exchange for the racy dialogue and subject matter, the 1941 remake gives audiences a better story and better acting. I saw the remake first and found it very entertaining, with passionate performances by Robert Young and Laraine Day. I was excited to see Lewis Stone in Robert Young's role, but his part wasn't even present in the original. There are still two lawyers defending the accused, but the first is her hired attorney-portrayed by Lew-and the second is her brother. To see her defended by her boyfriend, you'll have to rent the remake-which I recommend you do anyway.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. When Norma enters the courtroom in the beginning, the camera puts on a kaleidoscope effect for about 30 seconds, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
This is also very obviously a pre-Code drama, with prostitution at the forefront of many scenes. There's an incredibly unrealistic interrogation with the district attorney, H.B. Warner, attacking Norma Shearer about her relationships with her sugar daddies. The line of questioning would have been stopped in real life, and objections of irrelevancy would have raised constantly, but it's all a dramatic show to make the audience feel for Norma-and also to shame women into not becoming mistresses. If you take money and an apartment in exchange for other favors, you might wind up on trial airing every single bit of dirty laundry from every single man you've ever seen! After 1934, the entire line of questioning wouldn't have been allowed, and neither would the words "naked" and "go to bed". However, in exchange for the racy dialogue and subject matter, the 1941 remake gives audiences a better story and better acting. I saw the remake first and found it very entertaining, with passionate performances by Robert Young and Laraine Day. I was excited to see Lewis Stone in Robert Young's role, but his part wasn't even present in the original. There are still two lawyers defending the accused, but the first is her hired attorney-portrayed by Lew-and the second is her brother. To see her defended by her boyfriend, you'll have to rent the remake-which I recommend you do anyway.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. When Norma enters the courtroom in the beginning, the camera puts on a kaleidoscope effect for about 30 seconds, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"