The Man with Two Faces (1934)

A play is about to have it's opening night when something awful happens....Stanley Vance (Louis Calhern) arrives. It seems that everyone thought he was dead...and hoped this was the case. But this malicious jerk is somehow alive and he's arrived for one reason....to destroy his wife's play until he is paid off to just go away again! It seems that Jessica (Mary Astor) is like a zombie around the Svengali-like Stanley...as if he is exerting some sort of mind control over her...and she seems helpless to stop him from ruining everything. Everyone hates Stanley...everybody. So you assume sooner or later Stanley is going to suffer some 'accident' which will permanently remove this vicious jerk from the picture. But who and how...that is what you'll have to find out when you watch the picture.I really enjoyed watching Louis Calhern. He was delightfully awful...sort of like watching a cat toying with a mouse before ultimately snuffing it. He must have had a great time doing this...and he was excellent. I also loved that this is the sort of film where the audience is pulling for the murder to happen AND for the killer to get away with it...something which helped make "The Suspect" one of the best movies of its day. Overall, a very entertaining film...well acted, well written and very enjoyable.

The TCM plot description got me to put this this on my DVR, but it was months before I actually sat down to watch it. Totally thought I'd watch a few minutes and move on. But I found myself with a big smile the whole time because it's pretty near perfect - the timing of what we're told, the acting, everything. Not surprised that it's based on a George S. Kaufman play. (Kaufman knows the theater and can be quite clever.) Edward G. Robinson breaks away from his always-EGR persona and Louis Calhern, who plays Stanley Vance is delightfully slimy. The surprises weren't really surprises, but it sure was fun to watch them play out. I wish the reason for Mary Astor's behavior had been hinted at earlier, though, and the print shown on TCM was pretty washed out, but other than that, it's a real keeper. Anyone who likes to watch the tables turned should get a kick out of it!

This one I knew wasn't going to a ground breaking film from the 30's but I saw that Edward G. Robinson was in it so I had to watch it. I didn't live back in the 30's but I can bet that even back then no one would believe the basic plot line in this one. Totally ridiculous.The premise is that an actress is coming back from a lengthy illness/sabbatical. She has a successful turn at her first acting in a play in a while and it's a success. Her brother is almost done with acting but does the play because she's in it. He loves her. The issue is she has a nefarious husband who's life is to make everyone's life around worse by doing one thing....hypnotizing them. The reason his wife was "away" because he has an overpowering effect on her and she needed to get away from him. Luckily, he got jail time so she had time to recuperate.When you first see this guys character come into play and hearing his first lines and his demeanor you can't help but laugh. It's so stupid. Can you imagine? Someone who can hypnotize most around him or that his over bearing personality can make people do whatever he wants. I mean as soon as we see him, his wife goes back into the trance like state. It's just beyond unbelievable. Of course there are a few who don't buy it and one is her brother (Edward G). He prepares a detailed plan to get him out of there life. I won't go into detail with that part because it's actually pretty good.The reason why this film barely works is because Edwar G. Robinson saves it. He's such a good actor he could have made Plan 9 from Outer Space a decent "B" film. He brings such ability to the screen you believe in what he portrays. The ending is quite good and I'm sure you'll agree. I would have given this film a higher rating but the basic plot point is so stupid I just couldn't.Watch this when your bored on a Saturday afternoon and be prepared to watch a plot that's right out of a Soap Opera.

If this film has a weak spot it's the story's details. Without giving anything away the whole idea of Vance's (Calhern) Svengali-like hypnotic effect on his wife (Astor) is a bit far-fetched, even for 1934. And quite frankly Robinson's disguise left a lot to be desired. And let's not forget the clue that clinched the policeman's case. I can't imagine building a case of such flimsy evidence. There's other areas of concern but I digress. Now for the good part: where the film shines is in the performances. This bevy of fine actors does a most excellent job at presenting complex characters driven by events not of their own choosing. It's a pretty talky film but I didn't mind in the least. The dialog is spirited, lively, expressive. And the performers tended to make me forget the plot's weak points. They were captivating, all of them, Robinson, Astor, Calhern, Cortez (in a rare good guy part), and last but not least, Mae Clarke, in my opinion a most underrated actor.