THE SECRET BRIDE
US, 1934, 64 minutes. Black and white.
Barbara Stanwyck, Warren William, Glenda Farrell, Grant Mitchell, Henry O’ Neill, Douglass Dumbrille, Russell Hicks.
Directed by William Dieterle.
The Secret Bride is an unsuitable name for what is quite an interesting political drama. The film opens with the secret marriage between the daughter of the governor of the state and the attorney-general. They are about to announce the marriage when they are informed that the governor could be impeached for accepting a bribe.
The film elaborates the conspiracy against the governor, the efforts of his daughter and the attorney-general to investigate the case. Corruption is found, especially in the police force as well as in the business interests who have supported the governor.
While the film seems standard material, it is interesting to see it in the context of the 1930s.
The film is brief, has good characterisations by its leads, Barbara Stanwyck always being strong, Warren William (the doctor in The Wolf Man and D'Artagnan in The Man in the Iron Mask) is strong as the attorney-general. Glenda Farrell has a supporting role as his assistant, the blowsy kind of performance she often did. Douglass Dumbrille (often with the Marx Brothers and other comedians) is a perpetual villain. Henry O’Neill? is all smirks as the corrupt businessman.
This film shows how efficiently Warner Bros made this kind of drama in the 1930s.
1. The impact of the drama? Personal? Political? Legal? The criminal aspects of the film?
2. The title, Ruth and Bob being married, their not being able to let the governor know, and to keep it from the press?
3. The visual style, 1934, camera movement? Black and white photography? The city? The musical score?
4. The opening, setting the tone, establishing the characters of Ruth and Bob, their love, the marriage? Not walking on the polished floor? The phone call at the public phone box? Sympathetic characters?
5. Breeden and his phone call, the urgency of the case? The audience seeing Willis Martin depositing the cheque, his being taken by the police? The impact for Sheldon? Ruth and her knowing that they could not reveal what had happened?
6. The case against the governor, the discovery of the letter, the typewriting test? The accumulation of evidence against the governor? Even Ruth being suspicious, his assuring her that he was being framed?
7. The character of the governor, his acting with dignity? The possible impeachment? His attendance at the meetings? His disappointment at Ruth not believing him initially? His support of Bob? His dismay at discovering the betrayal by Lansdale?
8. Bob Sheldon, a DA with integrity? Examining the files, the letter, getting the typewriting tested? His listening to Ruth, her understanding? The issue of Breeden’s death, Ruth being a witness? Her reluctance to go to the court?
9. The press, eager for headlines? The collages of newspapers? The interrogations by the journalists?
10. Hazel and Breeden, Hazel meeting Breeden, his being killed? The frame-up with her gun? Her arrest, her brassy responses? In court? The jury deliberating, the guilty verdict? Ruth giving evidence just in time? Her being freed?
11. Martin, depositing the cheque? His fear? His running away? Getting out the window, going to the station? Being picked up by the police? Ruth and her appeal to him? His fear, final confession, the hold that Breeden had over him, his confrontation with Holdstock? His devoted time with Holdstock? Believing Breeden? Killing him? Planting the gun? His confession, the revelation about Breeden, the naming of Jim Lansdale
12. Lansdale, smooth, the audience seeing him as sinister early in the piece? His support of the governor, his campaign? The revelation of his manipulation, conspiracy – and his land deals and the loss of millions? His shooting himself?
13. Ruth and Bob, a strong couple, their hard work?
14. The Senate, the senator and his speeches in the house? His interrogations and the special committee?
15. The vindication of the governor – and the happy ending for Ruth and Bob?
