THE WOMAN IN THE SHADOWS/ WOMAN IN THE DARK
US, 1934, 68 minutes, Black and white.
Fay Wray, Ralph Bellamy, Melvyn Douglas, Roscoe Ates, Ruth Gillette, Joe King, Nell O' Day.
Directed by Phil Rosen.
The Woman in the Shadows seems like one of those many supporting feature thrillers from the first half of the 1930s. This one is much better than average, more sophisticated in the writing, or stylish in the camera work – director Phil Rosen worked for some time with Thomas Edison and then went on to direct small budget features. It also has three stars in the making and the central roles, Fay Wray soon after her most successful film, King Kong; Ralph Bellamy who is to have a decades-long career, often as the other man, and in character performances; and Melvyn Douglas, sinister in this one, but soon to become a matinee hero and, 30 years later, winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for hard in 1963 and another for Being There in 1979.
Certainly of its time, but above average of its kind.
1. A drama based on a book by Detective writer, – Hammett?
2. Black-and-white photography, atmospheric, light and shadow, the sets: prison, John Bradley’s home, the sheriff’s home, Robeson’s house, drive during the night, Logan’s house, hospital, police precincts? The musical score?
3. The focus on John Bradley, in prison and the bars, his release and anxiety, the background of the fight and the charge of manslaughter, his return home, doing his father’s house, living quietly? His relationship with Helen, her visit, her father’s anger, her mother warned her to leave Bradley’s home? The arrival of Louise, sudden, unexpected, her dress, her injury, intending it? Bradley and his reaction? The arrival of Robeson and his friend, the violence and the threats, the death of the dog, Bradley hitting the friend, his recovery? Robeson and is warning the sheriff, Bradley and Louise and their escape, the drive, the attraction between them, the resistance? Get into the city and to Logan’s house?
4. Louise, the mystery, her dress, her injuries, helping her, Bradley and the attraction? The flashbacks to her career as a singer, being kept by Robeson, the gifts of the jewels, his drinking, pressures, her escape? Robeson, his character, pursuit? Violence, drinking, phoning the sheriff to give him information? Keeping the injured man at his house, is trying to kill him, the revelation about business deals the young man considered a weakling prepared to give information to the police?
5. Logan, ex-con, his tough wife, the comedy, is stealing his wife’s watch, welcoming Bradley and Louise, breakfast, the path, the hospitality?
6. Helen the phone call, her father discovering the address, sending the police, Bradley escape, being shot, the doctor and extracting the bullet, the police presence?
7. Louise, being arrested, Robeson charging her with stealing is jewels? With the police, in the cells? The crooked lawyer, getting her bail, going back to the town, the in, trying to get adjacent rooms, her resistance, his touching her and his hand going onto her cigarette for protection?
8. Louise, her concern, Logan giving her the information, the decision to go back to Robeson, getting the jewels, his hold over her? Bradley and his escape, not believing her, the situation with Robeson injuring his friend, Bradley knocking him out – and the man able to give an explanation, Bradley believing Louise – and happy ending? The humorous upbeat ending with a Logan joke?
