HIS DOUBLE LIFE
US, 1932, 68 minutes, Black and white.
Roland Young, Lillian Gish, Montagu Love, Lumsden Hare, Lucy Beaumont.
Directed by Arthur Hopkins.
For those interested in the history of films, for those who enjoy some of the brief films of the 1930s, this one is worth catching.
It is based on a story by distinguished British novelist, Arnold Bennett (The Card).
Is also a star vehicle for Roland Young who was to be an enjoyable presence in films during the 1930s and 1940s. He was soon to be Topper. And, especially for those interested in the history of film, there is an appearance by Lillian Gish, so prominent two decades earlier in the films of D.W.Griffith.
The film opens in the United States at an art exhibition and great praise for the unknown artist who is a recluse. One of the visitors to the exhibition is Alice Chalice, Lillian Gish, unmarried and in her 30s and thinking she had few prospects. There are also some relatives of the artist but they have never seen him. The artist’s agent has made a number of sales.
The action transfers to England with the appearance of the artist, Roland Young, shy in manner, shunning any kind of public exposure. He is looked after by his assistant of many years, Leek, Montagu Love. In London, they go to a hotel, and, unexpectedly, the assistant dies. Everybody who comes, starting with the police, and then his relatives, all assume that the artist is in fact the assistant no matter how hard he protests.
He is treated fairly badly by most concerned, especially by the relatives are a bit upset about reading in his will that they are to set up an art gallery.
It turns out that Alice has been using the 1930s equivalent of online dating, through print!
She goes to London to meet the assistant, having a photo of him with the artist. She thinks the artist, whose name is Priam Farrell, is the servant, rescues him, talks over him, is attracted towards him, and he to her. They share so much, he comes to life. They marry.
Eventually, he is seen and recognised and there are all kinds of difficulties which the artist tries to gloss over. There is the question of his identity, who is buried in his tomb – and there is a spectacular scene where he is buried in Westminster Abbey is a great national artist and it causes quite some uproar in the Gallery! He goes to court, the assistant’s former wife and sons turn up and she identifies the artist, even in court.
So, with all the difficulties, Alice not caring who he is but loving him, the artist continuing his paintings (through which he was eventually recognised), but they are to lead a happy ever after life.
Not very well known – but a pleasantly spent hour and a bit.
