The Locked Door (1929)

not horrible nor great

A Disappointing Continuation

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

In 1921, Norma Shearer starred in her first film, "Sign on the Door". It wasn't a very good film then and when they remade it in 1929 as a sound picture, it wasn't much better. Both films suffered from a major problem--if the wife had just talked to her loving husband, all this could have been avoided. Plus, the ending really was awfully dumb.When the film begins, Ann (Barbara Stanwyck) is in a room aboard his yacht. While Frank's friends are drinking themselves into oblivion, he's attempting to rape this nice young lady. Fortunately, a police raid on the yacht stops him from completing his assault.18 months pass. Ann is now happily married to Larry (William Boyd*). But Larry's sister brings home a new man in her life...and it turns out to be the blackguard, Frank!!! Now Ann should have just told everyone about that event 18 months ago but instead she later goes to his apartment to beg him to leave her sister-in-law alone. Soon, Larry arrives and shoots Frank...and leaves Ann locked in the room with the dying man! What's next? Well, if you see the film, you honestly won't care in the least, as the last 15 minutes of the film are just terrible...unbelievable and rather silly as well.I hate films where a person simply explaining things could have prevented a whole lotta trouble. Plus, the last 15 minutes are just god-awful and stupid. Fortunately, despite these problems, this first starring role for Barbara Stanwyck wasn't too bad, as she soon went on to better and bigger things.*This William Boyd is NOT the famous William Boyd, also known later as Hoppalong Cassidy. Hoppy was a very famous actor in the late 2os and into the 30s. The one in this film is the less famous and non- cowboy version!

Is there a rottener rotter than louche Rod la Rocque? Not if you judge him on his performance in this surprisingly agile early talkie from producer/director George Fitzmaurice. La Rocque plays playboy Frank Devereaux, who meets sweet young thing Ann Carter (Barbara Stanwyck in good early form) aboard an offshore Prohibition booze boat and almost rapes her. His indiscretion is interrupted by a police raid, but the propitious appearance of a newspaper shutterbug allows slimy Frank to get his hands on a photo of the event with which he can later blackmail Ann, wed 'eighteen months later' to straight arrow Larry Reagen (Stage Boyd). Larry's innocent little sister Helen (cute Betty Bronson) is also being eyed by the lascivious Devereaux, and complications ensue when Ann goes to his penthouse apartment to persuade him not to be such a cad. Yeah, good luck with that. With eyebrows perpetually arched and pencil moustache carefully groomed, la Rocque would be the perfect person to portray John Waters in a biopic. Also of note: ZaSu Pitts turn as a bored telephone operator and William Cameron Menzies impressive set design.

Other comments mention some innovative camera work in this film, but what you'll remember first is the stiff, stagy acting. And yet, you'll keep watching right up to the ridiculous deus-ex-machina ending because the movie isn't terrible enough to make you turn it off. And there are some points of interest.One, oddly enough, is the set. Devereaux's bachelor pad has Gothic architectural details worthy of Dracula's castle. Funny that as a playboy with no visible means of support (blackmail, perhaps), he should be able to afford such a magnificent place. Another would be Barbara Stanwyck with a horrendous 1920's hairdo, overacting like she probably never did again. I never believed that she would be so much in love with a husband who looks twice her age and has all the passion and animation of a dead codfish.Another would be the villain of the piece, played by Rod La Roque as the ultimate lounge lizard with the a perfectly sleazy pencil-thin mustache and a leering, mocking manner to match. But I believed all that far more than I believed his change of heart at the end.And finally, standing out like a beacon among the minor players, is Zazu Pitts as the ditsy switchboard operator. Very funny.

BARBARA STANWYCK was never too fond of her first talkie and it's easy to see why. Filmed at a time when stage actors were just getting familiar with sound technique in films, it has a multitude of problems with regard to script, direction and performances.ROD LaROCQUE is insufferably hammy as the bad guy who tries to seduce Stanwyck aboard an illegal rum boat and turns up some eighteen months later paying court to her sister (BETTY BRONSON). Stanwyck and hubby WILLIAM BOYD decide to stop LaRocque from carrying through with his plans to run off with Bronson and the plot thickens, going from one melodramatic mess to another before the story crawls to an end.Best aspect of the film is the photography of Ray June, especially the overhead shots looking through the glass ceiling of a dance floor on the riverboat and the panning shot of bar customers ordering drinks.Everyone sounds like they're reading their lines for a run through rehearsal, but Stanwyck at least shows emotion well in some good close-ups. Bronson and LaRocque are the worst with the new mikes.