utgard14 Another fine Edward G. Robinson movie from the '30s. This one has Eddie playing an actor whose sister (Mary Astor) was married to a jerk (Louis Calhern) that had a strange hold over her. He disappeared years before and was presumed dead. Now the husband is back and Eddie is determined to protect his sister. Starts out like a comedy but it's more of a murder mystery. Robinson's good, as usual. Calhern is a scuzzy heel. Astor's melodramatic but it works for her. Cast also includes Ricardo Cortez, Mae Clarke, David Landau, John Eldredge, and Arthur Byron. Creaks a little due to age and staginess but worth checking out if you're a fan of Robinson.

Paularoc It sometimes happens after reading the reviews of a movie, I wonder if I've seen the same movie other reviewers seem to have seen. This movie ranks as one of the worse I have ever wasted my time on. If Robinson hadn't been the star, I would have deleted it from the dvr right after the Calhern character (Stanley Vance) shows up and Astor's character (Jessica Welles) goes into a docile trance-like state. I find the whole Svengali concept hogwash or, at the very least pathetic and sad. Who knows why Robinson, Astor and Clarke accepted parts in this movie. Calhern, however, probably had a ball with his outlandish villain's role. Robinson's make-up was dreadful and it passes belief that those who knew him as Damon Welles could possibly not recognize him as Jules Chautard. The final straw was that the murder was solved as a result of a fake mustaches being left in the hotel room bible! This movie is only worth a look because Robinson is in it.

blanche-2 Edward G. Robinson is "The Man with Two Faces" in this 1934 drama which also stars Louis Calhern, Mary Astor, and Ricardo Cortez. Astor and Robinson are Jessica and Damon Wells, sister and brother actors appearing in the out of town tryout of a play called "The Dark Tower." Astor's cruel, greedy, crooked husband, Stanley Vance (Calhern) is believed dead. Unfortunately he's not, and he shows up where the cast is staying.Damon Wells comes up with an idea of getting rid of Vance once and for all, and he uses Wells' greed to do it, telling him that a man, Chautard, is interested in buying Vance's and Jessica's part of the show for a great deal of money. Stanley eagerly meets Chautard at his hotel.This is a nice, short mystery that showcases both Robinson and Calhern. It's not the most believable plot - for one thing, Astor becomes shell-shocked when her husband appears and does everything he tells her, as if she has no mind of her own. That seemed rather odd. However, the acting is good and the action goes by pleasantly.

chipe This movie is a nice little gem, mainly for the witty dialog and impressive rank of actors who clearly enjoyed their work. No surprise there -- just look at the writers, source material and cast. Even the supporting players had great lines that they delivered with gusto. None of it is very realistic, but the set-up is great, much of the acting is over-the-top fun, and there is a great deal of humor. The finale is interesting -- it won't please everyone, but it is even-handed -- both pre-code and code aspects. See it and you will know what I mean. Incidentally, as another reviewer here noted, the TV Guide review (you have to go to the TV Guide website to see it) is WRONG about important parts of the plot and especially the ending. It is as though their reviewer did not see the movie!