wmorrow59 Let me begin by thanking everyone involved in the recent rescue and restoration of this film. Like so many releases from the Fox Studio, 'Transatlantic' in its original form was lost to posterity due to a 1937 film vault explosion in New Jersey. The original negative was destroyed, and for many years the only known surviving print was one found in Europe, dubbed in French. The credits and all written inserts (newspaper headlines, etc.) were in French as well. But in recent years an almost complete audio recording of the English language soundtrack was recovered, and subsequently new credits and inserts were created which closely match the originals. 'Transatlantic' is once more being screened in a version fairly close to its original release print. Unfortunately, a few random moments of the soundtrack remain missing, but those brief passages have been bridged by subtitles. Was all this effort worthwhile? Absolutely! 'Transatlantic' is a terrific movie, a first rate popcorn flick, especially impressive as a product of the early talkie era. If you didn't know it was produced in 1931 you'd guess it was done much later: the editing tempo is brisk, camera work is smooth and unconstrained, and the performances are sharp. There's no sign of the slow pacing or awkwardness one sometimes finds in films of this era. The opening sequence, when the ship where most of the action takes place sets sail, serves as an exciting, beautifully edited introduction to our main characters. And once the voyage is underway, several storylines are deftly juggled, in a tight scenario that builds to a genuinely suspenseful finale. As others have mentioned, this is essentially 'Grand Hotel' on the high seas. (It was produced the year before MGM's famous film, but two years after the publication of that film's source novel.) Edmund Lowe plays Monty Greer, a character rather like John Barrymore's familiar jewel thief. He's a debonair gambler, embarking on this voyage one step ahead of the law, but we know he's a decent sort because he refuses to throw in with a gang of ruthless crooks also on board the ship. They've set their sights on wealthy financier Henry Graham (John Halliday), who has absconded with funds one step ahead of his bank's failure. Graham, for his part, keeps his wife Kay (Myrna Loy) at a distance while he steps out with his mistress Sigrid (Greta Nissen), who is also on board. Sigrid, as it happens, was formerly on intimate terms with Monty. He, meanwhile, befriends kindly old Mr. Kramer (Jean Hersholt) who has worked hard for many years as a lens grinder while raising his daughter Judy (Lois Moran). At long last Mr. Kramer is able to retire and travel-but his life's savings are kept in Henry Graham's bank, and its failure, which Kramer hears about during the voyage, means that he's wiped out. Those are the central plot threads. It may sound complicated, but it all unfolds neatly and clearly as the ship sails on. There are occasional touches of comedy relief as well, frequently provided by a steward named Hodgkins (played by silent comedy veteran Billy Bevan), whose conversation consists of windy, oft-repeated platitudes. And, as noted above, the various story threads build to a highly suspenseful climax, a shoot-out in the ship's boiler room that is a dazzling cinematic tour-de-force. Kudos to director William K. Howard, cinematographer James Wong Howe, and editor Jack Murray for their work on this film. And again, many thanks to the restoration artists who helped make this delightful flick available once more!

JohnHowardReid Edmund Lowe (Monty Greer), Lois Moran (Judy Kramer), John Halliday (Henry Graham), Greta Nissen (Sigrid Carline), Jean Hersholt (Rudolph Kramer), Myrna Loy (Kay Graham), Earl Foxe (Handsome), Billy Bevan (Hudgins), Goodee Montgomery (Peters), Jesse De Vorska (buyer), Claude King (captain), Crauford Kent (first officer), Rosalie Roy (bride), Ruth Donnelly (Burbank), Eddie Borden (interloper), James Kirkwood (Sigrid's beau), Jack Lowe (waiter), Henry Sedley (Chalky), Larry Steers (passenger), Louis Matheaux (henchman), Edmund Mortimer (guest), Bob Montgomery (Socker).Director: WILLIAM K. HOWARD. Screenplay: Guy Bolton and Lynn Starling. Original screen story: Guy Bolton. Photography: James Wong Howe. Film editor: Jack Murray. Art director: Gordon Wiles. Stills: Clarence Sinclair Bull. Copyright 10 July 1931 by Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Roxy, 30 July 1931. 6,627 feet. 73½ minutes.SYNOPSIS: A Grand Hotel on an ocean liner.NOTES: Academy Award, Art Direction, Gordon Wiles (defeating A Nous la Liberte and Arrowsmith).COMMENT: Photographer Jimmy Howe was once asked by an eager film student in the late 1960s, to name the director Howe regarded as the most skillful, the most talented, the most inventive and the most accomplished in the entire American film industry. Jimmy had worked for many great directors. The eager student expected him to nominate Martin Ritt, Howard Hawks, Raoul Walsh, or perhaps John Frankenheimer. To the student'sutter amazement, Howe unhestitatingly answered, "William K. Howard." Would you believe, the student had never even heard of William K. Howard? Sad, but true! Well, here in "Transatlantic", we find Howard at the zenith of his powers. In fact, "Transatlantic" is a superbly beautiful film in every respect. Even Edmund Lowe (under Howard's sympathetic direction) gives a thoroughly convincing performance.Enough said! I don't want to detail all this film's merits. I would rather you seek it out and watch it yourself!

mark.waltz At the rate he's going, he's not going to make it from one side of the Atlantic to the other. Edmund Lowe is the cad of all cads-a bounder, a charlatan, a snake on the ocean. He's on his way to Europe working on the idea for a tunnel from one coast to the other, a ridiculous prospect in itself, and it seems to be his goal to make love to every woman (attached or not) on the ocean liner. Among his intended conquests are Lois Moran, Greta Nielsen and a very young Myrna Loy. Other situations include passengers dealing with a bank crash and a not so surprising murder, followed by a storm at sea. Moran's father, Jean Hersholt, confronts John Halliday over the bank failing while various husbands confront the amoral Lowe.This isn't a great movie, but interesting in its depiction of excess on the high seas just 20 years after the Titanic and only a couple of years before the Moritania. It's early 1930's Art Deco with a mostly unknown cast, with Loy the most famous name in the film, yet not having a lot to do. But while a bit creaky and predictable, there's enough elements of pre-code scandal and sin to keep the audience engaged. Lowe goes to show ya that even a somewhat paunchy middle aged man can get all the girls he wants. The twists and turns come at an alarming rate, so if you remain patient with it, you'll find it an early talkie with many great qualities, not the least of which is its Oscar winning art direction.

boblipton A pretty fair movie -- look for Myrna Loy as she begins her ascent to Queen of Hollywood. The real star for me in Jame Wong Howe's magnificent photography, lovely deep focus work ten years before Greg Toland 'revolutionized' pictures with it.