jacobs-greenwood This original version of the Robert Sherwood play is quite different than the more famous MGM remake starring Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor. The story is more efficiently told, and without flashbacks, such that this film is nearly half an hour shorter.It was directed by James Whale, and the screenplay was written by Benn Levy and Tom Reed. The most notable aspect of this movie is Mae Clarke's terrific performance as the conflicted streetwalker Myra Deauville; Kent Douglass aka Douglass Montgomery is pedestrian as the soldier from a wealthy family she meets, Roy Cronin, who's unaware of her (oldest) profession.Whereas the later film version of the play has Myra and Roy meet and fall in love before she turns to prostitution, as her only means of support, after she's been led to believe that he's died in the war, in this one they meet after the former chorus girl had already been walking the streets for a couple of years, with friend Kitty (Doris Lloyd). Myra meets Roy on the titled London bridge during an air raid while both help an old woman (Rita Carlisle aka Carlyle) to the safety of a shelter. They then spend some innocent time together in her shabby apartment, interrupted by her landlady Mrs. Hobley (Ethel Griffies), who'd earlier asked for Myra's back rent. Naive Roy sees Myra as an out of work chorus girl who's just down on her luck, but she refuses to take advantage of his innocence, is insulted by his offer to pay her bills, and even throws him out, before they reconcile briefly and he leaves on friendlier terms.Roy is only nineteen, and even though he's no longer under the illusion that the war in France is a fun adventure, he's still worlds away from the weary realist that Myra has become. In their brief time together, Roy fell hopelessly in love with Myra and he pursues her with flowers and a new pink dress she'd mentioned in that prior meeting. Neighbor Kitty emboldens Roy's savior complex, and plants the seed that all Myra needs is a (wedding) ring. Later, Roy tricks Myra into visiting his family's estate in the country, where she reluctantly meets his mother Mary (Enid Bennett), sister Janet (Bette Davis), and father-in-law Major Fred Wetherby (Frederick Kerr). Ruth Handforth plays Augusta, their maid. Roy's family welcomes her with open arms but Myra's guilt about "what she is" causes her to tell Mary that she's not really a chorus girl. The next day, it's clear that Mary hasn't told the others what Myra had shared about her life. Finding herself still accepted among Roy's family is too much for Myra and, still feeling unworthy, she flees back to London by train.Myra is conflicted, she tries but can't seem to go back to doing what she always had. Roy returns to Myra's apartment in London, but finds only Mrs. Hobley, who tells him what he didn't know about the woman with whom he'd fallen in love. But still, he searches for her. Myra successfully avoided Roy until she can't help but try to glimpse him as his regiment meets to leave for the front on Waterloo Bridge. He sees her and makes her promise to marry him when he returns. An air raid begins just as the troop truck has driven away, and Myra is killed by a bomb dropped from a German Zeppelin (in lieu of Leigh's suicide) as the film ends, her monogrammed purse and white fox fur lay on the pavement.

LeonLouisRicci Overlooked and Covered Up by an Anemic 1940 Remake, this is a Great Early Sound Film from Director James Whale from a Play by the Popular Robert Sherwood. There are Things Found in this Movie that are Atypical of Early Sound. The Dialog is Never Hesitant and Flows with a Natural Cadence and is Totally Believable.That can be Attributed to Whale's Expertise with Dialog and His Stage Experience. Secondly, the Look of the Movie has a Gloss and Sharpness that Many Early Thirties Hollywood Projects Lacked. Germany was much better at that and Hollywood Benefited Greatly as the Filmmakers from that Country Immigrated because of the Rise of Hitler.Mae Clarke is Mesmerizing in the Role and Unforgettable. Her Co-Star the Handsome, Young and Blonde Douglas Montgomery Cannot to be Ignored Either. He was a Perfect Counterpoint as a Complete Opposite of the Woman He Loves. He is Rich and Naive, She is Poor and Wordly. She is Noble, Trying at First to Deflect His Advances and Her's is the Tragedy that is Witnessed. His is Off Screen.There are Numerous Poignant and Dramatic Scenes and there is Pre-Code Skin and Mae Clark is "Employed" in the Oldest Profession that is more than just Hinted at. Her Scenes with the Mother are so Real and Revealing as to be Heartbreaking. Highly Recommended.

evanston_dad Mae Clark plays a prostitute who meets up with a young, earnest soldier during World War I. He's from a well-to-do family, and she knows they could never work as a couple, even though she wants to let herself love him. He seems not to care about their differences, even when he finds out what she does for a living. It all ends tragically and abruptly, but makes for some very compelling melodrama in the meantime.The pre-Code frankness and grit do a lot to keep the maudlin sentimentality at bay in this story that could come across as a second-rate soap opera. If this had been made ten years later (which it was, in a version starring Vivien Leigh and which I have not seen), it would have been drenched in a syrupy score that would have given us non-stop cues about what emotions we were supposed to be feeling at every turn. But there's a matter-of-factness about this film that's as surprising as any of the actual content. I've found that frequently with these pre-Code films, what's shocking about them is not the racy material, but rather the tone pervading them.Clark gives a very good performance, but I was actually more impressed with Kent Douglass as the young soldier. He has a natural acting style that seems ahead of its time compared to his contemporaries. And Bette Davis has a small role as the soldier's sister, and proves why she became one of the biggest stars of all time. Every time she's on screen, and even in a few instances when you can't see her but can only hear her, she completely dominates the film.And maybe this makes me sound supremely stupid, but I didn't know London dealt with a blitz during WWI as well.Grade: A-

MOSSBIE Since the story is so well known by some of the very good reviewers here, I am merely adding my surprise at the discovery of the talent of Mae Clarke. I had no idea she had done this original version and according to the collected IMDb data, Ms. Clarke was just 20 years old when she worked on this excellent adaptation of the play. There is no need to compare her performance to Vivien Leigh's later remake, because that film had no real grit and Clarke's performance was one of the best I have ever seen from a performer despite her youth. The film was shot soon after talkies began and her screen presence and non theatrical emoting was astonishingly on target. The director, Whale, must have had a good rapport because her scenes with all of the players came off honest and not a bit dated. I can see that Davis would have liked to play the part as someone mentioned, but she could not have done a better job. I just discovered it on the Turner channel and became so engrossed in Clarke's performance, I called people to get a copy and watch this actress' work. Quite remarkable.