Beyond Victory

Beyond Victory
Directed by	John Robertson
Written by	Horace Jackson James Gleason
Produced by	E. B. Derr
Starring	Bill Boyd James Gleason Lew Cody ZaSu Pitts
Cinematography	Norbert Brodine
Edited by	Daniel Mandell
Music by	Francis Groman
Production company	RKO Pathé
Release date	April 12, 1931 (1931-04-12) (US)
Running time	70 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Beyond Victory is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film, starring Bill Boyd, James Gleason, Lew Cody, and ZaSu Pitts. While John Robertson received directing credit, Edward H. Griffith supposedly took extensive re-takes after production ended and the filmed was deemed not audience ready. Two actresses which had major roles in the original version, were completely cut from the final film, Helen Twelvetrees and June Collyer. The original screenplay was written by Horace Jackson and James Gleason. While the film might not have made a profit at the box office, it was well-received by critics.

Plot

On the western front during World War I, American forces attempt to retain control of a French town. Sergeant Bill Thatcher (Bill Boyd), the non-commissioned officer in charge of the forces, goes to visit several wounded men. The first, "Bud" (Russell Gleason) relates his story of how he joined the military, leaving the family farm to enlist, despite his mother's pleas for him not to go get involved in foreign conflicts. As he finishes his story, he dies.

The second doughboy, Lew Cavanaugh (Lew Cody), was a New York playboy, who used enlistment as a way to have a final night of pleasure with one of his conquests. He never realized that he too would die on the plains of France. The third American soldier, Jim Mobley (James Gleason) is nowhere near as badly wounded as the other two soldiers. He tells his story of his theatrical wife's displeasure when he announces his intention to enlist. Thatcher then relates his own story, where he was engaged to a German immigrant back in the United States, but did not wed her due to their differences regarding the "Great War".

Shortly after their discussion, the two men are both thrown back into the battle, during which they hold the American positions, but are badly wounded and captured by German forces. While in the German hospital, Thatcher discovers that one of the nurses is his erstwhile fiancé, Katherine (Lissi Arna). When armistice is declared, the two are married, with Jim looking on.

Cast

• Bill Boyd as Sergeant Bill Thatcher
• James Gleason as Private Jim Mobley
• Lew Cody as Lew Cavanaugh
• ZaSu Pitts as Mademoiselle Fritzi
• Marion Shilling as Ina
• Russell Gleason as Russell ("Bud")
• Lissi Arna as Katherine
• Mary Carr as Mother
• Fred Scott as Fred
• Theodore Von Eltz as Major Sparks

(Cast list as per AFI database)

Reception

The reviews of the film were mixed. The Film Daily called it a "Fairly good war drama", highlighting the good performance of Marion Shilling. This sentiment was echoed by the Motion Picture Magazine, which called it a "War picture to talk about...." On the other hand, the Motion Picture Herald, calling it a "mixed-up affair, pacifist in theme, and in acting, story, direction and other departments woefully amateurish."

Notes

Scenes with Helen Twelvetrees and June Collyer were completely cut from the final version of the film.

Academy Award nominee, James Gleason, was asked to contribute to the screenplay. In his adaptation, he wrote a role into the final version of the script for himself

The film had a slightly nepotistic angle, as Frank Reicher's sister, Hedwiga Reicher, James Gleason's son, Russell Gleason were cast in the film, Russell in a very significant role.