Double Door (film)

Double Door
Directed by	Charles Vidor
Screenplay by	Jack Cunningham Gladys Lehman
Based on	Double Door by Elizabeth A. McFadden
Produced by	E. Lloyd Sheldon
Starring	Evelyn Venable Mary Morris Anne Revere Kent Taylor
Cinematography	Harry Fischbeck
Edited by	James Smith
Production company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	May 4, 1934 (1934-05-04)
Running time	75 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Double Door is a 1934 American pre-Code thriller film directed by Charles Vidor, written by Jack Cunningham and Gladys Lehman, and starring Evelyn Venable, Mary Morris, Anne Revere, and Kent Taylor. The film follows a young bride who finds herself tormented by her wealthy husband's abusive spinster sister in their New York City mansion. It is based on the 1933 Broadway play of the same name by Elizabeth A. McFadden and was billed in the opening credits as "The play that made Broadway gasp". Both Morris and Revere reprised their Broadway roles in the film. Though Morris had a long stage career, this is her only film performance.

The film was released on May 4, 1934, by Paramount Pictures.

Plot

In 1910 Manhattan, Victoria Van Brett is a bitter, domineering spinster who lives an isolated life with her half-sister, Caroline, in the palatial mansion built by their late industrialist father. Victoria keeps the home shuttered and rarely leaves, controlling the operations of the residence, as well as Caroline's daily life. The sisters' younger half-brother, Rip, returns home to wed Anne Darrow, a nurse who saved his life. Victoria believes Anne to be a social climber after the family money, and surreptitiously has Rip taken out of the family will on his wedding day. She dispatches other cruel methods of sabotage on the wedding day, including disarming the organ during Anne's walk down the aisle.

While Rip and Anne go on their honeymoon, Victoria forces Caroline to take her side, threatening to lock Caroline away in a soundproof vault in the home to suffocate to death. During Rip and Anne's honeymoon, they receive a telegram from Victoria demanding they return to handle the affairs of the estate. Anne, wanting to please Victoria within reason, agrees to return with Rip early. Upon return, Rip informs Victoria that he and Anne plan to move out of the familial mansion, and purchase a home of their own in the country. This enrages Victoria. Anne suffers through Victoria's manipulative and demeaning actions, which includes her restricting Anne's use of the mansion, and attempting to convince Rip that Anne is having an affair with their mutual friend, doctor John Lucas.

Exasperated by Victoria's relentless manipulations, Anne suggests to Rip that they leave and make a living on their own, but Rip wishes to stay in hopes of winning Victoria over and re-securing the family's fortune. In conversation, Rip recounts childhood memories of Victoria's abusive behavior toward him after their father died. Anne attempts to retaliate against Victoria by inviting John over for a dinner party. Victoria responds by inviting a private investigator to the house, whom she hired to stalk Anne. In front of the guests—including Mortimer, the family's attorney—Victoria accuses Anne of having an affair with John. Defeated, Anne declares she is leaving the mansion, and Rip agrees to follow her.

As Anne packs her belongings upstairs, Victoria approaches her, and offers to send her away with several strings of pearls, a family heirloom that Victoria previously denied Anne on her wedding day. Anne accepts the offer, and is lured by Victoria to the soundproof vault in the mansion. Once in the vault, Victoria locks the door behind her, sealing her inside. Caroline hears Anne's initial scream before the vault closes, and rushes to the room, but Victoria insists that Caroline was only having a nightmare. Caroline notices Anne's suitcase on the floor before she returns to bed.

Rip and Mortimer attempt to locate the missing Anne, whom Victoria asserts left Rip to new with John. Based on Caroline's recollection of the night, the men ultimately locate the vault. Victoria, the only one with the code, initially refuses to open it, but Rip twists her arm and threatens to break it if she does not comply. Victoria opens the vault, and Anne is saved. Caroline finally defies Victoria by telling her she is leaving the mansion with Rip and Anne. Victoria tries to lure Caroline into the vault with her, but Caroline refuses, and departs with the others. Before leaving, Mortimer reverts the family will back to Rip, and blackmails Victoria with her attempted murder of Anne, threatening to report her to police if she does not sign it. After Mortimer exits the room, Victoria realizes they have forgotten the pearls. As she enters the vault to retrieve them, the door closes behind her as she screams.

Cast

• Evelyn Venable as Anne Darrow
• Mary Morris as Victoria Van Brett
• Anne Revere as Caroline Van Brett
• Kent Taylor as Rip Van Brett
• Guy Standing as Mortimer Neff
• Colin Tapley as Dr. John Lucas
• Virginia Howell as Avery
• Halliwell Hobbes as Mr. Chase
• Frank Dawson as Telson
• Helen Shipman as Louise
• Leonard Carey as William

Production

The film was adapted from the stage play of the same name by Elizabeth McFadden, which was opened on Broadway in 1933. Both Mary Morris and Anne Revere reprised their stage roles for the film version. The characters of Caroline and Victoria Van Brett were both loosely based on the last-surviving sisters of the Wendels, a powerful New York City family who resided in a large mansion together (seven siblings in total, all unmarried) in isolation for most of their lives.

Filming took place in Los Angeles in early 1934.

Reception

The New York Times review was favorable: "The film version of Miss McFadden's play is a careful and intelligent copy of the original." Morris was praised for her "highly effective performance", while "Evelyn Venable, as the young wife, and Anne Revere, as the sister (the part she played on the stage), are admirable foils for the cruel old witch. They are reinforced effectively by Kent Taylor, Sir Guy Standing and Colin Tapley."

Sources

• Erickson, Hal (2017). Any Resemblance to Actual Persons: The Real People Behind 400+ Fictional Movie Characters. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-66605-1.
• Soister, John T. (2004). Up from the Vault: Rare Thrillers of the 1920s and 1930s. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-41745-2.
• Soister, John T.; Nicolella, Henry (2014). American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-48790-5.

External links

• Double Door at IMDb