The Locked Door
| The Locked Door | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | George Fitzmaurice |
| Produced by | Joseph M. Schenck Joseph P. Kennedy |
| Written by | Channing Pollock (play) C. Gardner Sullivan (screenplay) George Scarborough (dialogue) Earle Browne (addl. dialogue) |
| Starring | Rod LaRocque Barbara Stanwyck William "Stage" Boyd Betty Bronson |
| Cinematography | Ray June |
| Editing by | Hal Kern |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | 16 November 1929 |
| Running time | 8 reels 6,844 feet |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Locked Door (1929) is an American drama film featuring Barbara Stanwyck in her second film appearance, first starring role, and first talking picture. The film is based on the play The Sign on the Door by Channing Pollock. A previous version was the silent film The Sign on the Door (1921) starring Norma Talmadge.[1] [2]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Ann Carter (Barbara Stanwyck), an inexperienced young woman, accepts an invitation to dinner from Frank Devereaux (Rod LaRocque), the son of her employer. The date turns out to be far from what she expects. It is aboard a "rum boat", a ship that sails beyond the 12 mile limit to get around the restrictions of Prohibition. Worse, Frank turns out to be a cad. When she tries to leave, he locks the door and tries to force himself on her, tearing her dress. Fortunately, the ship drifts back into U.S. waters and a police raid stops him from going any further. When a photographer takes a picture of the two under arrest, Frank buys it from him.
Eighteen months later, Ann is happily married to wealthy Lawrence Reagan (William "Stage" Boyd). They are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary when Frank resurfaces in Ann's life, this time as the boyfriend of her naive young sister-in-law, Helen (Betty Bronson). Though both Ann and her husband tell Helen that Frank is no good (Lawrence knows that Frank is having an affair with the wife of one of his friends), it is clear to Ann that Helen does not believe them.
Ann goes to Frank's apartment to stop him from taking advantage of Helen. She hides when Lawrence shows up unexpectedly. He warns Frank to leave town before Lawrence's friend catches up with him and shoots him. Frank had already planned to go, but when Lawrence declares that he intends to administer a beating first, Frank draws a gun. He is shot in the ensuing struggle. Lawrence leaves without being seen, unaware that his wife has heard the whole thing.
To protect her husband, Ann phones the switchboard operator and reenacts her earlier assault, ending with her firing two shots. When the police arrive, the district attorney (Harry Mestayer) soon pokes holes in her story. Also, the photograph is found, providing a motive for murder. However, Frank is not yet dead; in his last few minutes of life, he explains what really happened, exonerating both Ann and Lawrence.
[edit] Cast
- Rod LaRocque as Frank Devereaux
- Barbara Stanwyck as Ann Carter
- William "Stage" Boyd as Lawrence Reagan
- Betty Bronson as Helen Reagan
- Harry Stubbs as the Waiter
- Harry Mestayer as the District Attorney
- Mack Swain as the Hotel Proprietor
- Zazu Pitts as the Telephone Girl
- George Bunny as the Valet
[edit] References
- ^ The Locked Door at silentera.com database
- ^ The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30 by The American Film Institute, c. 1971
