The Locked Door (1929)

On her first anniversary Ann Reagan finds that her sister-in-law is involved with a shady character from her own past, and determines to intervene.

Director:

George Fitzmaurice

Writers:

Channing Pollock (play), C. Gardner Sullivan (screen adaptation),

Stars:

Rod La Rocque, Barbara Stanwyck, William 'Stage' Boyd

Cast

Cast overview:
Rod La Rocque	...	Frank Devereaux
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Ann Carter
William 'Stage' Boyd	...	Lawrence Reagan
Betty Bronson	...	Helen Reagan
Harry Stubbs	...	The Waiter
Harry Mestayer	...	District Attorney
Mack Swain	...	Hotel Proprietor
Zasu Pitts	...	Telephone Girl (as Zazu Pitts)
George Bunny	...	The Valet
Purnell Pratt	...	Police Officer
Fred Warren	...	Photographer

Storyline

While Ann and the son of her boss are out on a ship beyond the 12-mile limit, which allows liquor to be consumed, the son, Frank makes unwanted advances towards her. While she is fighting him off, the ship is raided and the passengers herded ashore. Eighteen months later Ann is celebrating her one year anniversary to Lawrence Reagan when her young sister-in-law announces she is in love, and it turns out to be Frank. Ann decides to save her husband's sister from a fate worse than death, and goes to Frank's apartment to prevent an elopement. Lawrence also goes to the apartment that night, and everyone is entangled in a crime of passion.

---

Plot Keywords:

cuckold | shot to death | gigolo | prohibition | remake | 

---

Taglines:

A drama of sacrifice and supreme love

---

Genres:

Mystery

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

La porta chiusa

Company Credits

Production Co:

George Fitzmaurice Productions, Feature Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (MovieTone)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Zasu Pitts' first name is spelled "Zazu" in the opening credits.

---

Quotes

Ann Carter: You won't gain anything by keeping me here!
Frank Devereaux: Oh, I like you in a temper. I want to hold you close, knowing you don't want to be held.

---

Connections

Edited into Visions of Light (1992)

---

Soundtracks

"I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling"
(uncredited)
Written by Fats Waller and Harry Link
First tune played on the boat

User Reviews

Uneven, hammy early talkie is a melodramatic mess...

BARBARA STANWYCK was never too fond of her first talkie and it's easy to see why. Filmed at a time when stage actors were just getting familiar with sound technique in films, it has a multitude of problems with regard to script, direction and performances.

ROD LaROCQUE is insufferably hammy as the bad guy who tries to seduce Stanwyck aboard an illegal rum boat and turns up some eighteen months later paying court to her sister (BETTY BRONSON). Stanwyck and hubby WILLIAM BOYD decide to stop LaRocque from carrying through with his plans to run off with Bronson and the plot thickens, going from one melodramatic mess to another before the story crawls to an end.

Best aspect of the film is the photography of Ray June, especially the overhead shots looking through the glass ceiling of a dance floor on the riverboat and the panning shot of bar customers ordering drinks.

Everyone sounds like they're reading their lines for a run through rehearsal, but Stanwyck at least shows emotion well in some good close-ups. Bronson and LaRocque are the worst with the new mikes.