Day of Reckoning (1933)

Director:

Charles Brabin

Writers:

Morris Lavine (novel)
Zelda Sears (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 October 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The True Story of Half a Million Lonely Women!

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Fall From Height | Trial | Library | Extravagance

Cast

Richard Dix	...	John Day
Madge Evans	...	Dorothy Day
Conway Tearle	...	George Hollins
Una Merkel	...	Mamie
Stuart Erwin	...	Jerry
George 'Spanky' McFarland	...	Johnny Day (as Spanky McFarlane)
Isabel Jewell	...	Kate Lovett
James Bell	...	Slim
Raymond Hatton	...	Hart
Paul Hurst	...	Harry
John Larkin	...	Abraham
Wilfred Lucas	...	Guard
Samuel S. Hinds	...	O'Farrell (as Samuel Hinds)

Also Known As:

Forever Faithful (USA) (working title)
Hall of Justice (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

69 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Genevieve Tobin was listed in the Hollywood Reporter as a cast member, but she was not seen in the film.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Tales From the Vienna Woods, Op.325

Fine Performances Propel Melodrama

A young husband has his DAY OF RECKONING when he's sent to prison for embezzlement.

Fine performances raise what is essentially a soap opera above its material and provides some dandy entertainment along the way. While the subplots grow a little thick, all is resolved in time for an idyllic, if somewhat bittersweet, ending.

Leading man Richard Dix sheds his usual in-charge persona for a much more vulnerable characterization. Although they share few scenes, he is given firm support by perky Una Merkel playing his devoted Southern maid. She easily upstages pretty Madge Evans as Dix's conflicted wife. Stalwart Stuart Erwin plays the friendly milkman in love with Merkel.

Some fine character actors do quite well in smaller roles. Conway Tearle is the family friend who takes advantage of Dix's absence. Isabel Jewell is properly distraught as Tearle's former mistress. Raymond Hatton is effective as a prison trustee who befriends Dix. James Bell is noteworthy as a prisoner driven crazy by worry over his wife's supposed infidelity. Samuel S. Hinds manages to become suitably repellent in his brief screen time as a crooked lawyer. Tiny Spanky McFarland, of OUR GANG fame, turns on the charm as Dix's infant son.

Movie mavens will recognize an unbilled Clarence Wilson as a bail bondsman.