Man's Castle (1933)

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writers:

Lawrence Hazard (play)
Jo Swerling (writer)

Release Date:

27 October 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Bill takes Trina into his depression camp cabin. Later, just as he finds showgirl LaRue who will support him, Trina becomes pregnant.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Toy | Freight Train | Minister | Stilts

Cast

Spencer Tracy	...	Bill
Loretta Young	...	Trina
Marjorie Rambeau	...	Flossie
Glenda Farrell	...	Fay La Rue
Walter Connolly	...	Ira
Arthur Hohl	...	Bragg
Dickie Moore	...	Joey

Also Known As:

A Man's Castle (USA) (review title)

Runtime:

75 min | USA:69 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Quotes:

Bill: You're a heck of a looking woman for a guy like me.
Trina: Mmhmm. I don't know if this is going to be a very good stew.
Bill: Look at you. Skinny as a rail.
Trina: Yessir, that's just what I did, I put those potatoes in too soon.
Bill: Who wants to grab hold of a load of bones. That's what you are, bones. You know that, don't you?
Trina: Yeah, but I'm young kind of.
Bill: That don't make no difference.
Trina: Maybe it does. Maybe I'll sort of fill out after.
Bill: Nah, nah. You'll never look like a woman. You haven't got it in you to look like a woman.
Trina: What difference does it make as long as you're good to me?
[...]

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Surprise!

A delightful forgotten classic.

Although this rarely seen film is not available on video, and has not been shown on cable that I am aware of, it is a classic which deserves the light of day. Spencer Tracy, before his MGM years and major stardom, was teamed with Loretta Young, one of the major stars of the early 30's, and sparks were united. Tracy is a rough and tough shanty town character who takes in down on her luck Young. Slightly mistreating her, Tracy is on the verge of leaving her when she drops a bombshell that will change their lives. Also around are Marjorie Rambeau as a drunken neighbor with a heart of gold (and giving a very sensative performance), Glenda Farrell as a singer who turns Tracy's head, and Walter Connelly as another neighbor who becomes a father-like figure to the two. The camera work and settings are rough and gritty, almost like a Warner Brothers film. However, this was made at Columbia, then a second-rate "B" studio which was most known at the time for its string of films directed by Frank Capra (usually starring Barbara Stanwyck). It is short and sweet (66 minutes according to Leonard Maltin), and very moving. I agree with Maltin's comment that Tracy's character was a bit much to take at times, but it is evident that he hides many facets behind his hard exterior. Young, never one of my favorites, was at her best in the early 30's before she became too "lady-like". Even though her character is sweet and vulnerable, she is far more realistic than she got in her more esteemed years after winning the Oscar for "The Farmer's Daughter". Farrell is fine in her few scenes, but has little to do. It's a shame that this very talented lady never rose above the line of secondary roles or leads in "B" features. If "A Man's Castle" makes its way onto cable (or with some miracle, home video), I highly recommend it to film students and historians.