The Solitaire Man (1933)

Oliver Lane is "The Solitaire Man," a renowned jewel thief who is ready to retire and marry Helen, his partner in crime and his one true love. Their plans are shattered when another member ... See full summary »

Director:

Jack Conway

Writers:

James Kevin McGuinness (screen play), Bella Spewack (from the play by),

Stars:

Herbert Marshall, Mary Boland, Lionel Atwill

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Herbert Marshall	...	Oliver
Mary Boland	...	Mrs. Hopkins
Lionel Atwill	...	Wallace
May Robson	...	Mrs. Vail
Elizabeth Allan	...	Helen
Ralph Forbes	...	Bascom
Lucile Gleason	...	Mrs. Peabody (as Lucille Gleason)
Robert McWade	...	Mr. Peabody

Storyline

Oliver Lane is "The Solitaire Man," a renowned jewel thief who is ready to retire and marry Helen, his partner in crime and his one true love. Their plans are shattered when another member of their gang, Bascom, walks in with a stolen necklace. Helen will not marry Oliver until the necklace is returned. Oliver's attempt to return the jewels later place the whole gang under suspicion for the theft and for the murder of a Scotland Yard inspector.

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Plot Keywords:

necklace | jewel thief | scotland yard | murder | gambling | 

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Genres:

Crime | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1933 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

67 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Maude Eburne was listed as a cast member in a contemporary Hollywood Reporter news item, but she did not appear in this movie.

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Goofs

Lionel Atwill quite clearly calls Herbert Marshall "Wallace" in one scene, apparently forgetting that was the name of his own character. Marshall played Lane.

User Reviews

Terrible film

Just what I wanted to see: a stage play masquerading as a movie. It's one of those few times in which you forget the entire content of the film just minutes after watching. Most of us get into movies to be visually and emotionally stimulated, but this MGM cheapie fails on both fronts, at times even daring the viewer to stay awake with its endless dialogue and overblown theatrics. A caper plot about a stolen necklace on an airplane could and should have been better than the nonsensical soap opera mechanics on display here. The old hags were not only rude and insulting, but they practically beg the viewer for a well placed slap across the mouth. Given the technical limitations of 1933, the plane set where most of the film takes place looks like a kindergarten stage with a few random chairs spread around for good measure. Thankfully, this wretched excrement of old cinema remains unreleased on video; those that get TCM may have to suffer a terrible ordeal, though.