Straight Is the Way (1934)

Director:

Paul Sloane

Writers:

Dana Burnet (play) and
George Abbott (play) ...

Release Date:

10 August 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Moll | Williamsburg Bridge | Protection Racket | False Witness | Heart Disease

Cast

Franchot Tone	...	Benny 'Ben' Horowitz
May Robson	...	Mrs. Horowitz
Karen Morley	...	Bertha
Gladys George	...	Shirley
Nat Pendleton	...	Skippy, Monk's henchman
Jack La Rue	...	Monk
C. Henry Gordon	...	Police Chief 'Sully' Sullivan
Raymond Hatton	...	Mendel
William Bakewell	...	Dr. Wilkes

Runtime:

59 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #108) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

MGM originally announced Clark Gable for the lead and Mae Clarke for the role of "Shirley", but neither was in the movie. A contemporary news item also listed Christian Rub and Henry Wadsworth as cast members, but these actors were also not in the movie.

Movie Connections:

Version of Four Walls (1928)

Soundtrack:

A Hundred Years from Today

Mama Lights the Sabbath Candles

STRAIGHT IS THE WAY is an unusual "B" film from MGM with a major cast. Franchot Tone stars as Benny, a Jewish young man just released from prison after serving five years. His elderly, frail mother May Robson prays that he will turn his life around and avoid his criminal associates. While he was away she has taken in Bertha (Karen Morley) the daughter of a now deceased neighbor who is now a grown young woman. Bertha has long pined for Benny, feelings that are increased now that he is back. Benny promises his mother he will go "straight" but his old gangster buddies are trying to pull him back. And his old gun moll Gladys George wants him back too despite her dangerous liaison with another gangster, jealous Jack LaRue. The movie is actually closer to a soap opera than a gangster picture, however.

This little movie runs just a minute under an hour, telling it's limited story swiftly and Franchot Tone, Karen Morley, and May Robson each have some very good and at times moving scenes. The very dapper Tone may be an improbable actor to play a petty thief but he gives a good performance. Likewise beautiful, refined Morley seems a bit too elegant to play a girl this poor but she's quite wonderful as a reserved young woman with an unrequited love. The always wonderful Miss Robson plays one of her most gentle roles as the loving, long-suffering mother and Jack LaRue, Gladys George, and Nat Pendleton are very good as well. Actors like these are always entertaining to watch even in slender material.