His Double Life (1933)

Priam Farrel is a celebrated artist but a social recluse. When his valet dies of a sudden illness, a mix-up leads to the body being identified as Farrel's. The timid artist then assumes the... See full summary »

Director:

Arthur Hopkins

Writers:

Arnold Bennett (novel), Clara Beranger (adaptation)

Stars:

Roland Young, Lillian Gish, Montagu Love

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Roland Young	...	Priam Farrel
Lillian Gish	...	Alice Chalice
Montagu Love	...	Duncan Farrel
Lumsden Hare	...	Oxford
Lucy Beaumont	...	Mrs. Leek
Charles Richman	...	Witt
Oliver Smith	...	Leek Twin - John
Philip Tonge	...	Leek Twin - Henry
Audrey Ridgewell	...	Lady Helen
Regina DeValet	...	Mary

Storyline

Priam Farrel is a celebrated artist but a social recluse. When his valet dies of a sudden illness, a mix-up leads to the body being identified as Farrel's. The timid artist then assumes the identity of his former servant, but finds himself faced with constant dilemmas as a result.

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Plot Keywords:

westminster abbey london | london england | abbey | mistaken identity | based on play | 

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Taglines:

She was the better half of his double life.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Itt állok eltemetve

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eddie Dowling Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market are either severely (and usually badly) edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duped from second- or third-generation (or more) copies of the film.

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Connections

Version of The Great Adventure (1921)

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Soundtracks

Someday, Sometime, Somewhere
(uncredited)
Written by James F. Hanley and Karl Stark

User Reviews

Before Young was Topper

Was curious to see Gish in a talkie as well as a film in which William de Mille and his screenwriter wife Clara Beranger were involved. The NYT reviewer praised it. Expectations were raised. The result was disappointment. But even with no expectations, I would have been disappointed.

This film is on the Mill Creek Comedy Collection that I'm watching. Despite a few comedy elements, this is not a comedy. And Roland Young does not give a laugh-producing performance. The trouble he gets himself into by being a mouse is not believable. However, from the moment Gish enters the story, because of her pragmatic yet eccentric character, the film becomes interesting. Alice's view of how to live and be happy is so unusual and so mesmerizing that I want to know more about her. I'm now motivated to read Bennett's novel.

The filmmakers had wonderful story material to work with, so it's puzzling as to why the end product is not wonderful. But thanks to the tip from another IMDb reviewer, I'll watch the 1943 remake with Monty Wooley and Laird Cregar. The only disappointment I'm expecting from the remake is that Gish will not be in it.