Man's Castle (1933)

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

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writers:

Jo Swerling (screenplay), Lawrence Hazard (from a play by)

Stars:

Spencer Tracy, Loretta Young, Marjorie Rambeau

Cast

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

Storyline

12 million Americans are out of work. Trina is homeless and hungry when Bill takes her under his wing, showing her a squatter's camp where she can live. She's soon in love with him, making a castle for him inside a shack; but he's bluff, gruff, and a "bindlestiff," a guy who can't stay put. When Trina tells Bill she's pregnant, he's ready to jump a freight train and move on, but first he wants to leave Trina with some money, so he partners up with Bragg, the camp's louse (who's been eyeing Trina), to rob a toy manufacturer. He's shot and the cops are closing in: does he have any options?

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Plot Keywords:

toy | love | freight train | thinness | starving | 

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Taglines:

Hers was the beauty of awakening dawn - binding his fickle heart forever more! (One-sheet poster).

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Man's Castle

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min 69 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The surviving print, shown on TCM, is the edited 1938 (post-Production Code) re-release, with redesigned title credits.

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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...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963)

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Soundtracks

Surprise!
Sung by Glenda Farrell

User Reviews

Can't Get Enough Pre-Codes

Man's Castle is a wonderful example of a Pre-Code film. It involves realistic events with truly enjoyable and imperfect characters. Spencer Tracy plays Bill, a free soul without a dime in his pocket. He makes a living doing odd jobs and traveling to a new city when he gets bored of his surroundings. One night, he meets Trina, a beauty by any standards who is cold and alone. She has refused to resort to prostitution so she has not eaten for several days, but the two take very well to each other and form a relationship. His free spirit tempts him to leave her, so life is rocky, but there is a true spark between the two, even if they live in a shack by the river.

Tracy is one of the great actors of the silver screen. His characters are amazing and relatable. We can see his thoughts on his face, making him easy to identify with, even if we believe he is behaving badly. Young is great in pre-code films. Her character is very sweet but far from perfect, making her all the more likable.

Pre-code elements include skinny dipping, pregnancy before marriage, and crime.