Two Against the World (1936)

A radio network manager's boss makes him air a Serial based on a murder, tormenting a woman involved.

Directors:

William C. McGann (as William McGann), William C. McGann

Writer:

Michael Jacoby (screen play by) (as Michel Jacoby)

Stars:

Humphrey Bogart, Beverly Roberts, Linda Perry

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Humphrey Bogart	...	Sherry Scott
Beverly Roberts	...	Alma Ross
Linda Perry	...	Edith Carstairs
Carlyle Moore Jr.	...	Malcolm Sims Jr.
Henry O'Neill	...	Jim Carstairs
Helen MacKellar	...	Martha Carstairs (as Helen McKellar)
Claire Dodd	...	Cora Latimer
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Tippy Mantus
Harry Hayden	...	Dr. Martin Leavenworth
Robert Middlemass	...	Bertram C. Reynolds (as Robert Middlemas)
Clay Clement	...	Mr. Banning
Douglas Wood	...	Malcolm Sims
Virginia Brissac	...	Marion Sims
Paula Stone	...	Miss Symonds
Robert Gordon	...	Herman Mills (as Bobby Gordon)

Storyline

Martha Carstairs was charged with murder twenty years earlier. Now, as her daughter Edith is about to be married to Malcolm Sims Jr., son of a wealthy industrialist, a sensationalistic radio station revives interest in the case, leading to the suicide of Martha and her husband. Opposing the station's policy is Sherry Scott, supported by his secretary Alma Ross, "two against the world."

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Plot Keywords:

deception | suicide | secretary | crime wave | writer | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 January 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

One Fatal Hour

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min 56 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Debut film of Harry Hayden.

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Goofs

When Sherry Scott is discussing hiring Dr. Leavenworth, the positioning of his hands change dramatically between shots.

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Connections

Remake of Five Star Final (1931)

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Soundtracks

Alone Again
(uncredited)
Music by Harry M. Woods

User Reviews

Fast-moving and incisive comic-tragedy

I saw this last night on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). I had never heard of it before, and was quite surprised to find it so engrossing.

Bogart does a star turn as a city-wise cynical editor who reluctantly goes along with his greedy radio-network boss in this incisive "B" programmer. About 12 years before he played similar city-wise cynics to perfection in movies like Deadline USA, Knock On Any Door, The Barefoot Contessa, and The Harder They Fall, Bogie already had the star qualities down pat.

In order to boost ratings, and bring their somewhat high-brow programming to a more popular level, WUBC, "the Voice of America", pushes a tell-all radio mini-series about a woman who was acquitted 20 years ago by a plea of self-defense of killing her husband. Not willing to be discreet in order to save the woman's and her husband's reputations, the station uses underhanded methods to reveal all to all listeners, and as luridly as possible.

As a time capsule, I also found it very illuminating of male-female mores in the workplace in the mid-1930's. Although beyond Henry O'Neill, I'm unfamiliar with the supporting cast, the players were uniformly excellent, and the direction was taut.

If you like this kind of movie at all (e.g., A Face In The Crowd, An Inspector Calls, etc.), don't miss the opportunity to see this one.