Day of Reckoning

Day of Reckoning (1933)

*** (out of 4)

Highly entertaining pre-code from MGM about a loving husband (Richard Dix) who embezzles some money in order to keep his shop-happy wife (Madge Evans) into the things she needs. The husband gets sent away for two years and while the maid (Una Merkel) is busy taking care of the two kids, the wife is out doing other things. There's a lot more details to the plot but I'm going to quit there because the twists are so good that there's really no point in ruining them for those unfamiliar with the picture. It's always great fun when a film buff can see a forgotten movie and then go out and sing its praises and DAY OF RECKONING is just the type of film that deserves to be rediscovered. I'm sure most people are familiar with the always fun Dix but this here is without question one of the best performances I've seen from him. This character goes through quite a bit in the picture and I thought Dix was incredibly sympathetic but when he "snaps" you can believe and see the rage and anger in his eyes. Evans is also extremely entertaining as the wife and there's no question that Conway Tearle makes for a great villain. Merkel steals nearly every scenes she's in as the loving maid and manages to bring some laughs. Classic film fans will also recognize Raymond Hatton, Paul Hurst, George 'Spanky' McFarland and D.W. Griffith regular Wilfred Lucas can be briefly spotted. The screenplay certainly doesn't fall into the "B" movie traps and instead it stays original throughout and manages to throw a couple nice twists at the viewer as well. One of the best moments in the film is when the maid and her boyfriend are trying to write a letter and there's a baby in the sequence. It appears the baby is acting up and not really behaving like she's supposed to but it's rather cute seeing that the director just let it go and had the actors deal with it the best way that they could. DAY OF RECKONING is one of hundreds of films that have been forgotten but if you're a fan of classic dramas then it's a must see.

If you like Classic Films with great actors, try to catch this film on TV. Richard Dix(John Day),"The Secret of the Whistler,'46 was a man wrongfully accused and sent to prison, his wife (Madge Evans), "Army Girl",'38 was fooling around and was killed and his children were left in the care of Una Merkel (Mamie),"SpinOut",'66,who talks with a very high pitched voice and very dippy. Una Merkel was a film actress from the early 20's, 30's and 40's and could play any role she was offered to perfection. There are actual outdoor scenes of John Day fighting above the streets of Los Angeles on roof tops and lots of model T Fords running all around throughout the city. If you look close, you will see a great film actor when he was young, Raymond Hatten (Hart) who appeared in 349 films, one "Shake, Rattle & Rock" '56. Samuel S. Hines,(O'Farrell),"Bed of Roses", who also appeared in many great Classic films, appeared in 210 films. If you love Richard Dix as the "Whistler" on Radio and TV, this is your kind of movie.

Richard Dix's whole universe is turned upside down in this pre-Code drama Day Of Reckoning. Wife Madge Evans is a good soul, but a spendthrift and Dix's gets caught for embezzling company funds and gets two years of county time for the deed.

That's enough time villain Conway Tearle figures he has to move in on Madge Evans. He's a friend and neighbor of Dix whose hormones have been pining away for Evans for some time. Tearle even pays for Samuel S. Hinds to be Dix's lawyer to throw the case. And Hinds in his couple of scenes stands out.

Providing a bit of comic relief and stalwart support for Dix and Evans are maid Una Merkel and her boyfriend the milkman Stu Erwin. Isabell Jewell as Tearle's mistress whom he throws over for Evans has some real bite in her scenes.

Life does take a funny old bounce as Tearle and Dix are together for a really thrilling climax. Day Of Reckoning is something these two most definitely have.

As for the film, a bit melodramatic, but the ensemble cast really delivers in this one.

Richard Dix cops a plea for embezzlement and is sent to the slammer for two years. Unbeknownst to him, his "friend" (Conway Tearle) hired a crooked lawyer to "defend" Dix, leading to the jail sentence. With Dix in stir, Tearle tries to make sheet music with Dix's wife, played by Madge Evans.

The climax is a bit hard to believe, as Tearle ends up in the same jail with Dix. And only one of these guys is gonna survive. Guess who.

Una Merkel, as Dix's maid, completely steals the film as the not-as-dumb-as-she looks servant. Dix is adequate, although he has a brief meltdown in prison and really overdoes it. Evans looks great, and Teale makes a splendid heel. There are also some nice bits by Raymond Hatton and James Bell as prisoners. Spanky shows up as one of Dix's kids.

A young husband has his DAY OF RECKONING when he's sent to prison for embezzlement.

Fine performances raise what is essentially a soap opera above its material and provides some dandy entertainment along the way. While the subplots grow a little thick, all is resolved in time for an idyllic, if somewhat bittersweet, ending.

Leading man Richard Dix sheds his usual in-charge persona for a much more vulnerable characterization. Although they share few scenes, he is given firm support by perky Una Merkel playing his devoted Southern maid. She easily upstages pretty Madge Evans as Dix's conflicted wife. Stalwart Stuart Erwin plays the friendly milkman in love with Merkel.

Some fine character actors do quite well in smaller roles. Conway Tearle is the family friend who takes advantage of Dix's absence. Isabel Jewell is properly distraught as Tearle's former mistress. Raymond Hatton is effective as a prison trustee who befriends Dix. James Bell is noteworthy as a prisoner driven crazy by worry over his wife's supposed infidelity. Samuel S. Hinds manages to become suitably repellent in his brief screen time as a crooked lawyer. Tiny Spanky McFarland, of OUR GANG fame, turns on the charm as Dix's infant son.

Movie mavens will recognize an unbilled Clarence Wilson as a bail bondsman.