Gee, Gloria Stuart sure made a lot of movies in 1933, the year she was
chosen as a Wampas Baby but looking at her roles, apart from "Secret
of the Blue Room" where she really got a chance at a part with light and
shade, most of them could have been performed by any other actress.
Which may have been the reason that, with all Gloria's prolific 1930s
output, she never became a star. She was Mary Dolan, the mystery girl
in 419 but she didn't enter the movie until the 20 minute mark (and in
a 63 minute movie, that's not much time to strut your stuff)!! James
Dunn (whose career was unfortunately hitting the skids by this time) plays
play boy doctor Dan French who is summoned to look after a mystery
patient who is bought in badly beaten up and delirious. Of course it
is love at first sight for Dan who then has to shake off his latest fling
comely nurse Irene. Shirley Grey probably has the meatiest role in the
movie as a at first loving girl who later turns vindictive when she
realises she is just one of the many love 'em and leave 'ems of French.
And in a completely extranous role is David Manners as a young intern
who idolises French. There was a small scene which made me wonder
if Manners role had been cut. The scene had Manners indicating that
he also liked Mary Dolan but was more than keen to step aside for his
pal.
Mary's past is pieced together - she was involved with a mob boss
who is hanging around the hospital posing as a concerned friend. He also
has henchman Sammy (Jack La Rue) with him and his purpose becomes
clear when he barks at Sammy to "next time finish her off"!! Film is also a
nice little ensemble piece featuring Eddie Nugent as a go-getter medic,
Kitty Kelly as the wise cracking receptionist, Vince Barnett as French's
pal and old time comedian Johnny Hines as Slug. Funny that in 1933
Paramount was still persisting in the occasional dual director, a hang
over from the early talkie days. Here the old hand was Alexander Hall,
guiding Georg Somnes (who was born in the 1880s) - Somnes obviously
didn't work out, he only directed four films and none of them on his own!!
