The Man Who Played God

Many of the reviews have focused on Arliss and Davis, and deservedly so. Hence there's no need to rehash that material. I want to highlight the excellent supporting cast.

Violet Heming (1895-1981) plays a suitor for Arliss. She was a British stage actress who worked with Arliss. She made few films (part of Thanhouser) and is best known for her stage work, which is unfortunate for the rest of us since her acting is really exceptional.

Louise Closser Hale (1872-1933) plays Arliss' sister and confidant. She combined a grandmotherly spirit with a quick wit and a sometimes tart edge in supporting roles ("Daddy Long Legs", "Shanghai Express", "Platinum Blonde") and her skill is probably nowhere better on exhibit than in this film.

Ivan Simpson (1875-1951) plays Arliss' manservant. He was a Scottish stage and film actor who worked with Arliss during the silent era. He made more than 100 films and later transitioned to TV. He was used extensively in the British dramas ("Prince and the Pauper", "Lloyds of London", "Captain Blood", "Mutiny on the Bounty"). This is probably the best example of his considerable talents, and the chemistry between he and Arliss is a joy to watch.

Look for Ray Milland (uncredited) in a brief scene in which he plays a man threatened with prison. For Milland (1907-86) this was his 15th film and fame was still a few years ahead. Ultimately he won an Oscar for "The Lost Weekend" (1946).

Also look for Hedda Hopper (1885-1966) as a west coast society matron. She is better known for her gossip columns, but she did, in fact, appear in over 100 films between 1916 and 1946.

This isn't a perfect film. It's a bit too long, Arliss does a few too many silent era long closeups, and the age difference between Arliss and Davis (24 vs. 65) is a bit too much. Otherwise it is a definite treat and holds up well after all these years.

In "The Man Who Played God" the venerable George Arliss plays a famous and sweet-natured concert pianist who must cope with catastrophic hearing loss. There are two male-female romantic love subplots, but the story is essentially about philosophical and moral issues. The movie is best remembered not for Arliss, who was the main attraction, but for a supporting role beautifully played by the future screen queen Bette Davis, who for the most part is also very well photographed by James Van Trees, enhancing her unique presence. Amusingly, Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times in his review of the film faulted her for speaking "too rapidly for the microphone." But Arliss himself, as an artist suddenly forced to reconstruct his whole approach to life, is sympathetic and compelling despite the lipstick he habitually wore, in the style of many male actors of that time. He is ably supported by a thoroughly winning cast including Violet Heming, Ivan Simpson, Louise Closser Hale in an uncharacteristically non-dour role as the pianist's loving, intelligent and supportive sister, and even a very young Ray Milland as half of a distressed young couple whose desperate utterances are deciphered from afar by Arliss with the aid of binoculars and freshly acquired lip-reading skills. The studio-created ambiance of bustling city streets, whether "Paris" or "New York," is less phony looking than the usual replications thanks to careful lighting and well-planned camera angles.

This story has been made and remade many times. The first was back in the 1910s as "The Silent Voice". Then, a decade later, George Arliss made "The Man Who Played God"...and then again, a decade after this, Arliss made a sound version. But that wasn't all...in the 1950s, Liberace made "Sincerely Yours"...yet another version of this story!

The story is about a world famous concert pianist (Arliss), a man who is beloved and loves life. He also has a significantly younger woman (Bette Davis) who wants to marry him. But in spite of this, his life takes a sour turn when he is deafened...and sour is the word for it! This is because the pianist soon becomes bitter and resentful from his hearing loss and he spends much of his time brooding. So what is his salvation? See the movie.

Arliss, as usual, is very good. And, the story is a wonderful tale about loss and coping with it. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that the story seems a tad old fashioned. Now this does NOT mean I suggest you see the later Liberace version...it's not particularly good. But the 1932 film is well worth seeing...with a great object lesson for us all.

By the way, late in the film look carefully at the minor character of an embezzler...it's played by the soon to be discovered Ray Milland.

First and foremost, "The Man Who Played God" (1932) is not a Bette Davis vehicle. She was still a few years away from receiving top billing and graduating into 'A' pictures. However, the mere fact that she's in this overlooked and forgotten film will only push it into wider circulation and rapidly increase its number of viewers. So much has already been said about her, there's very little one can add to further compliment her. Personally, I think she gave some of her best performances in these early 1930s B programmers for Warner Bros. Sure, the material wasn't nearly as good, which only made her performances stand out all the more. But Bette Davis has little to do with what stands out about this movie.

After losing his hearing, a well-loved and respected piano player (George Arliss) becomes a recluse. He rejects most of his old friends and companions, and is cruel to the few he does see. He learns to read lips, but grows more and more depressed at the same time. And finally when he has hit rock bottom, he finds a purpose in his life,... philanthropy. Putting aside his own problems and selfishness, his salvation comes from helping others. This is a theme that would recur over and over again to varying degrees in the Depression era 30s (especially in Frank Capra's movies).

The other thing of interest here is the act of voyeurism. Through the aid of binoculars, he's able to read lips, and essentially, spy on everyday New Yorker's. One can't help but wonder if this little movie may have had some influence or have been the basis for the idea of Cornell Woolrich's short story "It Had to Be Murder", which would be eventually adapted into Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" (1954).

This movie, is, by no means a masterpiece, but its still an important one. With so many interesting ideas going on here, its well worth the watch.

An aging & celebrated concert pianist completely loses his hearing, and with it his faith in The Almighty. After learning to lip read, he realizes he can once again enter into people's lives, alleviating the misfortunes of total strangers. With this much power to do good, he becomes THE MAN WHO PLAYED GOD.

Although sadly neglected today, George Arliss was one of the very greatest of film actors of the 1930's. His art was consummate - a whole volume of emotion could be conveyed by the slightest movement of face or posture. He gives a wonderful performance here as a man torn from what he loves the most, blaming God for it and eventually finding peace.

A splendid actress of the same period, Louise Closser Hale gives quiet dignity to the role of Arliss' sister. As his protégé, young Bette Davis does a fine job; she always considered this to be her first film role of substance. Ivan F. Simpson is excellent as a very loyal butler. Hedda Hopper has a tiny role as a woman at a picnic & look for an uncredited Ray Milland as a young man in Central Park attempting suicide.