Another Language

Rose Franken, now forgotten, was an estimable playwright of the first half of the 20th century, one of the very few women to reliably write Broadway hits. This is one such hit, a 1932 drama faithfully filmed with much of the original cast, with dialog neatly refashioned by two of MGM's best screenwriters, Herman Mankiewicz and Donald Ogden Stewart. Franken wrote particularly well about family dynamics, and that's pretty much all this is, the story of young marrieds threatened by the groom's unquestioning domination by a catty, conservative family, most especially his horror of a mother, well played by Louise Closser Hale. He's not an especially likable hero, often petty, self-centered, and domineering toward his wife, and Montgomery isn't afraid to emphasize his less attractive traits. So Helen Hayes is left to suffer quietly, trying to maintain her composure as his relatives mercilessly nitpick at her, and crushed every time she attempts to fight back. Hayes is, as usual, sexless, but she effectively catches this woman's desperation, and she partners well with John Beal, quite touching as the nephew who falls in love with her. (What happens to him? After his final exit, I expected to hear an offstage gunshot.) It's economical, swift storytelling, with a bunch of good character actors in support, and their portrayals, thanks largely to the writing, are well-rounded-- nobody's totally awful, except Louise Closser Hale's grasping mama.

Anyone interested in family relationships will surely enjoy this movie about a manipulative matriarch, Louise Closser Hale, who is not averse to fake fainting spells to get her way with her four sons and their wives. The acting is first-rate by a stellar cast, five of whom (John Beal, Hal K. Dawson, Irene Cattell, Maidel Turner and Margaret Hamilton) were in the original Broadway production which opened 25 April 1932, and who reprised their roles. This was also the film debut of Beal, Hamilton and Cattell (the only film she ever made). But kudos go to the magnificent Helen Hayes as the new addition to the family who stands up to Hale, John Beal, as her sensitive nephew who falls in love with her, and Robert Montgomery playing Hayes' husband, still under the control of his mother. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Stick with it until the end; the last 20 minutes are as riveting as any drama can be.

A marvelous movie, from start to (just before the) finish.

We meet Robert Montgomery and Helen Hayes, with whom he has eloped recently, on shipboard. She is eager to start their home life together. All he can think of is seeing his mother.

Louise Closser Hale is superb as the suffocating matriarch of his family. The other members, including Henry Travers and Margaret Hamilton, are very good as well. Especially fine is John Beal, as Montgomery's nephew. Indeed, he gives a heart-wrenching performance. It's possibly the best in this movie and he is working against very stiff competition.

Montgomery is not only a mama's boy -- called Vicky by everyone, as his name is Victor. He is also a supreme narcissist: In one shocking scene, he inspects himself in a mirror over the mantel. Directly under the mirror is a plaster bust of him that Hayes has lovingly worked on sculpting. He doesn't even notice it.

It's very hard to fault this movie. The ending is a trifle disappointing. And a Mark Twain aphorism is spoken by one character and laughed at by others, as if it were original to this screenplay.

Hayes is superb and very likable. Montgomery, not generally a favorite of mine, is believable as her self-centered husband. Beal is absolutely superb in a very touching role. And Hale is subtle but compelling as the woman of iron who becomes an invalid the minute doing so will get what she wants from her offspring.

ANOTHER LANGUAGE is the story of a marriage that suffers because the husband (ROBERT MONTGOMERY) is a self-centered snob ruled by a family that views its mother (LOUISE CLOSSER HALE) as the matriarch of the family who must be paid attention at all costs and smothers Montgomery with motherly affection. I loved the line spoken by HENRY TRAVERS, who tells her at a crucial moment, "Shut up, ma and don't faint. He's not looking."

HELEN HAYES gives one of her more natural performances on film. Very often she was prone to stage acting techniques, but here her manner is subdued and never overplayed. Montgomery is excellent and makes the man a weakling the viewer can never really warm up to until the final moments when he stands by her side.

Rose Franken was an expert at telling stories about family relationships, as she did with "Claudia" and the sequel "Claudia and David". Here she paints a vivid portrait of unpleasant family relationships.

In strong supporting roles, MARGARET HAMILTON and JOHN BEAL repeat their stage roles effectively.

Another Language from 1933 stars Robert Montgomery, Helen Hayes, John Beal, and Louise Closser. Directed by Edward H. Griffith.

Montgomery and Hayes are Victor and Stella, who fell in love in Europe and eloped. After meeting his family back in the states, she gradually realizes that he's basically smothered by their closeness, and they all dance to the tune of their mother (Closser). She's very manipulative, the type who becomes ill whenever Victor and Stella want to leave town. The family finds Stella upper class and make annoying remarks couched as jokes.

(Note: Robert Taylor's mother was like this. The story is she went on the Taylor/Stanwyck honeymoon-untrue. She delayed it by becoming ill. Barbara referred to her as "that miserable b--.")

To make matters worse, Victor's nephew Jerry (Beal), who is not like the rest of the family, falls for Stella.

Victor needs to stand up for himself and Stella. Will he?

Good film. The cast, which also includes Margaret Hamilton, is very good. She and Beal repeat their Broadway roles. Hayes is lovely as the free-spirited wife who adores her husband but also likes to take art class twice a week.

I met John Beal many years ago. He was a lovely man who had a lot of success on Broadway. As a young leading man, he had a great start in films; postwar he worked more on stage.

Apparently, Norma Shearer was supposed to play the lead, but her husband, Irving Thalberg, had a heart attack, and she decided to stay home.