Trouble for Two

Starts off really intriguing and seems to differentiate itself from other films of its era. A successful mix of comedy and suspense at the beginning, and Rosalind Russell looking so surprisingly beautiful, that she seems to come across in her early scenes as a black-haired Garbo. I've never seen her look more beautiful. The film is worth seeing for Russell's early scenes alone. But unfortunately, silly and unbelievable coincidences surface midway in the plot that considerably weaken and conventionalize the film. At its finish, I ended up feeling vaguely disappointed at what could have been a really unique and special film. I still think its worth seeing though, as the performances were all around quite good. A great film that could have been!

At first sight this MGM oddity looks like a typical over-the-top 30s effort, but I found it growing on me (despite the ever-increasing number of loose ends - why? what? how?). If you can accept Montgomery and Russell as 18th century foreign Royals who blend perfectly in a Britain even more nutty than it's usually depicted, then this is quite an enjoyable and unusually imaginative slice of early Hollywood.

Very imaginative reworking of Stevenson's classic short-story, The Suicide Club. Montgomery and Russell make a well-matched and very attractive couple, and Frank Morgan is superb as his faithful and loyal second. Reginald Owen is marvelous as the head of the club. And, the rest of the supporting class including a young and handsome Louis Hayward, is equally compelling. The score and photography are exquisite as well. This is one to be watched and enjoyed.

This is an intriguing version of Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Suicide Club", with ever-urbane aristocrat being recruited by an apparent group of boring rich people, willing to kill themselves for sport ! All is not as it seems and after Montgomery encounters mysterious Russell, the stage is set for a surprising revelation and an exciting climax.

ROBERT MONTGOMERY and ROSALIND RUSSELL head the cast of this comedy/mystery based on "The Suicide Club" by Robert Louis Stevenson. After an intriguing start, it gets lost in a strand of threads that are never unraveled with any finesse. The result is a less than satisfying mystery but told in an entertaining manner.

Victoria London is the setting for the story which, like most Stevenson tales, wanders into the dark side with some proper mood and atmosphere. Frank Morgan is his usual blustery self (what a great Dr. Watson he would have made if Nigel Bruce weren't around), but his mannerisms are played for less comic effect than usual.

The plot unwinds in a snappy one hour and fifteen minutes of running time but explanations are skimpy and you have to be paying close attention to catch certain facts. As the President of the Suicide Club, REGINALD OWEN is burdened by some obvious make-up alterations but does a competent enough job in his unusual role.

Passes the time and is worth a watch as a programmer of mildly entertaining interest. Louis Hayward is impressive in a brief and rather thankless role.