Island in the Sky

Island in the Sky (1938)

*** (out of 4)

Fast paced and sometimes suspenseful murder/mystery from Fox has a boy sent to Death Row for the murder of his father but the D.A.'s wife (Gloria Stuart) believes he's innocent so she sets out to solve the case. I've seen so many of these mystery films from this period that it's not often that I come across a good one but this is one of those films where there are some nice laughs, a good story and great performances to carry it through the short 68-minute running time. I knew Stuart from her two James Whale films but I'm enjoying her more and more with every new film I see with her. She's delightful as usual here and delivers a nice performance while Michael Whalen, Paul Kelly and Paul Hurst also turn in good work. Director Herbert I. Leeds does a good job at keeping everything going smooth and makes this little gem worth checking out.

In the 1930s-40s, Hollywood made hundreds of B-mystery movies. The common thread to all of them is that a non-policeman investigates a crime and solves it. In this case, the non-cop who investigates a murder is a secretary at the District Attorney's office, Julie Hayes (Gloria Stuart).

When the story begins, Assistant DA Fraser is announcing his engagement with Julie. However, instead of marrying right away, he takes on one final case (sure!)...a murder investigation of a man who was shotgunned to death. The son of the dead man is convicted (even thought there didn't seem to be much evidence) and he's sent to death row. And, like you see in so many of these movies, Julie just KNOWS that convicted man is innocent...though how is beyond me. To learn more about Julie's own investigation and the REAL killer, see the film.

This B is a bit higher quality than most. The writing is a bit better and it was made by a major studio instead of some tiny independent. Entertaining and enjoyable despite the absurdity of the plot involving a secretary investigating crimes AND doing a better job than anyone else!!

Gloria Stuart is secretary and fiancee of DA Michael Whalen. When Robert Kelland is convicted of murdering his father, she becomes convinced of his innocence, despite having no reason or proof. When she speaks with Kelland, he says if had tried to put up a defense, offered explanations, they would have made him see more guilty.

Director Herbert Leeds had just been promoted from editor. This was his second time wielding the megaphone. That would explain the droning line readings of several members of the cast. On the other hand, he pushes this movie for Sol Wurtzel's B division at 20th Century-Fox along at a good clip. With Paul Hurst, Leon Ames, and Madame Sul-Te-Wan.

The face is 59-years younger, but it's impossible not to recognize Titanic's Gloria Stuart - those huge, beautiful blue eyes are unmistakable. Stuart stars here in "Island in the Sky," a 1938 film also starring Michael Whelan, Paul Kelly, Paul Hurst, and Leon Ames. Stuart plays the secretary-fiancé of the D.A. (Whelan), and she's upset over the recent guilty verdict of a young man (Robert Kellard), who's set to get the chair. She decides to look into his case herself, not only to help him, but his agonized fiancé.

Director Leeds keeps this film going at a good pace, and it's a involving mystery with good acting and some nice comic moments.

This was probably a B film, given its length, and though Universal and 20th Century Fox promised Stuart big things, neither studio came through. It's a shame because Stuart is very likable here, as well as pretty and glamorous. The actress turned to the stage and retired in the 1940s, becoming an artist. She returned to acting in the 1980s. Then in 1997 came Titanic and an Oscar nomination. It's fun to see the young Stuart, who turns 100 this year, and it's great that TCM shows her earlier films from time to time.