The Solitaire Man

"The Solitaire Man" is a slick, stylish,sophisticated thriller, a throwback to an era when spinning a good yarn was more important than bloating the budget or running up the running time. When we first meet Herbert Marshall as Oliver Lane, he has a small problem. A Paris-based master criminal, he's about to retire to Devonshire, marry Elizabeth Allen as his fetching accomplice and turn from safecracking to milking cows. But a drugged-out henchman has committed a robbery that could get them both sent to the slammer -- and Lane has no choice but to reluctantly return the loot. How that leads to a plane bound for London, a battle of wits with Lionel Atwill as a mysterious Scotland Yard inspector and the contribution of an American socialite played with mirthful glee by Mary Boland takes up much of the movie. The result is tight, taut, cleverly directed by Jack Conway and a lot more modern -- in style, dialogue and devilish humor -- than most of the movies made back in 1933. Or a good many made since.

Herb Marshall is Oliver Lane, long time con-man, aided by Mrs. Vail (May Robson). when one of Lane's cronies shows up with a famous stolen jewel, they insist it be returned, to avoid being investigated by scotland yard. co-stars Mary Boland, Lionel Atwill. Boland steals any show of which she is a part! and best known as the Countess in "The Women" from 1939. this one tells a good story. we're rooting for the con-man, who must go straight on the insistence of his girlfriend. some twists. and a whole lot of ribbing about how loud and annoying the americans are, since it takes place in england. directed by Jack Conway, who also made BoomTown, Libeled Lady, and so many other great films. was there, right at the beginning of film. Pretty good film!

THE SOLITAIRE MAN is a superb example of how MGM was head and shoulders above the other studios during this era - quite obviously a "B" movie, barely running an hour, it nevertheless boasts superior actors (several of them major film names) and an elegant polish that most other studios wouldn't have bothered with for a programmer.

Herbert Marshall stars as the leader of a small "family" of con artists, when a faux son steals a priceless necklace Marshall attempts to return it, knowing the protégé would be the obvious suspect when it is noticed missing. While he is in the home attempting to put the jewels back in the safe, another burglar breaks into the home and was spotted by a patrolling policeman. The second burglar kills the inspector which Marshall witnesses but can't see the murderer. Later as he attempts to flee the country with his accomplishes on a small plane, secrets and double-crosses are revealed during the long flight.

This comic crime-mystery is mainly worthwhile for the sole chance to see two of the 1930's greatest character actresses, Mary Boland and May Robson, together in the same film. These ladies, with Edna May Oliver, were the queen bees of character players of the era along with superstar Marie Dressler. Miss Boland is second-billed but doesn't show up until the film is almost half over, she quickly earns her star billing with a delicious turn as a brassy rich American who finds herself in unusual circumstances. Miss Boland is hilarious as always but here voicing her role in a boorish unsophisticated loud drawl rather than her normal dizzy musical tones. It's a superb characterization and she is matched by that wonderful septuagenarian May Robson as a presumably cultured society woman who is pretty blunt and earthy herself.

Jack Conway, one of MGM's major directors, does a fine job here with this limited material and when the second half-hour is almost completely set inside a small airplane passengers area it's scarcely noticed given the fine direction and acting. The entire cast is quite good and it's intriguing to see Marshall, Miss Robson, and Elizabeth Allen - all British or Australian - not cast as Americans as they usually were in Hollywood films. This little film is fairly predictable in it's denouement but with a fine cast, sharp direction, and some good wisecracks, it's well worth your time.

Jewel theft Oliver Lane (Herbert Marshall) is known as "The Solitaire Man". He's looking to retire and marry his accomplice Helen. Bob Bascom is an unstable member of the gang. He is in love with Helen and is desperate to break them up. He has stolen a famous necklace but it becomes obvious that he would be the prime suspect. Oliver has to return the necklace before it's missed but another thief happens to be there and a Scotland Yard inspector is killed.

This movie needs to start with a complex jewel heist involving all the members of the gang which would serve as a great introduction. I do like the general premise but I don't love some of the developments. There is a great mystery introduced in the middle of the film but it gets convoluted in the plane. I have issues with the performances there which saps the intensity. Once they're on the plane, I'm out.

A gang of British jewel thieves & charlatans - possibly including THE SOLITAIRE MAN himself - endure a tumultuous plane trip from Paris to London with a cunning inspector from Scotland Yard.

Unfortunately obscure, this is a very enjoyable little crime caper film which deserves to be rediscovered. The plot is a bit dense, but the real attractions of the movie derive from the interaction of its ensemble cast of six sterling performers, especially when all are enclosed in the confined space of the airplane cabin.

In a role that compares nicely with his classic performance in TROUBLE IN PARADISE (1932), Herbert Marshall is suave and sophisticated as an international man of mystery. Gifted with one of the Century's finest speaking voices, he puts a polish on his character that's irresistibly intriguing. Especially exciting is his violent interaction with Lionel Atwill, adding yet another portrait to his cinematic gallery as the Inspector. It is great fun to watch & hear these two superb actors go at one another in a war of words.

Lovely Elizabeth Allan shows spunk as the romantic interest, while the picture boasts two of the era's finest character actresses - grandmotherly May Robson as a hard-boiled old dame, and Mary Boland as a loudmouthed banker's wife from Peoria. (Robson's remarks about Devonshire cows & Boland's suggestion for getting rid of a body at 2,000' are both priceless.) Further down the cast list is the always reliable Ralph Forbes, an excellent actor who should have become a major star, playing a young shell-shocked socialite.

Lucile Gleason & Robert McWade enliven the opening scenes as a rich American couple in Monte Carlo who have more money than sense. Movie mavens will recognize chubby Harry Holman in the uncredited role of Boland's henpecked husband Elmer.