Le mystère de Mason Park

Amnesia is a good subject matter for a mystery movie especially when the sufferer may have forgotten committing a murder. Walter Abel plays the unfortunate individual beset by an unwanted blank sheet in his life. But he is lucky that he chooses to sit on a park bench opposite a temporarily vagrant actress played by Margot Grahame. She helps sort out what the items in the man's pocket tell about him as the man is too dazed to think clearly for himself. A theater stub gives the name of a venue and another clue leads them to a hotel called the Yorkshire Arms. Also there is a fancy monogram which is designed in a way that could represent either the initials RD or DR. RD is the initials of a man of the theater called Richard Denning who has been murdered by two shots from a gun. Denning had been involved in a play called 'Dark Menace' in which a line from the play including the words "a couple of slugs" which is overheard just before Denning is shot twice. Margot Grahame's character, Marie, proves to be quick-thinking in order for Walter Abel being taken in for questioning about the murder. A nice refined portrayal from her with witticisms about being married is "usually the first thing a man forgets" and telling him he'd "make a sphinx curious." Her and Eric Blore's performance as the fainthearted Edmund Fish are my choice characters which I look forward to enjoying again sometime.

Amnesiac 'Ford Adams' (Walter Abel) wandering through a Boston Park meets sympathetic 'Marie Smith' (Margot Grahame), believing that he has committed a crime, MURDER. What follows is a typical mystery programmer that any of the Studios of the 1930s would churn out to complete there programming schedule. After the usual twists and turns the likable Couple not only prevail, revealing the real/reel culprits, but find 'true love'.

The film has two (2) redeeming features that makes it a worthwhile watch. It moves in a brisk 72" minutes and has a fine cast of supporting character actors. Who knew how to bring this type of material to a satisfying conclusion. You cannot go very wrong with a cast that includes Wallace Ford, Gail Patrick, Alan Hale, J. Carroll Naish, etc.

The only real reservation is with actor Walter Abel. RKO never had much luck developing leading man material. Usually borrowing quality from other Studios, like Cary Grant or Fredric March. Mr. Abel delivers all dialog with the same flat monotone that you cannot distinguish if he is angry, concerned, passionate or scared. It all sounds the same. RKO should have realized that they had a dependable character actor and not a leading man. That should have been obvious from the previous years THE THREE MUSKETEERS. Never was there a more tepid 'D'Artagan' featured, either on screen or stage! What a contrast from the fine Female actors they developed, like Ann Harding, Katherine Hepburn, Irene Dunne and Ginger Rogers.

There are so many ridiculous story elements to this B-movie that I just can't bring myself to give it a score any higher than 3 (and this might be a bit generous)--though I must admit that it was rather entertaining at times--but certainly NOT for the entire film.

The story begins with a newly homeless lady meeting a guy in the park who has no idea who he is or where he is. At the same time, a cop comes and tells them to get moving, as it's late and they are loitering. Why, upon discovering this man with a bleeding head and amnesia didn't the lady just tell the cop and then get the man help?! Because, the film required the actors to occasionally act stupidly or bizarrely in order to make the convoluted plot work!! Later, the two decide (finally) to take him to the police station but on the way they see a newspaper that MIGHT indicate the amnesia victim committed a murder. So what does common sense tell you to do? Yep, DON'T take him to the police and help him to investigate the murder like Holmes and Watson!!! While this is stupid (after all he can be a maniac), it also makes no sense because so many people they meet might just be the murderer (if he isn't) and kill them to keep them quiet!! Sp they just blunder into the investigation and no one realizes they are implicated for the longest time!! So, provided you can ignore all this, the film then is only a moderately entertaining whodunit. Without good supporting performances and a rather listless mystery, it just isn't much of a film--only a very clichéd time-passer with a few decent performances.

In Boston, unemployed actress Marie Smith (Margot Grahame) finds a disoriented man (Walter Abel) sitting on a park bench. He can't remember anything and is maybe connected to a recent murder.

After watching the 1945 remake first, this has essentially the same plot. The difference being that this movie plays it straight up without the comedy. It starts without a bloody head wound which helps excuse why Marie doesn't take him to the hospital. It also helps that she's not driving a cab. Being on foot allows them to not go directly for medical or police help. The movie's tone is a lot simpler without the comedic screwball fun but that's also the best part of the 1945 movie for me. All in all, it's a good start which slowly gets to the conclusion. It's not the most compelling but it has some good elements.

As a man with a head injury staggers through a park late at night, he attracts the attention of Marie Smith, a struggling actress. He has no memory but believes he may have been involved in a murder. They set out to learn his identity and solve the mystery.

Pleasant film with Walter Abel and Margot Grahame working well as a pairing and there is good back up from Alan Hale and Wallace Ford. An interesting film, perhaps a little slow in the middle with a quick conclusion, but not overlong and will pass the time.