Riptide

This movie may come off dull to some when first seeing. But you have to understand movie & theatre history to appreciate a film like Riptide. For me it was seeing a legendary and famous lady actually acting and speaking in one of her very few films. In this case Mrs Patrick Campbell(Stella Beatrice Tanner Campbell). Like Mrs Leslie Carter, another famous Mrs, Mrs Pat, in her youth, was a famed actress from the theatre of the 1890s and 1900s. Her relationship with writer George Bernard Shaw is legendary amongst Shaw or Broadway Theatre fans. Mrs Pat didn't seem to make any silents and for posterities sake made three or four talkies in the 30s as a novelty of which Riptide is the only one I've viewed. Thank goodness! because at least many of us fans, generations down the road, can get to hear and see what she sounded like and perhaps get a glimpse of her acting and appreciate her legend. This is what's great about film. Preserving the performances of a once famous actress like Mrs Patrick Campbell. If only other theatre Greats had done movies like Mrs Pat. Ie: Maude Adams(the original Peter Pan), Julia Marlowe(famed American Shakesperean actress), John Drew(uncle of the three Barrymores).

This story is a typical Norma story of the day. Much like those that she had played in earlier films of the early 30s. She's caught between two men. In this case Herbert Marshall & Robert Montgomery. She marries Marshall, has a daughter with him and then he's gone away much of the time and she starts to take up with the younger Montgomery. The rest of the film is a series of adventures for Norma as Aunt Hetty(Mrs Pat) and others take her to St Moritz, Monte Carlo etc to help her find herself. Marshall was himself an interesting actor. He, like Ronald Colman and Basil Rathbone had seen action in WW1. In Marshall's case he lost a leg and even though a suave/textured leading man here, as well as in other films, he's walking around ably on a wooden leg. All in all I quite enjoy the treats this film offers. Norma was a very sexy woman with a nice shape. She wears some nice(and Pre-Code) form fitting gowns and looks fetching. Silent screen star Lilyan Tashman makes her next to last appearance in a supporting role as one of Norma's friends. She died soon after this was made. And of course the ultimate treat of this movie, seeing theatre great Mrs Pat Campbell and hearing her act. Wonderful!

One of the things I find interesting in these comments are how many people insist that this is a terribly old fashioned story that couldn't be made today. Really? Because while watching this all I could think was that if movies could be said to have a family tree, then I think the movie The Kids Are All Right, which has been praised to the skies for being such a "modern" story, shares plenty of DNA with Riptide. There is a theory that there are really only 36 plots, and every story is just different variations on those 36. I think the key when watching these movies is asking yourself, what is the basic bare bones plot of this story? Can this story be told now and is someone telling it? The answer is almost always yes. It's fun to realize the progression.

There were a couple of really great scenes in this. The bug costume scene in the beginning(that was a seriously skimpy spider costume!) and the scene where she gets drunk with Trent and jumps into the pool. I did wish the film would have followed up a bit more with her husband's secretary, who was clearly in love with her. They just showed him mooning over her the whole movie, but never went anywhere with that. It seemed a bit random. I think if you're not going to do anything significant with something like that, don't include it in the movie.

This film brings up an interesting dilemma...and oddly I haven't seen any movies like it even though it came out in the 1930s. When the film begins, Phillip (Herbert Marshall) meets Mary (Norma Shearer) and they fall in love. Soon they have been married for four years and have a cute kid. Phillip goes abroad on a business trip and during this time, Mary accepts a fateful invitation to travel to Cannes. There she meets up with an old beau, Tommy (Robert Montgomery). Tommy gets drunk and misbehaves and EVERYONE notices. Soon Phillip has heard about it and he starts doubting his wife's fidelity. Even though he says he still loves her, it's obvious he's not sure and this is destroying the marriage. What's next? See the film.

This film is worth seeing for the interesting script and fine acting. But the biggest reason is to see Herbert Marshall dressed up as an Insectman for a costume party. Bizarre is a HUGE understatement! See this film!

At the opening, Mary (oscar winning Norma Shearer) and Rexford (Herb Marshall) are getting ready for a costume ball. This was the mid-1930s, just as the film code was getting enforced more strictly, so it's not quite as spicy as it might have been. They get hitched, but then Rex gets sent away on business, and Mary goes to a party with old friend Tommie (R. Montgomery) . Things get steamy, things happen or don't, and now there are injuries and mis-understandings to be sorted out. Can things be set right? age old story of getting to the truth of what happened. it's pretty good. the cast list shows Walter Brennan as the chauffeur; he was doing a mix of credited and uncredited roles right up to the mid-1930s. appeared in TONS of things with john wayne! There is a smidge of humor here, between the sad and serious parts; Skeets Gallagher and Robert Montgomery both have a few funny, clever lines. Bea Tanner Campbell is naughty Aunt Hetty. her imdb bio contains amusing stories, even on her time making THIS film with Norma Shearer. only made 6 films... too bad. she was a lot of fun. It's pretty good entertainment. worth a watch.

Norma Shearer's emotional range and charm is always a delight. Her costumes in shiny silk charmeuse and deep dark velvet translate so well in vintage black and white, and the topic of a woman's "decency" in the 30's and small minds is dramatic and poignant. I love this decade of movies for the history and social culture they often evoke.