Monte Carlo Nights

Not more though, not more. It is kind of comedy, thriller, hesitating between several tendancies in the script, as so many features from the thirties. It is not a bad, lousy movie but on the contrary worth seeing. One part takes place in the South Of France, French Riviera, which brings a specific touch, charm to which many audiences can't be insensitive. The topic itself is predictable, nothing, so don't expect much from this side. William Nigh was a important director during the silent period and a bit less when the talkies emerged. He was a prolific film maker and for gem diggers his filmography is interesting, no matter the stories.

Well! I like this film and here's why: it is very well made, it has two excellent good looking stars in beautiful Mary Bryant and handsome John Darrow, it is MODERN as a 1934 pic can be, it is actually interesting, a lot of care is evident s the casting and costumes... and the art direction, set design and budget is clearly on show on screen. Best of all for me is that it is a 1934 Monogram Picture and this little film company started in 1931 as a very low rung indie was really getting up into big theatrical bookings and excellent box office success. This is a good small film with very strong screen cred. It comes from a small pulp fiction dime novel whodunit by schlockmeister E Phillips Oppenheim who possible ground out dozens of mystery thrillers in the 20s. Like KING KELLY OF THE USA made the same year at Monogram, it is a calling card to big chain theaters: this little film company was striving to please; and this film does in the ways described above. And at 60 minutes or so, it would have been booked everywhere and very profitable.... as I said on the KELLY comments... no wonder big bad wolf Herbert J Yates was waiting to gobble them up into Republic Pictures the next year, as he did, until Monogram wriggled free in 1937 and rattled on until 1988 (as Allied Artists). This is antique talkie fun... and very well made.

For an hour-long programmer, the flick's not bad. The plot's pretty familiar. A guy gets accused of a murder he didn't commit and now has to track down the real killer, using a roulette-wheel combination as a clue. Good thing others want to help.

For former Saturday matinee kids, like this now geezer, the real magnet is Gabby Hayes with his teeth in and no whiskers and playing a big-time cop, no less. I was fascinated, to say the least, after so many years laughing at his goofy sidekick to Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, et al. Here, he shows a versatility I would never have expected. Also, it's an excellent cast for a cheapo, with a bevy of lovely ladies, along with a leading man, Darrow, who bears a strong facial resemblance to Marlon Brando - see what you think.

All in all, the minor flick holds interest though doesn't generate much suspense, the identity of the real killer being a rather minor point. At the same time, actress Bryan does make the romantic angle work pretty well. And catch those head-hugging cloche hats fashionable ladies wore at the time. I'd like to see them make a comeback. Anyway, give the flick a try. It's a good way to pass a leisurely hour.

If someone like Tyrone Power was in the lead I could understand why such women as Mary Brian, Billie Van Every and Yola D'Avril were vying for him i'd understand. But as the playboy hero of Monte Carlo Nights, John Darrow is as charismatic as dishwater left in the sink for a week.

The story originally has Darrow staling heiress Mary Brian and alienating Billie Van Every. But the romance part abruptly stops as he's accused of murder and s arrested. A daring escape from the train that was taking him to prison then sends Darrow off to Monte Carlo in pursuit of the real murderer.

Western fans will be interested to see gabby Hayes clean shaven and playing it straight as a detective who believes in Darrow's innocence. And Astrid Allwyn best known as Claude Rains's daughter in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington gives the best performance as the villain's moll.

Still a weak lead cripples this film.

A man found guilty of a murder he didn't commit, a daring escape by leaping off a train crossing a bridge, a shooting in a café and a scrap of paper that leads to a denouement in Monte Carlo --- these are the plot points that tell you you're watching a great Hitchcockian thriller. Only it isn't a Hitchcock picture, it's directed by William Nigh for Monogram and it is pretty poor -- especially as we've seen Hitchcock do it right, starting a year later with THE 39 STEPS. Really, the main reason to see this movie is to serve as counterpoint to Hitchcock.

Even the sound system seems off. Everyone speaks their lines with great emphasis as if every article is of great importance. There are some good actors lurking here, including gorgeous Mary Bryan, Astrid Allwyn and George 'Gabby' Hayes, clean-shaven, hair neatly combed and his teeth in. But really, you'd do yourself a favor by giving this one a miss.