Cecil B. DeMille told me that his scenario writer Jeanie Macpherson obtained real atmosphere for "Manslaughter" by getting herself sent to prison in Detroit through the agency of a friend. The only person in Detroit (aside from the friend) who knew about this deception was a police officer. "It was hard to set up. In fact, it took weeks," DeMille told me, "but the really funny thing about it was that after only three days in prison, Jeanie wanted out. She felt that she'd imbibed more than sufficient atmosphere for her scenario." So we can take it that the prison scenes are pretty authentic. A pity we can't say the same thing about the rest of the picture. What with the prison episodes contrasted with lots of ho-hum high society doings which are themselves contrasted with comic-strip decadent scenes in Ancient Rome, the scenario is way overloaded. But that's not the half of it. I beg your indulgence, that's not a quarter of it. The main story isn't about high society girl, Leatrice Joye, who sends her chambermaid, Lois Wilson, to prison for the theft of a necklace, but then is imprisoned herself for the manslaughter of a pursuing policeman, Jack Mower. No, long and extenuated as it is in the telling, that's not the main story at all. The star of the movie is Thomas Meighan and it's Meighan's story – the rise and fall of a preacher-like District Attorney – that occupies most of the footage. Unfortunately, Mr Meighan plays the stuffed shirt too convincingly. We hate him just as much as Miss Joye. One-Expression Meighan (something he ate) is a real bore as a crusader, yet he manages the difficult task of becoming even more of a painful bore when he lands on Skid Row. Kino Video's choppy if complete DVD version with its abrupt switches from tinted stock to black-and- white doesn't help matters, but I haven't the heart to put the movie in the "Not Recommended" basket.
This movie is now available complete -- and in a very good, completely tinted version -- from Alpha. What a difference it makes. I really enjoyed the movie this time around and I thought all the performances were excellent. Meighan's somewhat hesitant portrayal was just right for the part. He plays a character who is quick to condemn others, but doesn't have confidence in himself -- the very sort of person likely to end up on Skid Row if the Fates are unkind!
This movie is now available complete -- and in a very good, completely tinted version -- from Alpha. What a difference it makes. I really enjoyed the movie this time around and I thought all the performances were excellent. Meighan's somewhat hesitant portrayal was just right for the part. He plays a character who is quick to condemn others, but doesn't have confidence in himself -- the very sort of person likely to end up on Skid Row if the Fates are unkind!