I have some issues with the set-up of this movie. William Powell is convicted of murdering a man by shoving him out a window; it was self-defense, when the man's lover, played by Natalie Moorhead, rushed into Powell's apartment, followed by the man, who attacked her. Powell defends her and, in the struggle, the man goes out the window. The woman flees. However, the woman's apartment is in the same building; the elevator operator had seen the man in her apartment; people had heard them fighting for some time before they wound up in Powell's apartment.
Anyway, Powell winds up in prison, escapes, makes his way down south and reestablishes himself under a different name, and the story continues on its melodramatic way, lent some sense by Powell's typically intelligent air. It's not great, despite a script co-written by by John Farrow.
It's directed by Louis Gasnier. Gasnier may be remembered only for the hideous REEFER MADNESS, but he had a long and fine career, entering films alongside Max Linder and directing the landmark serial THE PERILS OF PAULINE. If this mediocre melodrama points to why his career was on the downslide, perhaps it reflects more a change in taste and attendant carefulness in production than failure on his part.
Anyway, Powell winds up in prison, escapes, makes his way down south and reestablishes himself under a different name, and the story continues on its melodramatic way, lent some sense by Powell's typically intelligent air. It's not great, despite a script co-written by by John Farrow.
It's directed by Louis Gasnier. Gasnier may be remembered only for the hideous REEFER MADNESS, but he had a long and fine career, entering films alongside Max Linder and directing the landmark serial THE PERILS OF PAULINE. If this mediocre melodrama points to why his career was on the downslide, perhaps it reflects more a change in taste and attendant carefulness in production than failure on his part.