THE STRANGE LOVE OF MOLLY LOUVAIN, 1932

[Changsham]

I just love all the Warner Archives titles coming out. Priceless opportunity to see many forgotton and under appreciated films. Recently saw THE STRANGE LOVE OF MOLLY LOUVAIN. Indeed a strange film, very gritty and realistic in portraying the trials and tribulations of Molly who has been dealt a very rough hand in life. Fast paced with cracking dialogue and not a second wasted in its 73 minutes length though the ending was bit of a cop out. Anne Dvorak and Lee Tracy put in fine performances. Top notch pre code and a very nice DVD transfer.

[entredeuxguerres]

Haven't seen it, unfortunately, but with Tracy spittin' out the wisecracks, 73 minutes is pa-lenty, brother, as Aline MacMahon would say. My childhood hero, I see from the cast list, also appears: Ming the Magnificent. Also, the little (5'2") cutie who, more often than not, got the short end of the stick when parts were handed out, naughty, saucy, Mary Doran.

[Changsham]

Tracy only appears after 30 minutes or thereabouts but makes up for it with machine gun like wiscracking and relentless messing about with Molly's mind for the rest of the film. Interesting to see "Ming" and Guy Kibbee play unacustomed policeman roles.

[Richard Finegan]

It's coming up on TCM on Tuesday, March 6 as part of a whole day of Guy Kibbee movies (it'll be his birthday!)

[Hal Erickson]

The presence in MOLLY LOUVAIN of such actors as Charles Middleton, Donald Dillaway, Richard Cramer and little Jacquie Lyn makes me wonder if it wasn't filmed around the same time as Laurel and Hardy's PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES--and with the same casting director.

[drednm]

Finally caught up with this one. Ann Dvorak in a real starring role (as opposed to leading lady) with Lee Tracy cracking wise. Lots of familiar faces including a wan Richard Cromwell, Charles Middleton, Frank McHugh, George Chandler, Guy Kibbee, Evalyn Knapp, Leslie Fenton, Lillian Harmer, C. Henry Gordon, Mary Doran, Louise Beavers, Claire McDowell, J. Fareell MacDonald, Dick Purcell, Harold Waldridge, Snub Pollard, Wade Boteler, Don Dillaway, and Ben Alexander. Dvorak is marvelous.