FASCINATION (1931)

[drednm]

Probably an incomplete copy with bad sound, but that's all that exists of this melodrama about an actress who takes up with a married man only to give him up after she meets the sad wife.

Madeleine Carroll plays Gwenda Farrell, a selfish and bored actress who
chases after an architect (Carl Harbord) for no good reason at all.
She's totally self-absorbed despite the advice of gal pal Kay (Kay
Hammond from BLITHE SPIRIT) who's stuck with a milquetoast called
Bertie.

The film is barely over an hour, and it seems some material has been
lost, judging from several jerky transitions. Bad sound, beyond
restoration, and a general droning sound blot out some dialog. But the
story is clear enough.

Carroll is beautiful and has some great scenes where she is beautifully
lit. Harbord is a dull drone, but Hammond does better as the brainless
friend. Dorothy Bartlam is the pretty-but-dull wife. Roland Culver has
a brief scene as a rejected lover. Freddie Bartholomew plays one of the
kids in the opening, and Merle Oberon shows up at about the 45-minute
mark as a flower seller (her mother is Spanish) in a nightclub.

Harbord is, amazingly, only 23 years old here. He looks 40. Worth a
look for an early starring role for lovely Madeleine Carroll.

[Gumlegs]

"Gwenda Farrell," eh?

Did Glenda ever play a character named "Madeweine Carroll"?