Review of The Dark Angel

One is disposed to like this 5 hankie weeper about a soldier blinded during a WWI recon mission, which along with a sojourn in a German military hospital, prevents his being reunited with his sweetheart of many years. Reported dead, this unbelievable knucklehead is too chicken to face family and friends as a blind man, so he elects to take a false name and live apart. Actually, he lives only a few miles from the folks who would desperately like to have him back alive, in any condition. Of course,they don't know about the blindness. Well, that's the situation. Even though I checked the spoiler box to be safe, I will say no more about the denouement. If you don't boil over with impatience at such a protagonist, there are some good things to enjoy. Merle Oberon, mainly! She's the sweetheart, but a vacillating one in the early stages who can't make up her mind between two fellows, who are either friends or cousins, or maybe both. The film is a little vague about this. When she does make a selection, there's some queer English law that prevents their immediate marriage before the guy ships out for France. Being practical folk in some respects, they decide to ignore the proprieties and spend their final night together. The "production code" being in effect in 1935, presumably all they do is drink champagne and eat chicken, but, alas, the guy is seen by an obnoxious poor relation heading upstairs, obviously bound for a tryst. The girl isn't seen, so when the twerp reports what he did see to the "other guy", this worthy severs his long time friendship. This enmity is an unintended cause of the wounding, blinding and capture earlier mentioned. Both the "girl" and the "other guy" thus believe they were responsible for their friend's death. That's enough to get you interested. While reaching for another Kleenex, note some lovely views of the English countryside, enjoy the antics of two cute little girl actresses, and have a look at attractive Frieda Inescourt as "Miss Wise". She is the blind guy's secretary. Oh, yes. He became a writer of children's novels, and seems to enjoy quite a lush life style on the proceeds.