John Gilbert liked nothing better than to get his teeth into a gritty character part (rather like John Barrymore) and when talkies came in he got his chance. Even though he excelled at the few meaty parts he was given (an absolute cad in "Downstairs", an alcoholic given one more chance in "The Captain Hates the Sea") as a reviewer says, after "His Glorious Night" the writing was on the wall for him, as far as the studio was concerned and they tried their best to push him from one pot boiler to another. That he succeeded and gave some of his finest performances shows that he was not such a one dimensional player as a lot of people thought.
Now Gaston LeRoux is known for the horror book "The Phantom of the Opera" but back in his day his main claim to fame was as the creator of Rouletabille, a teenage crime reporter who was the French equivalent of Sherlock Holmes and also for his creation of Cheri-Bibi, an adventurer who was Leroux's most popular character.
This is just a marvelous movie with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Cheri-Bibi (Gilbert) is a great escapologist "the sensation of the world" who wows audiences where ever he performs. One person who is not "wowed" is Lt. Costaud (Lewis Stone, who else!!) who is even skeptical when Cheri performs a "Houdini" like escape from a sealed barrel of water using Costaud's own handcuffs - of course he escapes, he always does!! Costaud has been hired by Inspector Bourrelier (C. Aubrey Smith) to try to expose him so as to disillusion his daughter Cecile (Leila Hyams) but her love is of the strongest. Even though Bourrelier doesn't like Cheri, he has found out some disturbing news about his future son-in -law, Touchesis (Ian Keith) - that he is a fortune hunter only interested in Cecile for her money and he already has a mistress - the predatory Vera (Natalie Moorehead, where would pre-codes be without her!!) But before he can change his will which requests Cecile and Touchesis marry, he is murdered!! Cheri, of course, is arrested but daringly escapes and lives for years in a dungeon like room at the toymakers (Jean Hersholt). This is just a marvelous movie and with more than a passing nod to "Les Miserables" as Costaud, like Javet, is a policeman who never gives up his search. When Costaud gets too close Cheri escapes again and .... but the plot is just too involving!! Needless to say Cheri returns, disguised as Touchesis and learns that the man was a tyrant who has never had the affection or love of his wife and even incites fear in his own son (adorable Douglas Scott).
I enjoyed this movie far more than "Downstairs" and it shows that if Gilbert hadn't met such an early death he could have spent the rest of his life in character parts. The title was obviously a ploy to align itself with "The Phantom of the Opera".
Now Gaston LeRoux is known for the horror book "The Phantom of the Opera" but back in his day his main claim to fame was as the creator of Rouletabille, a teenage crime reporter who was the French equivalent of Sherlock Holmes and also for his creation of Cheri-Bibi, an adventurer who was Leroux's most popular character.
This is just a marvelous movie with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Cheri-Bibi (Gilbert) is a great escapologist "the sensation of the world" who wows audiences where ever he performs. One person who is not "wowed" is Lt. Costaud (Lewis Stone, who else!!) who is even skeptical when Cheri performs a "Houdini" like escape from a sealed barrel of water using Costaud's own handcuffs - of course he escapes, he always does!! Costaud has been hired by Inspector Bourrelier (C. Aubrey Smith) to try to expose him so as to disillusion his daughter Cecile (Leila Hyams) but her love is of the strongest. Even though Bourrelier doesn't like Cheri, he has found out some disturbing news about his future son-in -law, Touchesis (Ian Keith) - that he is a fortune hunter only interested in Cecile for her money and he already has a mistress - the predatory Vera (Natalie Moorehead, where would pre-codes be without her!!) But before he can change his will which requests Cecile and Touchesis marry, he is murdered!! Cheri, of course, is arrested but daringly escapes and lives for years in a dungeon like room at the toymakers (Jean Hersholt). This is just a marvelous movie and with more than a passing nod to "Les Miserables" as Costaud, like Javet, is a policeman who never gives up his search. When Costaud gets too close Cheri escapes again and .... but the plot is just too involving!! Needless to say Cheri returns, disguised as Touchesis and learns that the man was a tyrant who has never had the affection or love of his wife and even incites fear in his own son (adorable Douglas Scott).
I enjoyed this movie far more than "Downstairs" and it shows that if Gilbert hadn't met such an early death he could have spent the rest of his life in character parts. The title was obviously a ploy to align itself with "The Phantom of the Opera".