Melvyn Douglas may not seem like your typical noir hero. Indeed, in "The Broken Wing" (1932), in the glare of the studio's kleig lights and minus his trademark mustache, he doesn't even look like Melvyn Douglas.
Not that all this matters in the least, as the action is hogged by Leo Carrillo at his most carelessly hammy (although he's supposed to be playing a Mexican, he speaks Spanish with a decidedly gringo accent).
Poorly photographed Lupe Velez runs Carrillo a close second in the amateur theatrics department.
Lloyd Corrigan's lackluster direction doesn't help, but the movie has curiosity value as it has obviously been little changed from the amazingly successful (248 performances) Broadway play of 1920, a play that in the words of one critic was long on noirishly convoluted plotting but rather short on sense.
As stated above, the movie is even longer on hammy acting, with even reliable performers like George Barbier sinning atrociously.
Not that all this matters in the least, as the action is hogged by Leo Carrillo at his most carelessly hammy (although he's supposed to be playing a Mexican, he speaks Spanish with a decidedly gringo accent).
Poorly photographed Lupe Velez runs Carrillo a close second in the amateur theatrics department.
Lloyd Corrigan's lackluster direction doesn't help, but the movie has curiosity value as it has obviously been little changed from the amazingly successful (248 performances) Broadway play of 1920, a play that in the words of one critic was long on noirishly convoluted plotting but rather short on sense.
As stated above, the movie is even longer on hammy acting, with even reliable performers like George Barbier sinning atrociously.