The Kiss Before the Mirror (1933) directed by James Whale, was an attempt to persuade the public and his employers at Universal that he was capable of much more than horror, (though The Old Dark House was probably not the way to go if that was his point). Today, of course, he is now most closely identified with Frankenstein (1931) despite the fact that the majority of Whale's 23 movies do not belong to this genre.

Having previously seen the 1938 version of this story in the pretty dreary Wives Under Suspicion starring Warren William and Gail Patrick, (also directed by Whale when his career was fading), I was not expecting to see this same Ladislas Fodor play told so vividly (if at times melodramatically) with Frank Morgan (seen at left in the early 1930s sweating for the camera at his Beverly Hills mansion) and Nancy Carroll as the central figures. While there are some scenes that are a trifle overwrought, and it always seems odd to me when Frank Morgan is cast in one of these romantic leads early in his film career (wasn't that his brother Ralph's gig?), I was quite impressed with Morgan as the attorney trying to defend his friend Paul Lukas from a murder rap after Paul had learned that his wife was unfaithful. I still have mixed feelings about the movie, but loved the rocketing pace, and Jean Dixon (in one of her non-comedic roles as a career gal lawyer). Nancy Carroll, whose work in Child of Manhattan (1933) was very effective, irked me for reasons that I can't accurately describe. If anyone else saw this movie and has an opinion, I hope that you'll tell me why this movie makes me cringe inwardly, (other than the usual chauvinism toward one half of the human race without any acknowledgment of the society that helps to breed these vain, shallow creatures).

The opening sequence of The Kiss Before the Mirror shows a very briefly glimpsed Gloria Stuart and an impossibly young day player, newly arrived in Hollywood with hopes to carve out a singing career, one Walter Pidgeon, who appeared as a smooth adulterer for about 45 seconds. This first part of the movie was beautifully shot and displayed Whale's gifts for adroit, economical storytelling at his best. The rest of the film, not so well, I'm afraid. What's your opinion?