While it has its moments, I'm on the negative side of things with this film.
It's another of a sub-genre of films I've always disliked. The primary genre was very common in the early to mid 1930s -- how the upper class lived. I always found the emphasis on that to be rather a bore. The sub-genre I like even less -- jewel thieves stealing from the upper class.
Having said that, I will give the film a few points for casting...and few subtractions for casting. First, there are two actors in the film that I always enjoy, and here is no exception. Herbert Marshall was a fine actor, and here he plays a jewel thief desiring to get out of the racket and marry. I also always find May Robson a welcome addition to almost any film. Elizabeth Allan does well enough here as the romantic interest. Mary Boland is a hoot as the loud-mouthed American on the plane. On the negative side -- Ralph Forbes, the third of the thieves. Wow, could that man act! Well, no, not really...at least not in this film. But he certainly could overact! More than a third of the way through the film, Lionel Atwill comes on-board (literally on a plane)...but is none to impressive here.
In terms of the story, like any number of early-1930s films, this script has some holes in it, including sudden plot changes that don't quite make sense. At one point, Atwill even calls Herbert Marshall by the name of Atwill's own character (how did that get by Hollywood's most prestigious studio?). Frankly, once on the plane, the writers tried to get rather clever with the story line, but ended up making the film rather inane at points.
So my advice? Well, if you have a specific reason for wanting to watch the film (as I did, being a bit of a fan of Herbert Marshall), do so. Otherwise, pass it by...there's lots better from the early 1930s.
It's another of a sub-genre of films I've always disliked. The primary genre was very common in the early to mid 1930s -- how the upper class lived. I always found the emphasis on that to be rather a bore. The sub-genre I like even less -- jewel thieves stealing from the upper class.
Having said that, I will give the film a few points for casting...and few subtractions for casting. First, there are two actors in the film that I always enjoy, and here is no exception. Herbert Marshall was a fine actor, and here he plays a jewel thief desiring to get out of the racket and marry. I also always find May Robson a welcome addition to almost any film. Elizabeth Allan does well enough here as the romantic interest. Mary Boland is a hoot as the loud-mouthed American on the plane. On the negative side -- Ralph Forbes, the third of the thieves. Wow, could that man act! Well, no, not really...at least not in this film. But he certainly could overact! More than a third of the way through the film, Lionel Atwill comes on-board (literally on a plane)...but is none to impressive here.
In terms of the story, like any number of early-1930s films, this script has some holes in it, including sudden plot changes that don't quite make sense. At one point, Atwill even calls Herbert Marshall by the name of Atwill's own character (how did that get by Hollywood's most prestigious studio?). Frankly, once on the plane, the writers tried to get rather clever with the story line, but ended up making the film rather inane at points.
So my advice? Well, if you have a specific reason for wanting to watch the film (as I did, being a bit of a fan of Herbert Marshall), do so. Otherwise, pass it by...there's lots better from the early 1930s.