Brian Donlevy had been on Broadway and after a few nondescript roles in some early sound movies (ie "Mother's Boy" and "Gentlemen of the Press") he made an immediate impact in a series of tough guy roles of which "Another Face" was one.
Brian Donlevy is the whole show as "Broken Nose" Dawson, a distinctive looking gangster who gives himself a whole new life through the aid of plastic surgery. He is so impressed with his looks that he decides to go to Hollywood, where, posing as a millionaire playboy, he finds himself type cast as a gangster - casting agents see him as a "new look" gangster. There are some very funny scenes - Dawson is a hopeless actor but can't understand why the director is tearing out his hair!!! - he is just consumed with his own looks and talent!!!
The problem is when Donlevy is not in the picture - the movie loses it's zip and punch, reverting to a second rate comedy, which I suppose it is!! Phyllis Brooks was a beautiful blonde who originally had been a McClelland Barclay and Bradshaw Crandall model until Hollywood beckoned in 1934. "Another Face" was only her 6th film and it showed - she was just not a good actress. Wallace Ford was his usual over eager self as Joe Hayes, publicity man for Zenith Pictures, who along with Alan Hale as the bumbling manager, almost succeed in botching the plan to capture Dawson. Molly Lamont played the nurse who is the only one who can identify the real "Broken Nose" Dawson - she makes the most of her role. Addison Randall, played - what else -a Hollywood cowboy. The biggest surprise for me was Eric Rhodes. He will always have a place in my movie loving heart for his wonderful characterisations of effeminate types in Fred Astaire musicals - "your wife is safe with Tonetti, he prefers spaghetti!!! from "The Gay Divorcée" and "You make a beeg mistake. I am no man, I am Beddini!! from "Top Hat". Here he plays an assistant director - a perfectly normal person!!
Recommended.
Brian Donlevy is the whole show as "Broken Nose" Dawson, a distinctive looking gangster who gives himself a whole new life through the aid of plastic surgery. He is so impressed with his looks that he decides to go to Hollywood, where, posing as a millionaire playboy, he finds himself type cast as a gangster - casting agents see him as a "new look" gangster. There are some very funny scenes - Dawson is a hopeless actor but can't understand why the director is tearing out his hair!!! - he is just consumed with his own looks and talent!!!
The problem is when Donlevy is not in the picture - the movie loses it's zip and punch, reverting to a second rate comedy, which I suppose it is!! Phyllis Brooks was a beautiful blonde who originally had been a McClelland Barclay and Bradshaw Crandall model until Hollywood beckoned in 1934. "Another Face" was only her 6th film and it showed - she was just not a good actress. Wallace Ford was his usual over eager self as Joe Hayes, publicity man for Zenith Pictures, who along with Alan Hale as the bumbling manager, almost succeed in botching the plan to capture Dawson. Molly Lamont played the nurse who is the only one who can identify the real "Broken Nose" Dawson - she makes the most of her role. Addison Randall, played - what else -a Hollywood cowboy. The biggest surprise for me was Eric Rhodes. He will always have a place in my movie loving heart for his wonderful characterisations of effeminate types in Fred Astaire musicals - "your wife is safe with Tonetti, he prefers spaghetti!!! from "The Gay Divorcée" and "You make a beeg mistake. I am no man, I am Beddini!! from "Top Hat". Here he plays an assistant director - a perfectly normal person!!
Recommended.