Actually both the crime and mystery angles in this so-named "Crime Classic" are slight. While there is a murder in the story, it occurs very late in the piece. The movie's best moments all happen in the first ten minutes or so, when the lovely Dixie Lee makes her spectacular entrancealthough what potential she sees in dull-as-a-doormat Jameson Thomas is open to question. The rest of the movie revolves around a lot of ho-hum footage in which that perennial movie drunk, Arthur Housman, performs his funny-as-watching-ice-melt inebriated act to such wearisome length, it comes as something of a relief when he's suddenly removed from the plot by an unrecognizable, overly face-painted Carmelita Geraghty. Not unexpectedly, director Raymond Cannon handles the bulk of this largely boring, marking-time script with competence but little inspiration. But surprisingly for a Poverty Row effort, production values look quite smart and feature well-dressed studio interiors, peopled with lots of good-looking extras and bit-players.
9 Reviews
Boozing, smoking,affairs, gambling, divorce, murder & more.
cobram-15 September 2004
For an early talkie this movie is actually pretty good. The story is told quickly, the movie only bogs in a few places, but it's entertaining and great to see the details of the clothing, cars and norms of the times. The basic storyline is that a husband picks up a hussy at a party, the wife catches them (almost) in the act, and she goes off to Reno to get a divorce (only a 6 week wait in Nevada). Evidently Reno in 1931 was frequented only by sleazy lawyers, heavy drinking, smoking, gambling and sexing people living it up while they waited for their 6 weeks to roll by. I liked the movie, especially since it gets straight to the point on a few of the subplots, instead of drawing them out like many other films do. This is now a public domain movie, and is available for free download from several sites on the internet. I downloaded a 3 gig Mpeg and the quality of the images were excellent, the sound could use some work, but as with many of these pre-Dolby films, nobody is going to go to the expense and trouble of cleaning up the soundtrack for free. On a scale of 1 to 10, judged against all movies, I'd give it a 6. Judged against other movies of it's era, I'd give it an 8.
Not all that good...but it is interesting!
planktonrules29 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This film was made by the low-budget Weiss Brothers Studio and this surprised me. I knew that the Weiss' had made some silent comedy shorts with Ben Turpin and Snub Pollard, but I didn't know that their tiny production company made any sound films. Apparently this is among their later productions and it stars Virginia Valli—a name virtually forgotten today.
The story is about a seemingly perfect marriage. When the wife catches her husband with another, she runs to Reno for a divorce. Once there, the husband seeks her out, as he wants a reconciliation. Near the end, however, the story gets really weird as a murder appears in the plot from completely out in left field—leading to an interesting conclusion.
While the story in this B-movie wasn't bad, the acting sometimes was. The worst of the bad actors was probably the maid near the beginning of the film—she could barely recite her lines better than a drunk robot! But, Clarence Wilson as Mr. Garrett was a bright spot in the film. The skeletal actor was a common bit actor in various films (including playing 'Mr. Geezer' in the Little Rascals films) but here he has a larger than usual and more comical role than you'd expect from him—and he makes the most of it—making at least his scenes very entertaining as a shifty divorce attorney. Sadly, though, this isn't enough to make this film anything more than just passable entertainment.
The story is about a seemingly perfect marriage. When the wife catches her husband with another, she runs to Reno for a divorce. Once there, the husband seeks her out, as he wants a reconciliation. Near the end, however, the story gets really weird as a murder appears in the plot from completely out in left field—leading to an interesting conclusion.
While the story in this B-movie wasn't bad, the acting sometimes was. The worst of the bad actors was probably the maid near the beginning of the film—she could barely recite her lines better than a drunk robot! But, Clarence Wilson as Mr. Garrett was a bright spot in the film. The skeletal actor was a common bit actor in various films (including playing 'Mr. Geezer' in the Little Rascals films) but here he has a larger than usual and more comical role than you'd expect from him—and he makes the most of it—making at least his scenes very entertaining as a shifty divorce attorney. Sadly, though, this isn't enough to make this film anything more than just passable entertainment.
Night life in Reno is a big yawn
kidboots16 February 2008
I found this film in a box set of 50 and wondered what night life in Reno would have been like in 1931. What a wonderful surprise to see Dixie Lee's name playing "the other woman". She didn't make many films after this being too busy as Mrs. Bing Crosby. She is completely ravishing as Dorothy and it is very believable that she could charm away Virginia Valli's husband (although he seems a bit of a stuffed shirt).
Unfortunately within 15 minutes she is out of the film and Virginia Valli is on her way to Reno to get a divorce. Her husband, John, quickly follows, hoping to bring about a reconciliation. She has other ideas.
He finds a chum (Roy) who wants to set him up with a date for the night. Roy's date turns out to be John's wife. She also turns out to be a big flirt.
Virginia Valli is pretty insipid in the main female lead as are the two men (they both looked very similar to each other). Carmelita Geraghty has a small part as Roy's estranged wife Rita and she adds a bit of colour to the film's drabness.
Night Life in Reno was a big yawn.
Unfortunately within 15 minutes she is out of the film and Virginia Valli is on her way to Reno to get a divorce. Her husband, John, quickly follows, hoping to bring about a reconciliation. She has other ideas.
He finds a chum (Roy) who wants to set him up with a date for the night. Roy's date turns out to be John's wife. She also turns out to be a big flirt.
Virginia Valli is pretty insipid in the main female lead as are the two men (they both looked very similar to each other). Carmelita Geraghty has a small part as Roy's estranged wife Rita and she adds a bit of colour to the film's drabness.
Night Life in Reno was a big yawn.
"...you're as good as a single woman already".
classicsoncall10 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Well you'll just have to see the humor in this picture because the story itself is largely unexplainable. When a pretty young wife (Virginia Valli) is cheated on by her husband (Jameson Thomas), she heads off to Reno for a quickie divorce, engaging the services of one of the most annoying screen attorneys I've ever seen (Clarence Wilson). Later, husband John Wyatt seeks out the same attorney in an attempt to reconcile with his wife. Questions abound regarding lawyer/client confidentiality, as well as conflict of interest when lawyer Garrett accepts a retainer from both parties. I'm no expert, but that seems just the slightest bit unethical to me.
Then there's that scene with the police chief towards the end of the story when he asks Wyatt to confess to a murder to let his wife June off the hook. And he agrees! What?!?! And where exactly did that conversation take place? It wasn't in a police station, because the room was decked out like a library!
Pay attention though, and you'll catch an interesting quip from the bald headed old coot who traded his hairpiece for a stake at the gambling tables. Sitting next to Wyatt at the night club, he's overheard speaking to his lady companion about a trip to Africa, where animals go in and out your window, and you find 'beavers under your bed'. I don't believe there are beavers in Africa, but I don't think he was talking about the four legged kind to begin with. Have to love that pre-Code stuff.
Anyway, like a lot of these films of the era, you'll just have to see 'em to believe 'em, and if you're like me, you won't believe 'em even then. I'd like to say if you've seen one you've seen them all, but that's just not the case. Pick up the sixty disc/two hundred fifty film DVD Mystery Collection from Mill Creek Entertainment and it will have you scratching your head for answers picture after picture with offerings like this.
Then there's that scene with the police chief towards the end of the story when he asks Wyatt to confess to a murder to let his wife June off the hook. And he agrees! What?!?! And where exactly did that conversation take place? It wasn't in a police station, because the room was decked out like a library!
Pay attention though, and you'll catch an interesting quip from the bald headed old coot who traded his hairpiece for a stake at the gambling tables. Sitting next to Wyatt at the night club, he's overheard speaking to his lady companion about a trip to Africa, where animals go in and out your window, and you find 'beavers under your bed'. I don't believe there are beavers in Africa, but I don't think he was talking about the four legged kind to begin with. Have to love that pre-Code stuff.
Anyway, like a lot of these films of the era, you'll just have to see 'em to believe 'em, and if you're like me, you won't believe 'em even then. I'd like to say if you've seen one you've seen them all, but that's just not the case. Pick up the sixty disc/two hundred fifty film DVD Mystery Collection from Mill Creek Entertainment and it will have you scratching your head for answers picture after picture with offerings like this.
Allowing the plain Jane to glamour up.
mark.waltz21 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This has pre-code written all over it, showing the shocking realization for Virginia Valli (who thinks that her marriage is in perfect shape) that her husband (Jameson Thomas) is blatantly having an affair. Valli heads to Reno, files for divorce (with pickle faced Clarence Wilson delightfully snarky as the attorney she hired), and goes about changing her whole look and way of thinking.
Much later, they're reunited, and Valli is accused of murdering her companion, Arthur Housman, while Thomas deals with the mistress (Carmelita Geraghty) he wants to dump to help out his wife since the divorce is not yet finale. A complex drama that gets more scandalous as it goes on, highlighted by the art decco sets, a montage of Thomas and Jameson getting progressively drunker, and all sorts of other weird situations. A lot here becomes extremely sloppy, but it's so audacious that a good majority of it is irresistible especially the train sound effects over the opening and closing credits.
Much later, they're reunited, and Valli is accused of murdering her companion, Arthur Housman, while Thomas deals with the mistress (Carmelita Geraghty) he wants to dump to help out his wife since the divorce is not yet finale. A complex drama that gets more scandalous as it goes on, highlighted by the art decco sets, a montage of Thomas and Jameson getting progressively drunker, and all sorts of other weird situations. A lot here becomes extremely sloppy, but it's so audacious that a good majority of it is irresistible especially the train sound effects over the opening and closing credits.
Stagy, but Pre-code Sexy and Unusual
jayraskin118 October 2010
This is an adult comedy for 1931. It hints at adultery, prostitution, and swinging (wife swapping). None of this subject matter could have been handled as openly three years later when the Hayes Moral Code started to be enforced.
Jameson Thomas is pretty good as the lead. He made this three years before playing gold-digger King Wesley, the rival to Clark Gable for Claudette Colbert in "It Happened One Night." Dixie Lee who married Bing Crosby and died tragically young at 42 has a small part as the woman who seduces Thomas away from his wife. She is quite radiant. She could have been another Jean Harlow perhaps with some breaks.
Clarence Wilson as a shady divorce lawyer named Garrett, Arthur Housman who specialized in playing drunks, as he does here, and Carmelita Garaughty, as a scorned women seeking revenge, liven up the movie with good performances.
It is interesting to see a Reno casino in a hotel circa 1931 and see the open prostitution and male and female sexual hunting going on there. Apparently women and men had to wait six weeks to finalize their divorce and they typically sort out new sexual adventures while waiting for the final decree. This is something I would not have known about except for this movie.
The direction was quite stagy with mostly long medium and full wide shots. It looks more like a 1921 film than 1931, possibly because of the sensitive new sound equipment which made camera moves difficult. Still, the interesting subject matter overcome this handicap to make the movie quite watchable and generally interesting.
Jameson Thomas is pretty good as the lead. He made this three years before playing gold-digger King Wesley, the rival to Clark Gable for Claudette Colbert in "It Happened One Night." Dixie Lee who married Bing Crosby and died tragically young at 42 has a small part as the woman who seduces Thomas away from his wife. She is quite radiant. She could have been another Jean Harlow perhaps with some breaks.
Clarence Wilson as a shady divorce lawyer named Garrett, Arthur Housman who specialized in playing drunks, as he does here, and Carmelita Garaughty, as a scorned women seeking revenge, liven up the movie with good performances.
It is interesting to see a Reno casino in a hotel circa 1931 and see the open prostitution and male and female sexual hunting going on there. Apparently women and men had to wait six weeks to finalize their divorce and they typically sort out new sexual adventures while waiting for the final decree. This is something I would not have known about except for this movie.
The direction was quite stagy with mostly long medium and full wide shots. It looks more like a 1921 film than 1931, possibly because of the sensitive new sound equipment which made camera moves difficult. Still, the interesting subject matter overcome this handicap to make the movie quite watchable and generally interesting.
What I've learned from 30's Movies
view_and_review1 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There are many things I've learned from watching movies from the 30's. A tinhorn is a person who pretends to have money, "on the level" means a person is being honest, people get married after knowing each other a day, high society have different accents, Paris was a destination for the rich in the summer, and Reno is where you went to get a divorce. The last one I learned from "The Road to Reno" and this movie, "Night Life in Reno."
June Wyatt (Virginia Valli) caught her husband, John Wyatt (Jameson Thomas), cheating on her and ran off to Reno to get a divorce.
Side bar.
There have been many "caught cheating" scenes that were really tame. They're mostly high society people who catch their spouse in the act and the reactions from both parties are rather mum. Like this movie where they just stared at each other for a minute and then said each other's name. Where's the fire, where's the brimstone? Oh, yeah, that's just for regular folks.
Back to the movie.
While in Reno June hooked up with a fella named Roy Carlton (Arthur Housman). Everyone was in Reno to get a divorce (I guess it was easier there) and the divorces took a standard of six weeks, so people just spent the six weeks there and enjoyed themselves. June and Roy were having a gay ol' time until he wanted to take things a step further. June was just there to hit singles while Roy wanted to hit a homerun.
Meanwhile, lurking in the shadows was Roy's wife, Rita (Carmelita Geraghty). She had warned Roy before about seeing other women, so she shot and killed Roy.
And this is where the movie goes sideways with a little bit of chivalry and a lot bit of stupidity.
Rita got away with the murder. The only suspect the police had was June aka Peggy (another thing people do in Reno is change their name). They were about to nail her for the crime until her husband, who'd come to Reno to win her back, stepped in to take the blame. "It was jealousy," he lied. If there was a way to win his wife back, taking the rap for a murder was the way.
That was the chivalry, however basic and simpleminded it was.
But we can't end a movie with the wrong person going to prison. Furthermore, we need a happy ending.
In steps Rita to now kill June for seducing her hubby. She was all set to kill her, but first she had to go into her speech admitting that she murdered Roy. June slyly had the phone off the hook where the operator was able to hear Rita's murderous plan and alert the police. The police, apparently, were next door because they barged in and stopped her before she could kill June. It was all so tidy, all so neat, all so convenient, and all so stupid. No tricks or clever plots were necessary. Rita, instead of fleeing town, decided to stick around to kill one more person and confess to the murder she'd already committed.
The movie wasn't exactly hot stuff before the ending. Rita killing Roy was the most exciting part of the movie and the only thing that gave this lifeless movie a heartbeat. It only needed to end strong to potentially save this dud. But, alas, it ended so thoughtlessly and abruptly it makes you wonder if they ran out of money. It's attempts at a romance or a suspense both failed as there was neither. What happened in Reno should've stayed in Reno.
Free on YouTube.
June Wyatt (Virginia Valli) caught her husband, John Wyatt (Jameson Thomas), cheating on her and ran off to Reno to get a divorce.
Side bar.
There have been many "caught cheating" scenes that were really tame. They're mostly high society people who catch their spouse in the act and the reactions from both parties are rather mum. Like this movie where they just stared at each other for a minute and then said each other's name. Where's the fire, where's the brimstone? Oh, yeah, that's just for regular folks.
Back to the movie.
While in Reno June hooked up with a fella named Roy Carlton (Arthur Housman). Everyone was in Reno to get a divorce (I guess it was easier there) and the divorces took a standard of six weeks, so people just spent the six weeks there and enjoyed themselves. June and Roy were having a gay ol' time until he wanted to take things a step further. June was just there to hit singles while Roy wanted to hit a homerun.
Meanwhile, lurking in the shadows was Roy's wife, Rita (Carmelita Geraghty). She had warned Roy before about seeing other women, so she shot and killed Roy.
And this is where the movie goes sideways with a little bit of chivalry and a lot bit of stupidity.
Rita got away with the murder. The only suspect the police had was June aka Peggy (another thing people do in Reno is change their name). They were about to nail her for the crime until her husband, who'd come to Reno to win her back, stepped in to take the blame. "It was jealousy," he lied. If there was a way to win his wife back, taking the rap for a murder was the way.
That was the chivalry, however basic and simpleminded it was.
But we can't end a movie with the wrong person going to prison. Furthermore, we need a happy ending.
In steps Rita to now kill June for seducing her hubby. She was all set to kill her, but first she had to go into her speech admitting that she murdered Roy. June slyly had the phone off the hook where the operator was able to hear Rita's murderous plan and alert the police. The police, apparently, were next door because they barged in and stopped her before she could kill June. It was all so tidy, all so neat, all so convenient, and all so stupid. No tricks or clever plots were necessary. Rita, instead of fleeing town, decided to stick around to kill one more person and confess to the murder she'd already committed.
The movie wasn't exactly hot stuff before the ending. Rita killing Roy was the most exciting part of the movie and the only thing that gave this lifeless movie a heartbeat. It only needed to end strong to potentially save this dud. But, alas, it ended so thoughtlessly and abruptly it makes you wonder if they ran out of money. It's attempts at a romance or a suspense both failed as there was neither. What happened in Reno should've stayed in Reno.
Free on YouTube.
1931 version of Eyes Wide Shut, with one flaw
asinyne9 May 2010
Like everyone else I suppose, I got this little gem as part of a Mill Creek collection. I really, really enjoyed it...unlike the other reviewers. In some ways this film is weirdly familiar to the Stanley Kubrick flick Eyes Wide Shut. Most of the movie concerns itself with a happily married couple who do some serious pushing the envelope in regards to sexual boundaries and their marriage. This theme is watered down a bit with the device that the couple is possibly going through a divorce...something that neither actually wants one little bit. At one point the couple find themselves on a double date and each is partnered with a new person(neither seems to mind to much either). There is a lot of sexual stuff going on here. It all eventually leads to violence and at that point the plot really gets cooking. Unfortunately the film's resolution comes a bit to quick and that really puts a damper on what was an excellent buildup to some real tension. I still liked it a lot, just wish there had been a couple more scenes worked in there near the end...to string we, the audience along a bit cause the ride was really getting good. I would have liked a bit more angst thrown in there after the couple found themselves caught in an amazing paradox.
I can see why this movie isn't quite everyone's cup of tea. It is VERY sophisticated and subtle. My hats off to the writer and director. The cast was also very effective...especially the leading lady who was beautiful and a talented actress. I found her very believable.
Considering that this film was made eighty years ago, the transfer was really outstanding and the sound was very good too. Art Class films, the company who produced this one, made some pretty good films based on what I've been able to find so far. I enjoyed it very much, could have used another five or six minutes but they got a lot right with this one. Check it out for something pretty darn unique.
I can see why this movie isn't quite everyone's cup of tea. It is VERY sophisticated and subtle. My hats off to the writer and director. The cast was also very effective...especially the leading lady who was beautiful and a talented actress. I found her very believable.
Considering that this film was made eighty years ago, the transfer was really outstanding and the sound was very good too. Art Class films, the company who produced this one, made some pretty good films based on what I've been able to find so far. I enjoyed it very much, could have used another five or six minutes but they got a lot right with this one. Check it out for something pretty darn unique.
See also
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