Condemned (1929)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The Age of Commercialism

Absolutely Fantastic

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

There is such an element of unreality to the idea that the warden at the Devil's Island penal colony would allow one of the inmates to act as a servant in his home and to be alone with his wife throughout the day, that you'll have to go into this movie suspending your disbelief. Ronald Colman is suave as the convict, and it's always a joy to see him, and here he is opposite Ann Harding, who varies between down to earth and over-emoting. The film does set the stage with some nice 'hard prison' scenes, including one of a man howling in solitary confinement, but next to Colman smooth-talking Harding, something seems off. Perhaps Colman is a little too debonair. On the other hand, the film is entertaining and worth seeing. I liked the supporting cast most, and thought that Dudley Digges turned in the best performance as the warden, angrily spewing his bile.

I enjoyed the film in spite of the rather somber depressing theme. I am not usually a fan of Ann Harding's rather theatrical over the top acting but she is surprisingly down to earth in this picture and enjoyable. Dudley Digges plays his part as her husband well manages to be both repulsive and disgusting in his portrayal. Ronald Colman is very good as the convict who falls in love with the warden's wife, played by Ann Harding. The film only seems to be available in a post 1934 reissue print.... the original titles have ending have been replaced so I can only assume some Pre-Code footage is missing as the new titles look like they date to the late 1930's or 1940's.

CONDEMNED! is an early talkie prison film for screen star Ronald Colman, then riding high after the success of BULLDOG DRUMMOND. Colman would go on to cement his suave reputation with his turn as RAFFLES the subsequent year. This film is set on the notorious Devil's Island prison, a place where Colman's slightly smarmy thief is sent. It doesn't take long for him to begin an ill-fated romance with the governor's wife, and of course his sights are soon set on escape.For an early talkie, CONDEMNED! is acceptable enough fare. It has dated somewhere in the subsequent decades and fans of prison movies will be hard pressed to enjoy the slow-moving and over-obvious antics on display here. The romantic sub-plot really serves to drag things down considerably although things pick up towards the climax.

No story value here but worth for Ronald Colman - always emotional in his own restrained way.I have alas never seen this obscure early talkie with a fair 35mm print but the 16mm used for the french VHS Samuel Goldwyn 1990 edition allows to see that the sets and photography of this "Condemned" were of absolute first rate : William Cameron Menzies (sets), George S. Barnes & Greg Toland (photography) make for quite a team !A bit like Susan Lenox two years later and its magnificent William H. Daniels lighting/framing and Cedric Gibbons angled sets : script-wise a very passable and previsible film but visually a true feast for the eyes.The 16mm print/edition is also mushy, unfocused and the video transfer is at least 6 stops below... Hopefully a proper 35mm original still exists somewhere - if only for the end sequence in the train station.