Island in the Sky (1938)

The Age of Commercialism

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Yes, there was a time when Gloria Stuart was once young. In fact, this film was 58 years before her supporting 1996 Oscar nomination for "Titanic."In this 1938 film she is a young, perky secretary to the District Attorney who delays her wedding when she believes that a young man, convicted of killing his father, is innocent. Of course, there is no basis for her belief at the beginning-just the sympathy evoked by the lad's girlfriend.Naturally, evidence has to be uncovered just before the execution is to take place and we observe the usual fanfare of trying to get it to the governor so as to delay the execution.Some interesting plot twists, but it's still rather routine.

The face is 59-years younger, but it's impossible not to recognize Titanic's Gloria Stuart - those huge, beautiful blue eyes are unmistakable. Stuart stars here in "Island in the Sky," a 1938 film also starring Michael Whelan, Paul Kelly, Paul Hurst, and Leon Ames. Stuart plays the secretary-fiancé of the D.A. (Whelan), and she's upset over the recent guilty verdict of a young man (Robert Kellard), who's set to get the chair. She decides to look into his case herself, not only to help him, but his agonized fiancé.Director Leeds keeps this film going at a good pace, and it's a involving mystery with good acting and some nice comic moments.This was probably a B film, given its length, and though Universal and 20th Century Fox promised Stuart big things, neither studio came through. It's a shame because Stuart is very likable here, as well as pretty and glamorous. The actress turned to the stage and retired in the 1940s, becoming an artist. She returned to acting in the 1980s. Then in 1997 came Titanic and an Oscar nomination. It's fun to see the young Stuart, who turns 100 this year, and it's great that TCM shows her earlier films from time to time.

Julie Hayes is a secretary to the Manhattan D.A., Michael Fraser. They are in love and will be marrying soon, that is, if she can find a way to keep on working after she gets married. When we meet them, they have come to celebrate at the night club, Island in the Sky, their impending marriage. The club's manager, Marty Butler, wants to give the couple the best the place has to offer. Little prepare them to have their dinner interrupted as there is a murder where he has been called.The killing, an apparent attempt to rob the house in the Village, where the owner, Mr. Vincent has been shot to death. The police arrest his son Peter as he arrives home with a weak alibi. His problems start there because of the circumstances Peter Vincent cannot reveal because it will compromise his own girlfriend, Lucy. Julie Hayes, doubts the young man did it, so she goes into action to prove his innocence. Everything fails, until she finds a connection one day as she goes looking for proof at the offices adjacent to the club. She ties Marty Butler to a felon awaiting to be released that used to be his partner. Little prepares for what she learns, which will help Peter, ultimately.This Twentieth Century Fox 1938 release, shown recently on cable, is a lot of fun to watch because what the director, Herbert Leeds was able to put together in only 68 minutes running time. It helps that Gloria Stuart, at the height of her career was cast as Julie. She makes a wonderful Julie Hayes. Playing opposite her, Michael Whalen, as the man that loves her and has the patience of a saint. Paul Kelly, Leon Ames, and Paul Hurst, made valuable contributions to this mystery that is worth a look by serious fans.

Island in the Sky (1938) *** (out of 4) Fast paced and sometimes suspenseful murder/mystery from Fox has a boy sent to Death Row for the murder of his father but the D.A.'s wife (Gloria Stuart) believes he's innocent so she sets out to solve the case. I've seen so many of these mystery films from this period that it's not often that I come across a good one but this is one of those films where there are some nice laughs, a good story and great performances to carry it through the short 68-minute running time. I knew Stuart from her two James Whale films but I'm enjoying her more and more with every new film I see with her. She's delightful as usual here and delivers a nice performance while Michael Whalen, Paul Kelly and Paul Hurst also turn in good work. Director Herbert I. Leeds does a good job at keeping everything going smooth and makes this little gem worth checking out.