FILM REVIEWS

Produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by Sidney Franklin, “The Dark Angel” is a sumptuously produced, well-acted but anachronistic melodrama.

“The Dark Angel” was previously filmed by Goldwyn in 1925 with Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky. This version is adapted by Lillian Hellman and Mordaunt Sharp from a stage play by Guy Bolton (H. B. Treveleyen).

Fredric March, Merle Oberon and Herbert Marshall star respectively as Alan Trent, Kitty Vane and Gerald Shannon, friends since childhood. Though Gerald is in love with Kitty, it’s Alan who marries her.

But before the wedding, WW I intervenes, and both Alan and Gerald march off with their regiments. Blinded on the battlefield, Alan gallantly pretends to have been killed so that Kitty will not feel obligated to care for him.

Eventually, Kitty discovers that he’s still alive, which leads to a memorable scene, in which the proud Alan arranges all the furniture in his room to make it seem as though he can still see.

Oscar Nominations:

Actress: Merle Oberon

Interior Decoration: Richard Day

Sound Recording: Thomas T. Moulton

Oscar Awards:

Interior Decoration

Oscar Context:

The winner of the Best Actress Oscar was Bette Davis for “Dangerous.”

Credits

Running time: 110 Minutes.

Directed by Sidney Franklin.

Released: September 5, 1935.