Road to Paradise is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film produced and distributed by First National Pictures, and starring Loretta Young, Jack Mulhall and Raymond Hatton.[1] It was directed by William Beaudine and is based on a 1920 play Dodson Mitchell by Zelda Sears called Cornered.[2] The film was a remake of a 1924 silent version, entitled Cornered, which was also directed by William Beaudine.
| Road to Paradise | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | William Beaudine |
| Written by | F. Hugh Herbert |
| Based on | Cornered (1920 play) by Dodson Mitchell and Zelda Sears |
| Starring | Loretta Young Jack Mulhall Raymond Hatton |
| Cinematography | John F. Seitz |
| Edited by | Edward Schroeder |
| Music by | Leo F. Forbstein |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | First National Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 74 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editLoretta Young plays the part of an orphan named Mary Brennan, who has been raised by two thieves (Raymond Hatton and George Barraud) and does not know that she has a twin sister who is now a wealthy socialite (Loretta Young as Margaret Waring). One day, while she is dining at a Chinese restaurant with her two guardians, they notice the wealthy socialite and are taken aback at how closely she resembles Brennan. Hatton and Barraud convince Brennan that she should impersonate the socialite so that they can enter her house and steal the contents of her safe. Brennan enters the house and meets Jack Mulhall who senses something different about Waring and immediately falls in love with her. When night falls, Brennan lets Hatton and Barraud into the house and they attempt to open the safe. Waring happens to enter the house and is shocked to find a woman that looks like her. She is shot at by Barraud, Brennan stays behind to care for Waring but tricks the police into thinking that Waring is the imposter and thief. Even though Mulhall knows the truth, he keeps quiet because he is in love with her. Eventually Brennan discovers that Waring is her twin sister when they discover that they have matching lockets, the charges are dropped and Brennan accepts Mulhall's proposal of marriage.
Cast
edit- Loretta Young as Mary Brennan/Margaret Waring
- Jack Mulhall as George Wells
- Raymond Hatton as Nick
- George Barraud as Jerry "The Gent"
- Kathlyn Williams as Mrs. Wells
- Fred Kelsey as Police Inspector Casey
- Purnell Pratt as Police Inspector Updike
- Ben Hendricks Jr. as Flanagan
- Dot Farley as Lola
- Winter Hall as Brewster, the butler
- Bess Flowers as Nurse
- Clarence Geldart as Doctor
- Tom Wilson as Jerry the Greek
- Wong Chung as Waiter
- Jim Farley as Police Officer Farley
Preservation status
editThe film survives intact has been shown on television and cable. Road to Paradise has been preserved at the Library of Congress.[3][4]
Home media
editThe film is available on DVD from the Warner Archive Collection as a double bill with another Loretta Young film Week-End Marriage.
References
edit- ^ The AFI Catalog of Feature Films 1893-1993:Road to Paradise
- ^ Cornered as produced on Broadway December 8 1920 to April 1921, Astor Theatre, 143 performances; IBDB.com
- ^ The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30 by The American Film Institute, c. 1971
- ^ Catalog of Holdings The American Film Institute Collection and The United Artists Collection at The Library of Congress, (<-book title) page 153 by The American Film Institute, c.1978