Hide-Out (1934)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

W.S. Van Dyke

Writers:

Mauri Grashin (story)
Frances Goodrich (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

24 August 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Farmers take in an injured racketeer and try to reform him.

Plot Keywords:

Racketeer | Police | Farm | Doctor | Playboy

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Robert Montgomery	...	Jonathan 'Lucky' Wilson
Maureen O'Sullivan	...	Pauline Miller
Edward Arnold	...	Det. Lt. 'Mac' MacCarthy
Elizabeth Patterson	...	'Ma' Miller
Whitford Kane	...	Henry Miller
Mickey Rooney	...	William 'Willie' Miller
C. Henry Gordon	...	Tony Berrelli (the Boss)
Muriel Evans	...	'Baby'
Edward Brophy	...	Det. Britt
Henry Armetta	...	Shuman
Herman Bing	...	Jake
Louise Henry	...	Lilly, singer
Harold Huber	...	Dr. Warner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tenen Holtz	...	(scenes deleted)
Ruth and Lester	...	Dancers in specialty adagio dance (unconfirmed)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #126)

Filming Locations:

Santa Cruz, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Movie Connections:

Remade as I'll Wait for You (1941)

Soundtrack:

All I Do Is Dream of You

The farmer's daughter

"Hide Out" starts out focusing on a group of racketeers operating in Manhattan. We are introduced to Jonathan Wilson, who seems to be a key man to the organization. Jonathan is clearly a ladies' man, but his luck is about to change after he is seen pursuing the glamorous Baby. In a hilarious scene, Jonathan, has secured a ring side table to watch the beautiful Baby singing, as part of a night club act. He proceeds to ask her for a date that same night, without the singer missing a beat while she accepts his invitation. That also proves to be his own undoing because the police is closing after him.

The second part of this comedy, directed with style by W. S. Van Dyke, concentrates in how Jonathan, who has been wounded when he tried to flee his pursuers, is found on the side of the road by a Connecticutt farmer, Henry Miller. He takes him home, where the whole family takes an interest in making him well. The lovely Pauline Miller, a young teacher, likes "Lucky", as Jonathan calls himself. Life in the farm works its magic in this man and transform him when he falls in love with the beautiful Pauline.

Of course, we all know that crime doesn't pay, so when at the end of the film we see Det. MacCarthy come knocking on the Miller's door, we realize that Lucky must pay for his evil ways of the past, although he makes us feel, because of his transformation and the love he feels for the young woman, that somehow, he has vindicated himself by wanting to stay in the farm forever.

Robert Montgomery's appearance in the film makes it even better than what it should have been. Mr. Montgomery is excellent in his scenes with Maureen O'Sullivan, who is perfect as the young Pauline Miller. Pauline Patterson and Whitford Kane are the older Millers, and Mickey Rooney, who was about thirteen, but looks much younger, makes a valuable contribution as Willie Miller. Edward Arnold, one of the best character actors working in films at that time, puts an appearance as Detective MacCarthy.

The film, with a running time of 81 minutes, has the right length and involves us in it. W. S. Van Dyke directed with usual sure hand and got a lot out his great cast in this delightful film.