The Dark Angel (1935)

Director:

Sidney Franklin

Writers:

Guy Bolton (play)
Lillian Hellman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

8 September 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Kitty Vane, Alan Trent, and Gerald Shannon have been inseparable friends since childhood. Kitty has always known she would marry one of them...

Plot Keywords:

Train | Convoy | False Accusation | Inn | Fall From Horse

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Fredric March	...	Alan Trent
Merle Oberon	...	Kitty Vane
Herbert Marshall	...	Gerald Shannon
Janet Beecher	...	Mrs. Shannon
John Halliday	...	Sir George Barton
Henrietta Crosman	...	Granny Vane
Frieda Inescort	...	Ann West
Claud Allister	...	Lawrence Bidley
Cora Sue Collins	...	Kitty as a Child
Fay Chaldecott	...	Betty Gallop
George P. Breakston	...	Joe Gallop (as George Breakston)

Runtime:

106 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1254) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

Herbert Marshall, who plays a British army officer in World War I, actually served in that war and lost a leg in combat.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the bulk of the story takes place during World War I, and the time immediately thereafter, all of the women's clothes and hairstyles, particularly those of Merle Oberon, Janet Beecher and Frieda Inescort are strictly in the 1935 mode.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Dark Angel (1925)

Soundtrack:

Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile

World War I love triangle

Frederic March, Merle Oberon, and Herbert Marshall comprise a love triangle in "The Dark Angel," set in the grimness of World War I. Kitty (Oberon) has grown up with both Alan (March) and Gerald (Marshall) and knows the day will come when she must choose between them. She chooses Alan, but before they can be married, he's called back into service. With just a few hours left, she accompanies him to the meeting point for his troop and stays with him at the hotel. When Gerald, in the same troop, finds out that Alan was at the hotel with a woman, he turns against him, believing that he cheated on Kitty. He refuses him leave and sends him into treacherous battle.

Merle Oberon gives a touching performance as Kitty. She's very beautiful and has a lovely presence. Both March and Marshall are very good, March having the more histrionic role.

"The Dark Angel" comes off as dated and there's very much a "stiff upper lip, old chap" feeling about it. It's frustrating to see the Alan character behave as he does, but this of course keeps the viewer interested, and Oberon and the supporting characters infuse the atmosphere with warmth.

Worth it to see these classic stars. "The Dark Angel" is an old chestnut but a worthy one.