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The Dark Angel (1935)
14 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Her Dream Came True!, 30 March 2004
Author: Harold (Hal) Westcott from Washington State, USA
Actress Merle Oberon had seen the original of this film when she was a little girl growing up in the Orient. It was always her favorite film and it was the catalyst in her decision to become a movie star. A bit of trivia - when she came to Hollywood looking for a movie career, her dreams came true when it was announced that she would be in the 1935 remake of "The Dark Angel" along with Fredric March and Herbert Marshall. So, her dream came true and she loved this film!!! The acting is marvelous and Merle was nominated for a best actress Oscar but didn't win! The musical score was really beautiful and went along very well with the story and the events of WWI. "The Dark Angel" did win one Oscar though and that was for best art design and I mean the sets are beautiful! Available on VHS, this is a must see!
7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
The Bright Side of Darkness ***1/2, 12 May 2006
Author: edwagreen from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
A story of misunderstanding among friends with tragedy resulting and an uplifting of the human spirit. This marks the 1935 film "The Dark Angel."
Fred March, Merle Oberon and Herbert Marshall are childhood friends in England. When they grow up, World War 1 has begun and March and Marshall serve in the British army. March and Oberon are lovers. Marshall is foolishly led to believe that March is with another woman right before battle. Angry, he sends March out in a mission and the latter is killed. When he discovers the truth, he is guilt ridden as is Oberon for she was the woman who was with March that night. Had she not insisted that she be with him, Allen (March) would still be alive.
Time tries to heal wounds. 3 years passes and Marshall and Oberon have forgiven themselves and plan to wed.
The chance meeting with a blinded March is memorable. The latter tries to shield his blindness but the truth again merges in a beautiful ending. March, who couldn't bring himself to go to his friends as a blind man, finds compassion once again in the arms of Miss Oberon.
Beautifully done.
6 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Interesting remake, 4 June 2006
Author: xredgarnetx from Connecticut
This remake of DARK ANGEL is worth watching for three things, and those things are the stars: March, Marshall and Oberon. The plot is more than ridiculous, so concentrate on the acting. Marshall, who actually sustained a serious leg injury during WWI, is perfectly cast as a military veteran haunted by a decision that may have taken the life of his childhood friend, played by March. March, who was blinded but not killed as a result of that decision, plays "dead" and assumes a new identity. Oberon is their childhood sweetheart; she planned to marry March but presuming him to be dead, settles for Marshall. The three meet in March's cottage at the climax. Marshall has bearing, Oberon is drop dead gorgeous, and March is wonderfully restrained as the blind putz. The music is gorgeous, the cinematography is crisp. Be prepared to pull out some tissues or a big hankie for the climax. March shot this soon after making DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, which is one of his greatest flicks.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Great Film Classic From the 30's, 7 November 2006
Author: whpratt1 from United States
This 1935 film was well produced and directed and had a great cast of dramatic Classic Actors, who were all super stars during the 20's, 30's and into the 40's. Merle Oberon, (Kitty Vane),"Interval",'73, plays a young woman who is really in love with two men in her life, which creates a sort of triangle situation and causes her great mental suffering. Fredric March,(Alan Trent),"The Iceman Cometh",'72 plays a boyhood friend to Kitty Vane and comes home with a great disability which he does not want Kitty to know about. Herbert Marshall,(Gerald Shannon),"Midnight Lace",'60 is also in love with Kitty and the possibility of their getting married is becoming quite certain. This film will keep you interested if you like old time actors and films made in 1935. Enjoy
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Merle is effective in a weepie from the Golden Age..., 5 November 2006
Author: Neil Doyle from U.S.A.
Handsomely photographed and nicely scored romantic drama from Samuel Goldwyn about a childhood friendship between three people that develops into an intense romantic triangle.
MERLE OBERON, FREDRIC MARCH and HERBERT MARSHALL have the pivotal roles as star-crossed lovers during the World War I period. Unfortunately, the three leads are lifelong friends destined to have their lives shattered by the war. Love, guilt and fate play a part in their lives when March is blinded but keeps away from Oberon, unable to tell her the truth and letting her think he's died. As for the rest of the plot, with a screenplay by Lillian Hellman, you have to watch the film.
Nobody stumbles in any of the roles and, in fact, MERLE OBERON won her only Best Actress nomination as Kitty, warm and appealing as the romantic interest of both men. The tearful final reunion scene will remind you of the final touching scene from RANDOM HARVEST where Smitty and his lost love find each other again.
Modern viewers beware. You'll probably find some of the tear-jerking moments a bit too mawkish but remember, this was the 1930s.
Trivia note: Oberon was photographed much more flatteringly in another film she appeared in that year, THE SCARLET PIMPERNELL. What a difference a more flattering hairdo and period costumes make!!
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
World War I love triangle, 15 June 2006
Author: blanche-2 from United States
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.
3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Set during "The Great War", tear jerker needs patience to enjoy the good parts., 11 May 2006
Author: Fisher L. Forrest (fisherforrest@jeffnet.org) from Jacksonville, Oregon, USA
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
One is disposed to like this 5 hankie weeper about a soldier blinded during a WWI recon mission, which along with a sojourn in a German military hospital, prevents his being reunited with his sweetheart of many years. Reported dead, this unbelievable knucklehead is too chicken to face family and friends as a blind man, so he elects to take a false name and live apart. Actually, he lives only a few miles from the folks who would desperately like to have him back alive, in any condition. Of course,they don't know about the blindness. Well, that's the situation. Even though I checked the spoiler box to be safe, I will say no more about the denouement. If you don't boil over with impatience at such a protagonist, there are some good things to enjoy. Merle Oberon, mainly! She's the sweetheart, but a vacillating one in the early stages who can't make up her mind between two fellows, who are either friends or cousins, or maybe both. The film is a little vague about this. When she does make a selection, there's some queer English law that prevents their immediate marriage before the guy ships out for France. Being practical folk in some respects, they decide to ignore the proprieties and spend their final night together. The "production code" being in effect in 1935, presumably all they do is drink champagne and eat chicken, but, alas, the guy is seen by an obnoxious poor relation heading upstairs, obviously bound for a tryst. The girl isn't seen, so when the twerp reports what he did see to the "other guy", this worthy severs his long time friendship. This enmity is an unintended cause of the wounding, blinding and capture earlier mentioned. Both the "girl" and the "other guy" thus believe they were responsible for their friend's death. That's enough to get you interested. While reaching for another Kleenex, note some lovely views of the English countryside, enjoy the antics of two cute little girl actresses, and have a look at attractive Frieda Inescourt as "Miss Wise". She is the blind guy's secretary. Oh, yes. He became a writer of children's novels, and seems to enjoy quite a lush life style on the proceeds.
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Effective World War I -Era Soaper, 28 January 2007
Author: robem1984 from United States
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
This was the film that helped boost Merle Oberon's career to new heights. She received her only Oscar nod for portraying Kitty Vane, the childhood sweetheart of Allen (Fredric March). The two plan to be married before the onset of WWI but are unable to because Allen is redeployed. So, as fate has it tragedy ensues and she ends up marrying Allen's brother George (Herbert Marshall). I'm not giving away the rest of the film. Great film score by Albert Neumann and a wonderful production from Samuel Goldwyn compliment the three leads. The film was reportedly a major success in 1935. For those interested it was previously filmed in 1925 with Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky in the March and Oberon roles, respectively. The film also stars Frieda Inescort.
1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
pretty good but also pretty predictable and contrived,...in the end, it's saved by the excellent acting, 25 September 2006
Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
I enjoyed watching this film but also knew as I was watching it that this movie was a bit flawed. However, despite some shortcomings in the script, the acting was so good that I could ignore the problems and focus on all the good in the film. In so many ways this is a very lovely film to watch--with excellent direction, cinematography and music combining with the acting to make the film quite magical at times. The romance between the two leads is quite touching and the film nearly brought me to tears on several occasions.
Unfortunately, the script was at times like a roller-coaster--being occasionally both wonderful as well as clichéd and silly. The central issue that the movie eventually revolves around is Frederic March's blindness caused by an injury in WWI. Because of the fabulous buildup of his relationship with Merle Oberson from childhood infatuation to their ALMOST getting married during the war, March's decision when he's blinded in the war to run away and create an all new life just seems contrived and senseless. It's more like it's a plot device and not the way a real person would act. In addition, Oberon's apparent "ESP" that allows her to KNOW March was injured in the war just seemed irrelevant and dumb--especially since her ESP wasn't able to let her know that March was in fact alive and hiding his blindness! This "extra sense" aspect of some films just seems like a big cliché to me. However, my advice is do NOT give up on this movie but appreciate all the good it has. It still is a very good and worth while film.
2 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Dated Romance, 27 January 2007
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York
The Dark Angel is notable for Merle Oberon's debut in an American made film and Sam Goldwyn spared no expense for her. The film did win an Oscar for Set Decoration and Merle got an Academy Award nomination. In the last year the Academy allowed write-ins, Oberon and the four others competing in the Best Actress category lost to Bette Davis in Dangerous.
Originally The Dark Angel was a flop play on Broadway by Guy Bolton writing under the pseudonym of H.B. Trevelyan and only ran 63 performances in the 1925 season. It fared better on screen where Fredric March's and Merle Oberon's parts are played by the then popular silent screen team of Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky.
Had Colman done the sound version he might have made The Dark Angel stand up better than it does today. March and the rest of the cast try hard enough, but the whole thing comes up a bit silly today.
Fredric March and Herbert Marshall are a couple of friendly rivals for the hand of Merle Oberon in the days before World War I. March is of course a Canadian to explain is American speech pattern. Oberon picks March and Marshall takes it in good grace with proper stiff upper lip.
Later on they want to get married before he goes to the front and in typical army fashion, the red tape gets in the way. They are so in love that they spend the night together.
Though this leaves Merle none the worst for wear, when news of it gets out Marshall is most put out. When they get to the front he takes it out on March.
Today's audiences with changing attitudes are going to find all this really much ado about nothing. At least I thought so. Still the stars do give it their best, but the film really dates badly.
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