THE WOMAN CONDEMNED

Claudia Dell and Richard Hemingway

THE WOMAN CONDEMNED (1934). Director: Mrs. Wallace Reid (Dorothy Davenport).

Mediocre radio singer Jane Merrick (Lola Lane) confuses everyone, especially her boss and lover Jim (Jason Robards Sr. of Desperate), by taking off for unknown reasons and refusing to come out of her apartment. She gives instructions to her maid, Sally (Louise Beavers), that she is to tell everyone she is not at home. Then a woman named Barbara (Claudia Dell of The Lost City) is arrested when she is found sneaking around the tony apartment house where a woman is later found murdered. Reporter Jerry Beall (Richard Hemingway) goes to bat for Barbara when she's accused of the crime, and even winds up being married to her in court when he falsely tells one judge she is his fiancee. Confused? The Woman Condemned is suspenseful all right, primarily because you're wondering what the hell is going on and how these different people fit together. The solution is somewhat ridiculous, but what is especially mind-boggling is the silly reason for why Jane feels she needs to disappear. Director Dorothy Davenport, who had been married to the late Wallace Reid, an actor, was also an actress and she dabbled in writing and directing.She proves as adept as most of her male colleagues of the time. The cast in this is also adept, with Mischa Auer playing against type as a doctor. Richard Hemingway was a pleasing leading man -- despite his mild-mannered demeanor he was a boxing champion in real life -- but he had very few credits. Lola Lane [Deadline at Dawn] was one of the Lane sisters, Priscilla being the most successful.

Verdict: This holds the attention but there isn't much pay-off. **1/2.