The Locked Door

The Locked Door is a 1929 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and starring Rod LaRocque, Barbara Stanwyck, William "Stage" Boyd, and Betty Bronson. The film is based on the play The Sign on the Door by Channing Pollock.[1] The play was first adapted for the screen in 1921 as The Sign on the Door, starring Norma Talmadge.[2] The Locked Door was Barbara Stanwyck's second film appearance, first starring role, and first talking picture.

Lobby card
The Locked Door
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGeorge Fitzmaurice
Produced by
Written by
  • George Scarborough
  • Earle Browne
Screenplay byC. Gardner Sullivan
Based onThe Sign on the Door
by Channing Pollock
Starring
CinematographyRay June
Edited byHal Kern
Production
company
Feature Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • November 16, 1929 (1929-11-16) (USA)
Running time
74 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Ann Carter, an inexperienced young woman, accepts an invitation to dinner from Frank Devereaux, the son of her employer. The date turns out to be far from what she expects. It is aboard a "rum boat", a ship that sails beyond the 12 mile limit to get around the restrictions of Prohibition. Worse, Frank turns out to be a cad. When she tries to leave, he locks the door and tries to force himself on her, tearing her dress. The ship drifts back into U.S. waters and a police raid stops him from going any further. When a photographer takes a picture of the two under arrest, Frank buys it from him.

Eighteen months later, Ann is happily married to wealthy Lawrence Reagan. They are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary when Frank resurfaces in Ann's life, this time as the boyfriend of her naive young sister-in-law, Helen. Though both Ann and her husband tell Helen that Frank is no good, as Lawrence knows that Frank is having an affair with the wife of one of his friends, it is clear to Ann that Helen does not believe them.

Ann goes to Frank's apartment to stop him from taking advantage of Helen. She hides when Lawrence shows up unexpectedly. He warns Frank to leave town before Lawrence's friend catches up with him and shoots him. Frank had already planned to go, but when Lawrence declares that he intends to administer a beating first, Frank draws a gun. He is shot in the ensuing struggle. Lawrence leaves without being seen, unaware that his wife has heard the whole thing.

To protect her husband, Ann phones the switchboard operator and reenacts her earlier assault, ending with her firing two shots. When the police arrive, the district attorney soon pokes holes in her story. Also, the photograph is found, providing a motive for murder. However, Frank is not yet dead; in his last few minutes of life, he explains what really happened, exonerating both Ann and Lawrence.

Cast
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References
  1. White Munden, Kenneth, ed. (1997). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Feature Films, 1921-1930. University of California Press. p. 445. ISBN 0-520-20969-9.
  2. White Munden 1997 pp.715-716
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