Copyright 29 October 1929 by Feature Productions. Released through United Artists: 16 November 1929. New York opening at the Rialto: 19 January 1930. 8 reels. 6,844 feet. 76 minutes.SYNOPSIS: When a notorious cad (La Rocque) attempts to seduce the hero's (William Boyd's) young sister (Betty Bronson), the hero's wife (Stanwyck) decides to take matters into her own hands. NOTES: A re-make of the 1921 Norma Talmadge vehicle, The Sign on the Door. Lew Cody played the villain. Herbert Brenon directed. Pollock's play opened at the Republic, Broadway, 19 December 1919, and ran 187 performances. Mary Ryan, Lowell Sherman and Lee Baker starred. COMMENT: In her first talkie (and second movie) feisty Barbara Stanwyck expertly handles the sort of role she would continue to play for the rest of her career. With the exception of ZaSu Pitts (in a small role here), her co-players were not so fortunate. Why? From this evidence they just weren't sufficiently talented. Admittedly, our heroine has the best of the action (the scene in which she wanders distraught around the darkened stage is a knock-out), but with two or three exceptions (George Bunny is particularly effective), the other players are neither competent nor confident. Fitzmaurice's direction relies solidly on the techniques of a photographed play.

The first five minutes need to go viral on YouTube to prove to young people there is nothing new under the sun. It is a brilliant portrait of the bright young things getting s**t-faced on a boat, especially the women (all women the following: "I want a drink. I want a drink!! I want a drink!! I want a drink!!!"; and "I want a high ball. I want a high ball! I want two highballs!!"; and finally "I want two quarts of gin."). It is a priceless portrait of the emancipated flapper misbehaving! For old movie snobs, La Roque is an interesting villain - see why his career when nowhere with the talkies - he does villainous too believably for the audience of that era to ever let him have a mainstream role again. Stanwyck shows her chops, though she has yet to get her full form and is a little stagy.And you might enjoy the lipstick on Willian 'Stage' Boyd, not well done, but Mr Boyd clearly enjoys wearing it - checking out his bio, I am wondering if he was a bad, bad bisexual - the orientation everyone loves to hate? A young death at 46, so it would make sense that he was abandoned by both men and women...

Locked Door, The (1929) ** (out of 4) Dry crime melodrama about a woman (Barbara Stanwyck) who gets herself arrested while on a rum boat with the lavish Frank Devereaux (Rod La Rocque). Eighteen months later she is married to another man (William Boyd) but she soon learns that his sister is now involved with Frank. This early talkie from United Artist has pretty much been forgotten with the exception that it will stand the test of time as being Stanwyck's first major role as her previous film had her in a bit role. As with many early talkies, the technology leaves a lot to be desired and I can't help but think that the director wasn't too worried with what was happening on the screen as he was making sure everyone could hear what was going on. The film is incredibly dry of any humor, suspense or drama and that's a real shame because the story is actually pretty good as all four characters get involved with a possible murder towards the end of the film. This murder happens an hour into a 74-minute film so the payoff comes rather quickly but the ending is certainly the best thing about the movie. Stanwyck comes off fairly good in her role but there's no doubt she still had some rust around the edges. La Rocque comes off incredibly over the top as if he was playing in some sort of strange comedy and I can only compare him to what people would see decades later in John Waters. Boyd is pretty good in his role and actually steals the film, although Zasu Pitts has a few good scenes as a telephone operator.

Stagy but clever murder mystery with Barbara Stanwyck in her talkie debut and the center of attention.The copy I have has a missing scene but this is still an effective if stagy and slightly hammy film.Stanwyck is a secretary who goes to a boat party with the boss's son and maybe gets raped (that scene is missing) and raided by the police. She and the son skip bail and disappear. 18 months later we find Stanwyck happily married to a wealthy man (William Boyd) when his sister's new boy friend shows up. Yup it's the sleazy son (Rod LaRocque) with a new name. The sister (Betty Bronson) is gaga over him but Stanwyck is horrified.Stanwyck overhears their plans to run off to Honolulu so she decides to pay LaRocque a visit. But unbeknown to her, her husband is also planning a visit because he has been warned about the boy friend.Stanwyck arrives at LaRocque's apartment and starts a fight but is interrupted when the husband arrives. The guys scuffle and a gun goes off. Husband leaves and locks the door, trapping Stanwyck (hiding in a bedroom) in the apartment with the corpse. She thinks fast, rips her dress and calls the operator, pretending to fend off an attacker and firing the gun.Both Stanwyck and Boyd eventually admit to the killing but then Bronson shows up.....Supporting cast includes Zasu Pitts as the operator, Mack Swain as the manager, George Bunny as the valet, Purnell Pratt is a police man, and Harry Stubbs is the surprising waiter.Neat little film apparently lost for decades.