Wonder Bar

Watch: Wonder Bar

3/31/19341h 24m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Warner Bros.' Wonder Show of the Century! ~

Overview:

Harry and Inez are a dance team at the Wonder Bar. Inez loves Harry, but he is in love with Liane, the wife of a wealthy business man. Al Wonder and the conductor/singer Tommy are in love with Inez. When Inez finds out that Harry wants to leave Paris and is going to the USA with Liane, she kills him.

Director:

Lloyd Bacon

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

death
pre-code
black face

Cast

Al Jolson

~ as ~

Al Wonder

Kay Francis

~ as ~

Liane Renaud

Dolores del Río

~ as ~

Inez

Ricardo Cortez

~ as ~

Harry

Dick Powell

~ as ~

Tommy

Guy Kibbee

~ as ~

Henry Simpson

Ruth Donnelly

~ as ~

Emma Simpson

Hugh Herbert

~ as ~

Corey Pratt

Louise Fazenda

~ as ~

Pansy Pratt

Hal Le Roy

~ as ~

Himself

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

J
JF1017xyz
Written 3 year(s) ago
5
I found this movie to be a bid off-putting. The plot line of the woman crazed with love for her gigolo boyfriend while two potential paramours waited in the wings was fairly standard. However, Jolson's portrayal of Al Wonder, nightclub owner who not only covers up the murder of Inez's partner but seems impervious to the news that his driver has also been killed in an auto accident, makes his character appear psychopathic instead of compassionate.

Many of today's viewers will be upset with the grand finale, which has Jolson and backup singers and dancers in blackface. This is obviously a scene that is meant to showcase Al Jolson. The number actually seems contrived and out of place in the movie, and is a bit of a distraction from the story line.

In the end, Dick Powell's character wins Inez's heart, leaving Wonder to live with the knowledge that he helped a murderess get away and got nothing for his efforts. But his last line, "There's nothing more for me to do but go home" reinforces the idea that empathy or a conscience are lacking.