Double Door

5/4/19341h 15m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ The Female of the Species is More Deadly Than the Male! ~

Overview:

In 1910 Manhattan, Victoria Van Brett, a bitter spinster heiress lives an isolated life with her sister Caroline. Her domineering urges go into overdrive when their half-brother Rip brings a new bride home to the family’s gloomy Fifth Avenue mansion, built by their late industrialist father. The title refers to a secret soundproofed chamber that the villainess uses to entrap her enemies.

Director:

Charles Vidor

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

held captive
wedding ceremony
heiress
pre-code
bitterness
evil woman
spinsters
half sister
1910s
manipulative sister
secret chamber
wicked woman
threatened woman
secret room
overbearing sister
controlling sister
older sister younger brother
sisters relationship
trapped in a room
oppressive home
domineering sister

Cast

Evelyn Venable

~ as ~

Anne Darrow

Mary Morris

~ as ~

Victoria Van Brett

Anne Revere

~ as ~

Caroline Van Brett

Kent Taylor

~ as ~

Rip Van Brett

Guy Standing

~ as ~

Mortimer Neff

Colin Tapley

~ as ~

Dr. John Lucas

Virginia Howell

~ as ~

Avery

Halliwell Hobbes

~ as ~

Mr. Chase

Frank Dawson

~ as ~

Telson

Helen Shipman

~ as ~

Louise

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

dennyjt
Written 1 year(s) ago
8
“The play that made Broadway Gasp!” This is a gripping melodrama, anchored by a fearsome performance by Morris as a controlling, maniacal mother to Taylor, determined to sabotage his marriage to winsome Venable. It was to be her only film appearance, although she had a fruitful stage career. Her simpering servant is played by Revere, in her debut, as a woman who is the constant victim of her mistress’ cruelty, who suffers in silence. The two males, Taylor and doctor Tapley, who offers solace to Venable, are both rather wet but offer her stolid support. The picture builds tension as Morris enacts her plan to cut Venable from her boy’s life until a stunning climax and a ghastly cackle bring it to a close. Mostly set in one room but this does not distract or weaken the strength of the situation and the rivetting Morris dominates it all.