Operator 13 (1934)

Undescribable Perfection

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Always liked Marion Davies in most of her films. She always played good-natured, cheerful parts in which you can root for her character. But I guess everyone's entitled to a clinker once in a while, and I thought "Operator 13" is hers. She is hard to believe as a Northern spy in blackface - she doesn't look like a black person at all, and in real life would fool no one. Her makeup as a white spy looks laid on with a trowel, and in addition she doesn't sing well when called upon.The plot itself is a good one and is handled well by underrated director Boleslawski, who died too soon. The scenes of intrigue and espionage are very good, as are the few fight and battle scenes, but the picture goes downhill in the love scenes between Davies and Gary Cooper. The dialogue here seems forced and Davies tries too hard to play an ardent lover. Rest of the cast is excellent with several recognizable character actors, including Ted Healy (minus the 3 Stooges) as a Union Captain.

SPOILERS -- Annoying. Some annoying things in this film... I'm sure some of that is the black-face, the white person imitating a black person in such a racial, stereo-typed manner. But it's a little insulting that just everyone buys into the silly make-up and silly accent on Marion Davies, as she plays Lucille, the black maid, who is really a spy. As someone else pointed out, they break into song every couple of minutes. ( "Sleepy Head" by the Mills Brothers is actually quite well done.) The plot here is secondary... every now and then they stop singing to pretend the the Civil War is going on around them. Dramatic scene where "the maid" has to give evidence against a fellow spy, her friend, in the name of duty. Gary Cooper is in here, ostensibly co-starring. Some other fun cameos in here -- Sidney Toler, Hattie McDaniel, Sterling Holloway, Curly Howard. There's a skeleton of a plot in here, but I wish they had used more plot and less music. Davies, singing "Once in a LifeTime" as she swings, is just ridiculous. She did successfully jump from silents to talkies, but only made a couple more films after Operator 13. Much debate over whether the Hearst connection actually helped or hindered Davies' career. This one is okay. I was pretty surprised at the high rating, but it is only the result of 1000 votes so far. Gets better as it goes along. Directed by Richard Boleslawski, who died young a couple years after making this.

We all pretty much know that Marion Davies will always be known as the "kept" girl of William Randolph Hearst but for a fleeting time she had a basic acting career...and not even Hearst's oodles of money could have made her big.To be fair, Davies was actually a fairly good comedienne. Try Cain and Mabel and see. In this she gets to show off both sides...Comedy and Drama...but in the end this film is just pretty ordinary.The plot itself is a pretty interesting premise. The northern Spy network during the Civil War decides to try out a young actress as a spy in a Southern area. She decides to dress in black face and play a light skinned black slave girl. Her partner in this caper is a seasoned actress who has done a few jobs for the network and they both are sent to the South to steal enemy troop placements. They succeed but Davies falls in love with a Southern Spy master played by Gary Cooper.Your not gonna be real surprised by anything in this old and dated film but the real treat is seeing the Mills Brothers sing. They have a couple of amazing numbers in this. Seeing Marion Davies playing black-face isn't too huge a deal but she does her best. Gary Cooper is as wooden as he always was.Watching this you'll see why Ms. Davies decided to skip acting altogether and let her sugar daddy take care of her. Knowing what we all know now, it was a wise move.

During the United States Civil War, singer Marion Davies (as Gail Loveless) is recruited to become a spy for the North. Darkening her skin and hair, speaking in husky drawl, and codenamed "Operator 13", Ms. Davies becomes the "Negro" maid working for Katharine Alexander (as Pauline "Operator 27" Cushman). While in her African guise, Davies meets handsome young Gary Cooper (as Jack Gailliard), a confederate spy. Believe it or not, romance ensues… Davies found her niche in a series of fine late 1920s silent comedies. Then, she braved a successful, albeit shaky, transition to talking films. But, by "Operator 13", Davies was back in the inappropriate film rut earlier represented by films like "Janice Meredith". This was the type of film sponsor William Randolph Hearst seemed to want for Davies, and she did not learn how to market herself honestly. It gets better after Davies washes the black paint off her face. George Folsey's photography received an "Academy Award" nomination. And, The Mills Brothers are wonderful.**** Operator 13 (6/8/34) Richard Boleslawski ~ Marion Davies, Gary Cooper, Jean Parker, Katharine Alexander