This Side of Heaven (1934)

Simply Perfect

Best movie of this year hands down!

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

This is a bit of an odd film. Although the wonderful Lionel Barrymore is the star here, he doesn't show up in the early minutes of the film at all. I thought -- what kind of film is this. It starts off so frivolously. But that is exactly what makes it an ultimately strong film.You might say that the theme of the film is that a family member can be hiding a terrible secret that could destroy him. Meanwhile, not knowing of the tragedy facing the family member, the rest of the family goes on with their lives, seriously bemoaning comparatively frivolous problems. It isn't that they're being selfish...just oblivious.Here, Lionel Barrymore (the father) is the family member in crisis -- about to be accused of embezzlement for something that was not his fault (although he knew of the indiscretion). His wife is abuzz with her sudden success as an author and screenwriter, and the young adult kids are wrapped up in fraternities and possible elopements.It's quite good, but the problem with this film is that the film comes to its high point and things are all resolved way to quickly. Why? Well, this film was made in the days of double features, so a film like this came in at under 80 minutes, where extending it to just another 10-15 minutes -- 90 minutes -- would have allowed for a tremendous improvement of the conclusion of the film. Instead, we see the buildup to crisis that seems to suddenly descend into an all too common "they all lived happily ever" after scenario that seems very weak.I almost always find Lionel Barrymore to be a very interesting actor, and I did again here. This was the wonderful Fay Bainter's first film role, and, as always, she's a gem. While the remainder of the cast are supporting actors who do their job, no one stands out, perhaps because the characters are not developed sufficiently. Perhaps the primary supporting actor was the young Tom Brown, who does fairly well as the son in this very old-fashioned film. Una Merkel is rather wasted in this film.Despite these criticisms, this film is worth watching because of its two stars -- Barrymore and Bainter -- a classic pairing. And, this is that unusual early film that dealt with attempted suicide. Maybe with the limitations of 1934, it's pretty decent.

Compelling hokum. Lionel Barrymore, in a variation of his trod-upon tycoon from "Dinner at Eight," plays the doting, selfless head of an insensitive, selfish family. Wife Fay Bainter, having just sold a novel to the movies, is on a spending spree before heading to Hollywood; son Tom Brown has his heart set on joining a college fraternity; elder daughter Mae Clark is torn between two lovers; dithery sister Mary Carlisle has thoughts of eloping with her nitwit boyfriend.Meanwhile, Barrymore is facing scandal and prison on a trumped-up embezzlement charge, a crisis he withholds from his self-absorbed brood. Will the family rally to his side before he ends it all in suicide? The film is so cunningly constructed that we squirm in suspense in spite of our conviction that all must end well. It's the kind of skillful schmaltz that leaves you feeling at once satisfied and foolish. With Una Merkel as a knuckleheaded maid, saving Louise Beavers and Hattie MacDaniel the indignity of demeaning themselves.

The mother of three young adults, first time novelist Fay Bainter (as Francene E. Turner) has just sold her story to a Hollywood studio. Citing his mom as a famous writer, handsome son Tom Brown (as Seth) hopes to join a college fraternity. Eldest daughter Mae Clarke (as Jane) is a young schoolteacher courted by newspaperman Eddie Nugent (as Vance Patterson), although she plans to marry auditor Onslow Stevens (as Walter Hamilton). Youngest daughter Mary Carlisle (as Peggy) is old enough to go out to the movies with date Henry Wadsworth (as Hal Jennings), and think about eloping...The excitement and happiness in the family is threatened when father Lionel Barrymore (as Martin Turner) is accused of embezzlement. To prevent both scandal and financial ruin awaiting his family, Mr. Barrymore decides to take drastic action...This story starts out slow and builds, due to a good cast presented nicely by director William K. Howard. In her search for an ice pick, comic relief maid Una Merkel (as Birdie) manages to be more amusing than annoying. Likewise the stereotypical interior decorator Bobby Watson (as Mr. Worthington) who agrees drapes are "too gay." There is especially fine work from Barrymore, who can sometimes upstage his co-stars. Handing their dramatics especially well are Ms. Bainter and Mr. Brown, who are good with and without Barrymore sharing the screen. This was the first film for Bainter, a stage veteran.******* This Side of Heaven (2/2/34) William K. Howard ~ Lionel Barrymore, Fay Bainter, Tom Brown, Mae Clarke

The Turner Classic Network showed this film this evening, and it is well acted if a bit pat. Lionel Barrymore plays a company director who has been co-signing a series of checks that Edwin Maxwell (one of his partners) has been pushing on him as part of a scheme to save the firm during the depression. But he announces that the scheme is not working, and that it is a matter of time that the auditors (who are coming in a day) will uncover the defalcation that has occurred. Barrymore goes home worrying about the future. His home-life is usually a happy one, but he is aware of changes threatening his family's unity. His son (Tom Brown)is going to college, and trying to get into a prestigious fraternity. His younger daughter is also beginning a college career, but has fallen for one of the son's friends. His older daughter has two competing boyfriends, a reporter (Onslow Stevens) and an accountant (Edward Nugent), and has just announced the engagement to the accountant. And his wife (Fay Bainter) has written a novel that a Hollywood studio has optioned. Barrymore decides to commit suicide, after making certain that everything is set up for his family to continue. The defalcation is discovered by his potential son-in-law, who warns him and "gives him a chance" to flee before it is revealed (Maxwell has fled). In the meantime his younger daughter has almost gotten married, but stopped when she finds a cryptic note from Barrymore, and the son suffers a social disappointment and an automobile accident. But Barrymore returns home to commit suicide. Will he succeed or will he pull himself together to save his family.In some ways his performance here as Martin Turner, the businessman facing ruin and disgrace, is similar to his shipping tycoon in DINNER AT EIGHT, also facing business reverses. But Oliver, the shipping tycoon, never planned to kill himself (he had a serious heart condition that the pressures of his situation was worsening). His family is smaller (just the socially pretentious Billie Burke and his daughter). Martin Turner has a larger family with more individual problems that pull them apart. But in both films, when his physical situation and his social position are threatened, his family does reunite to save him. But while circumstances in DINNER AT EIGHT help force Oliver's wife and daughter to come back to their senses, it is the seriousness of Martin's problems that cause the Turners to circle their wagons around their family head.Barrymore was a fine actor, but he frequently had a tendency to hamminess (as did his brother John), but here he shows great restraint due to the circumstances of the story. As a result his performance here is pretty solid - one of his best. As for Bainter and the others they give good support. A soap opera tale, but it is a first rate production well worth watching.