This is How Movies Should Be Made

A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

There are a few films that simply defy description. In the early days of sound, every movie seemed to be an experiment of some type. Some have held up quite well, but most are only of interest to historians and buffs. A few are simply unbelievable. Golden Dawn, for example, leaves audiences totally speechless (that Oscar Hammerstein II contributed to this disaster is fascinating).For many years, the three MGM films that Cecil B. DeMille were rarely seen nor discussed. When they were finally unearthed, "Dynamite" turned out to be rather good, particularly since it had great performances by Charles Bickford and Kay Johnson. "The Squaw Man" has its champions, but not many; it was clearly a hand-me-down from a different era. It was DeMille's second MGM film that is remembered more than the other two. As other reviews state, it is one of the strangest movies made by any director. The fact that it was made by DeMille makes it truly a cult item.First of all, what made DeMille think that a movie about infidelity among the rich would bring in audiences in the first wave of the depression? Clearly this was supposed to be a drawing-room comedy that had a lot of music and singing. The script is woefully unfunny and dated even for 1930, with everyone trying too hard (Roland Young and Reginald Denny are just plain embarrassing). Johnson was a good actress, but I can't imagine any actress of the time pulling off this role. Modern day audiences scream with laughter when the first song is sung by Johnson's maid, as it comes from out of nowhere, and then Johnson 'talks' the rest of the song. Lillian Roth does the best she can, and actually adds some energy to a rather staid first-half. This first sequence is long and ultimately boring, being neither funny nor ultimately interesting.The second half is the party sequence on the zeppelin, something only DeMille could come up with. It's a pity that this was not released in color, as the costumes and overall set design are impressive even in black and white. This sequence is spectacular, surreal and beyond indulgent, and once again, depression audiences could not have taken comfort in the sheer waste of money that certainly shows on the screen. I would love to have seen Louis B. Mayer's face after seeing this movie.This is certainly worth a look once.

it's true this movie is annoying the main character, the woman, is truly annoying. the moments where it breaks into song are just awful. except one of the guys who does trixie's act is a great dancer, worth seeing.anyway on the zeppelin there are great costumes and a wonderful nikolai-esque dance sequence with wild costumes - fantasticfast forward to the dancing and the costumes the rest is awful although there was one good exchange when the husband says "I"m sorry" and the wife says "what good does that do?" and he replied, "I thought it might help". :)

A desperate wife disguises herself as the mysterious MADAME Satan in order to entice the attentions of her wayward husband.In 1928, movie magnet Cecil B. DeMille, usually associated with Paramount Studios, signed a three-picture contract with mighty MGM. The most exuberant result of this new association--the others were DYNAMITE (1929) and THE SQUAW MAN (1931)--was this bizarre, florid, highly unusual and very entertaining musical-comedy-soap opera which almost defies categorization in any other way than to simply say it is a 'DeMille Picture.'It was also the only musical he attempted (1930 was a year replete with singing stars enjoying--or abusing--the new sound technology) and perhaps that is a good thing, as the tunes here don't warble too well and are a bit of an embarrassment. Although the tale of marital infidelity which dominates the film's first half grows rather mawkish, DeMille awakes the audience in the second half by staging a naughty masquerade ball in a luxurious dirigible, no less, harbored high above New York City. Never one to let bad taste stand in his way, DeMille invites the viewer to wallow in Pre-Code purulence, before ending on a more moralistic note.Kay Johnson, a very talented & lovely actress who is now sadly forgotten, gives a lively performance as the abandoned wife determined to win back her fickle spouse. She deftly weaves between drama & spoofery, making her dynamically diabolic appearance as the title character at the airship ball both mysterious and alluring. As her husband, Reginald Denny comes across as much more one-dimensional and unsympathetic, but then his role is supposed to register as rather bland when compared to that of Miss Johnson.Owlish Roland Young is humorous, as always, this time playing Denny's best friend; his meek persona must hide a streak of wildness, however, to be able to host the truly bizarre zeppelin party. As Denny's young lover, Lillian Roth is all shrill, uncultured brashness--if this is what the director wanted, she hits the bulls-eye.Movie mavens will recognize DeMille's own voice as the radio announcer at the end of the film.

Bob (Reginald Deny) and Angela (Kay Johnson) are married...but not happily. Bob is cheating on his wife with Trixie (Lillian Roth). But Angela is determined to get him back. At a costume party held on a zeppelin (don't ask) she comes in disguise as Madam Satan to win him back. The plot is conventional at first. It starts off as a very poor, unfunny comedy drama with Angela discovering Bob is cheating and confronting Trixie. This is the entire first hour--chock full on horrendous dialogue, bad acting (Roth SCREAMS every line) and some of the worst comedy ever captured on film.I was ready to turn it off when the costume party started. It starts off with some VERY elaborate costumes (I wish this film had been made in color) and a strange musical number. Then Angela shows up as Satan and we get MORE wooden dialogue and silly lines between her Bob. It all ends with the zeppelin being hit by lightning and everybody having to parachute out.Sounds fun--but it's not. There are musical numbers sprinkled throughout the film--and all of them are bad. And this party aboard a zeppelin??? Is that a joke or are we supposed to take it seriously? But, most of all, this movie is just plain dull. The few good points are: a good performance by Johnson; Deny isn't bad either and he's tall, handsome and muscular; the costumes ARE incredible; the special effects aren't bad and this is one of the few films Lillian Roth made (too bad she's lousy).Worth seeing for film buffs--but nobody else.