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Journal of a Crime

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5.7/10 • 13

1934-03-101h 5m

CrimeThriller

Hell Hath No Fury Like a Wife Starved for Love!

A woman murders her husband's mistress and someone else gets accused of the crime.

Directors
William Keighley
Editors
James Gibbon

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Ruth Chatterton

    Ruth Chatterton

    Francoise Mollet

  2. Adolphe Menjou

    Adolphe Menjou

    Paul Mollet

  3. Claire Dodd

    Claire Dodd

    Odette Florey

  4. George Barbier

    George Barbier

    Chautard

  5. Douglass Dumbrille

    Douglass Dumbrille

    Cartier (as Douglas Dumbrille)

  6. Noel Madison

    Noel Madison

    Costelli

  7. Henry O'Neill

    Henry O'Neill

    Doctor

  8. Phillip Reed

    Phillip Reed

    Young Man at Party

  9. Henry Kolker

    Henry Kolker

    Henri Marcher

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jul 14, 2024

6/10

"Moliet" (Adolphe Menjou) is under pressure from his mistress "Odette" (Claire Dodd) to end his marriage and come live with her. He is reluctant, but his hand is forced when his wife (Ruth Chatterton) overhears a bit of conversation that causes her to preempt things by shooting her rival - conveniently, as it happens, as hoodlum "Costelli" is nearby, apprehended and convicted of the crime. Thing is, "Moliet" knows who really killed his lover and she knows he knows, so their home life becomes something quite attritional with "Francoise" determined to keep her man at all costs and he equally determined, though rather benignly, that she will come to terms with the ramifications of her actions and, he hopes, do the right thing. Will she, though? The film here isn't really anything more than a standard revenge drama, but Chatterton's role offers her a chance to play the increasingly troubled character with some deft. Her gradual realisation of the impact of her actions - on her, her husband and even on the man who will take the rap, gradually makes her ill and lifeless and she performs this latter part of the role so as to encourage us to feel almost sympathetic for her. Menjou does fine as a conduit for his co-star to shine here and though the denouement is a bit of a let down, it's still worth a watch to remember that Ruth Chatterton's move into sound pictures was a great deal smoother than many.

Media

  • Journal of a Crime poster
  • Journal of a Crime poster
  • Journal of a Crime poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
mistressguilteiffel tower, pariscatholic hospital