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Journal of a Crime

Journal of a Crime

  • Status: Released
  • 10-03-1934
  • Runtime: 65 min
  • Score: 5.7
  • Vote count: 13

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

Ruth Chatterton

Francoise Mollet

Adolphe Menjou

Paul Mollet

Claire Dodd

Odette Florey

George Barbier

Chautard

Douglass Dumbrille

Cartier (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Noel Madison

Costelli

Henry O'Neill

Doctor

Phillip Reed

Young Man at Party

Henry Kolker

Henri Marcher

Frank Reicher

Herr Winterstein

Edward McWade

Rigaud

Walter Pidgeon

Florestan

Frank Darien

Stage Manager

Clay Clement

Inspector

Elsa Janssen

Frau Winterstein

Bess Flowers

Party Guest (uncredited)

Lowden Adams

Paul's Valet (uncredited)

George Blackwood

Man at Play Party (uncredited)

Maurice Brierre

Bank Teller (uncredited)

Sidney D'Albrook

Truck Driver (uncredited)

Jane Darwell

Dinner Guest (uncredited)

Jean De Briac

Butler (uncredited)

Lester Dorr

Cartier's Secretary (uncredited)

Harold Entwistle

George - Man with Toby (uncredited)

Virginia Hammond

Dinner Guest (uncredited)

Ann Hovey

Chorus Girl Smoking Cigarette (uncredited)

Olaf Hytten

Victor - Butler (uncredited)

Lorena Layson

Chorus Girl #3 (uncredited)

Marjorie Lytell

Chorus Girl Lighting Cigarette (uncredited)

Mary MacLaren

Dinner Guest (uncredited)

George Magrill

Ambulance Man (uncredited)

Claire McDowell

Sister at Hospital (uncredited)

Paul Panzer

Truck Driver (uncredited)

Edward Peil Sr.

Jailer (uncredited)

Rosalie Roy

Chorus Girl #1 (uncredited)

C. Montague Shaw

Ambassador at Dinner Party (uncredited)

Larry Steers

Celebrant (uncredited)

Maidel Turner

Stout Lady at Play Party (uncredited)

Ellinor Vanderveer

Ambassador's Wife (uncredited)

Renee Whitney

Woman Talking to Man at Play Party (uncredited)

Pat Wing

Chorus Girl #2 (uncredited)

Harry Woods

Detective with Inspector (uncredited)

Hazel Hayes

Mme. Monette Razier - Odette's Replacement (uncredited)

CinemaSerf

"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.