ShangLuda Admirable film.

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

MartinHafer In 1921, Norma Shearer starred in her first film, "Sign on the Door". It wasn't a very good film then and when they remade it in 1929 as a sound picture, it wasn't much better. Both films suffered from a major problem--if the wife had just talked to her loving husband, all this could have been avoided. Plus, the ending really was awfully dumb.When the film begins, Ann (Barbara Stanwyck) is in a room aboard his yacht. While Frank's friends are drinking themselves into oblivion, he's attempting to rape this nice young lady. Fortunately, a police raid on the yacht stops him from completing his assault.18 months pass. Ann is now happily married to Larry (William Boyd*). But Larry's sister brings home a new man in her life...and it turns out to be the blackguard, Frank!!! Now Ann should have just told everyone about that event 18 months ago but instead she later goes to his apartment to beg him to leave her sister-in-law alone. Soon, Larry arrives and shoots Frank...and leaves Ann locked in the room with the dying man! What's next? Well, if you see the film, you honestly won't care in the least, as the last 15 minutes of the film are just terrible...unbelievable and rather silly as well.I hate films where a person simply explaining things could have prevented a whole lotta trouble. Plus, the last 15 minutes are just god-awful and stupid. Fortunately, despite these problems, this first starring role for Barbara Stanwyck wasn't too bad, as she soon went on to better and bigger things.*This William Boyd is NOT the famous William Boyd, also known later as Hoppalong Cassidy. Hoppy was a very famous actor in the late 2os and into the 30s. The one in this film is the less famous and non- cowboy version!

Forn55 The first, starring movie vehicle of a very young Barbara Stanwyck, "The Locked Door" isn't a good film, but still worth seeing for the magnetic aura that already surrounds its leading lady. This early "talkies" movie comes from the era when stage actors and silent film stars were just beginning to make the transition to sound and -- to tell the truth -- many of them hadn't yet found their "sea legs" on the sound stages of Hollywood. Histrionics more appropriate to the live stage are greatly in evidence in this predictable murder mystery, which perhaps isn't surprising given the fact that the movie was adapted from an earlier stage play. Particularly egregious in that regard are the performances of Stanwyck's co-stars, William Boyd and Rod La Rocque who indulge themselves in hammy, wooden (Boyd) and oily (La Rocque) characterizations. But there's a most entertaining cameo performance by Zasu Pitts as a telephone operator, and Stanwyck, herself, gives a sure and carefully calculated performance as a woman wronged who goes to great lengths to save her sister-in-law (Betty Bronson) from a similar fate. Veteran "silents" director George Fitzmaurice is in control here, and while his direction isn't especially memorable (and how could it be given the script with its jaw-dropping coincidences and deus ex machinae?) he at least has the sense to keep the camera on Stanwyck as much as possible and let her emote. See "The Locked Door" for Stanwyck if you must, but don't expect to see an overlooked, early screen gem. It isn't.

kidboots For a while Betty Bronson looked like the natural successor to Mary Pickford's mantle of "America's Sweetheart". She was plucked from obscurity to achieve international stardom in "Peter Pan" but Paramount's indecision about how to showcase her talent not only stalled her career but ruined the studio's chance to develop her as one of their rising stars. By the time the "talkies" arrived - she was relegated to second female leads, unfortunately she didn't stand out from the crowd. Especially when she was playing opposite a new arrival from Broadway - Barbara Stanwyck.Secretary Ann (Barbara Stanwyck) is being wined and dined at an exclusive yacht party (that is serving illegal liquor beyond the twelve mile limit) by playboy Frank Devereux (Rod La Rocque). He wants a "good" time regardless of Ann's feelings but, like the cavalry, the booze police raid the liner, when it strays inside the limit and save Ann from a fate worse than death!!!Eighteen months later, Ann is happily married to wealthy Larry (William "Stage" Boyd). His sister, Helen, (adorable Betty Bronson) has some news of her own, she is completely smitten with - you guessed it, Frank Devereaux, who is trying out the same caveman tactics with her, before going to Hawaii the next day!!! Frank is in hot water - he has broken up the marriage of Larry's best friend Dixon and Dixon is out to kill him. Ann quickly flies to Frank's apartment, hoping to intercept Helen, who has secretly gone to keep a dinner rendezvous with him - even though she has been forbidden!!! Devereux's flat then becomes "Grand Central Station", as first Ann, then Larry file in for assorted showdowns. Devereux is murdered and it is no secret that Larry is the culprit. Ann has come in early and is hiding upstairs - Larry doesn't know she is there and locks the flat on his way out. Ann then goes into her act and before the night is over she has convincingly persuaded the police that she is the murderer. A surprising twist is the detective on the case, who reveals he was a plant on the booze liner, as the dopey waiter, who served Frank and Ann and can vouch for Ann's innocence. The film might be a yawn but Stanwyck isn't. She was a natural and convincing actress and while the other cast members try their best to pronounce all their words correctly, Barbara sounds and acts as though she has been acting in talkies for years - amazing for a stage actress!!!Recommended for Stanwyck.

st-shot This unintentionally funny drama is an excellent example of how bad early sound films could be. The story is ridiculous, the sound understandably bad, the actors either wooden or overwrought clichés and the morality issues of honor that drive the plot arcane even for the 20's. Afterall it was the Jazz Age.Helen Reagan daughter of wealthy social register hot shot Lawrence Reagan falls for the charms of worldly playboy/gigolo Frank Devereaux. When scandal threatens her honor, Devereaux ex and Reagan current Ann Carter steps in to save her. Carter visits Devereaux at his lair to attempt to dissuade him but fails miserably, facing blackmail herself. Reagan then shows up gets in a struggle with Devereaux and mortally wounds him (though he does hang on beyond films end to exonerate the lot) then covers up by locking the entrance door from the outside and in the process traps Ann, who unknown to Reagan witnesses the murder. The police arrive along with the DA who feels that it is the appropriate time to cross examine suspects and witnesses. This is when the ham starts to get sliced by the pound. The DA goes into courtroom histrionics as he badgers witnesses and when this stalls the cliché cops offer to pummel the uncooperative with "the third degree". In the meantime Devereaux lies dying in the bedroom. No rush or need to get him to a hospital.The Locked Door is so bad it's good. Barbara Stanwyck as Ann makes plenty of rookie mistakes in her first talkie and dissipated William "Stage" Boyd as Reagan looks disturbingly cadaverous in heavy make-up. Rod La Roque as the bon vivant seducer is pure pine but his relationship with his valet (George Bunny) is interesting and in its own way touching. The one performer not to embarrass herself is Zasu Pitts as the telephone operator. As the films only intended comic relief she comes through with flying colors amid this wreck of a picture.