Madame X (1929)

A young wife who left her husband and infant son for another man returns home when she hears the boy is sick. The husband, however, isn’t interested in reconciliation and tells her to leave, which sends her into a downward spiral of degradation over the next 20 years. She winds up on trial for murder of a con man, defended by her own son (though neither knows the other).

It’s all very tragic and terribly heavy handed.

C-

The Letter (1929)

Doesn't get anywhere near the Bette Davis-starring remake, but not bad. The leading lady is a little overwrought, like she was still finding her voice after years of silent movie acting, but it doesn’t ruin this nasty little story of adultery and murder.

B-

The Valiant (1929)

This is an odd-duck of a movie.  It's barely over an hour long and steadfastly keeps the viewer in the dark -- even after the credits roll.

Paul Muni earned his first nomination for his portrayal of a man who turns himself in for murder moments after committing it, but refuses to explain other than to say that the guy deserved it and he'll take his chances in front of God on the day of judgment in the afterlife.  He won't even give his name, going with "Dyke," a name he Keyser Soze'd off of a calendar in the police station.  Meanwhile, a small family a thousand miles away wonders if the mysterious murderer in the papers might be the son who left home 15 years prior.

The acting is barely there and it's kind to call the production as a whole "stiff," but I can't help but appreciate the film's choice keep its secrets.

C+

The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1929)

Con artist befriends some society boors in order to rob them during a country weekend. She is foiled by a would-be suitor who catches her in the almost-act and then is redeemed by choosing the high road which involves refusing to blackmail her hosts.  There’s a lazy romance shoved in around the edges, too. 

Eh.

C-

Alibi (1929)

The premise of "Alibi," one of the first gangster movies of the sound era, is pretty solid. A prisoner who's maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration is finally released from prison and into the arms of the girl who believed in him all along. Her dad's the cop who put him in jail in the first place, so he's less-than-happy about the arrangement.

The movie isn't what I'd call horrible, but the acting is. Most of it reminded me of the "Singing in the Rain" sequences where the former silent stars were overdoing everything -- apparently subtlety was off the menu and they had a choice of only wooden or hammy. The storyline, perhaps daring at the time, is fairly boring now.

But hey -- the art deco sets are awfully pretty and that's something.

C-

In Old Arizona (1929)

The only thing good about this was "the Cisco Kid" (and I think he was only comparatively good, actually). The wily female was just way too conscious of her mouth, which was apparently not used to speaking Spanish. Draggy and I often felt rather embarrassed for the lead lady.

D-

The Divine Lady (1929)

Cook's daughter rises to ambassadress and becomes a key figure in England's naval victories while also being the center of scandal. Not horrible, but pretty blah.

C-

The Broadway Melody (1929)

Compared to the other duds I've seen from this year, it's not bad. No one seems completely comfortable with their lines & some of the acting is a tad histrionic -- but the story's fine, though stretched about 40 minutes too long. And boy…I was born about 60 years too late. My thighs apparently woulda fit right into a chorus line if I'd been alive back then!

C

Coquette (1929)

Mary Pickford won best actress for her performance -- which just goes to prove that good acting hadn't been invented in 1929. Nearly unbearable.

D-

The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)

This is like sitting through the longest elementary presentation ever – without even having a kid you know involved. Looks like the bits were made up on the spot and they didn't have enough film stock for retakes when the voices wavered and the timing fell flat. I kind of wish I'd been alive back then...doesn't look like it took much talent to be a star.

F

Our Dancing Daughters (1929)

“Our Unfaithful, Lying Daughters” is more like it. Rather sordid for an ancient film. Not very interesting either.

D+