Three Faces East *** (1930, Constance Bennett, Erich Von Stroheim) – Classic Movie Review 12,583

Director Roy Del Ruth’s 1930 Warner Bros black and white film Three Faces East is based on the popular 1918 Broadway play Three Faces East by Anthony Paul Kelly, and stars Constance Bennett and Erich Von Stroheim.

Erich Von Stroheim is a pleasure as the WWI German spy Voldar taken on as butler by Britain’s naval chief, and Constance Bennett scores too as another German agent who meets up with Voldar.

The brisk direction and effective, quirky performances help to keep this remarkable little spy yarn afloat. The production and technical expertise are notable for these early sound days.

It is a remake of a 1926 silent, and it is remade as Boris Karloff’s 1940 film British Intelligence.

Also in the cast are Anthony Bushell, William Holden, William Courtenay, Crauford Kent, Charlotte Walker, Ullricht Haupt, Paul Panzer, and Wilhelm von Brincken.

The William Holden (1862-1932) here is a silent movie character actor.

It is produced by Daryl Zanuck.

Release date: July 26, 1930 (US premiere).

Running time: 71 minutes.

The film has survived intact, transferred into a 16mm film by Associated Artists Productions in 1956-1958 and shown on TV. A 16mm copy is at the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research and there is another print at the Library of Congress.

The cast are Constance Bennett as Frances Hawtree/ Z-1, Erich von Stroheim as Valdar/ Schiller Blecher, Anthony Bushell as Captain Arthur Chamberlain, William Holden as Sir Winston Chamberlain, William Courtenay as Mr Yates, Crauford Kent as General Hewlett,  Charlotte Walker as Catherine, Lady Chamberlain, Ullrich Haupt as Colonel, Paul Panzer as “Kirsch” the Decoy, Wilhelm von Brincken as Captain Kugler

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,583

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