IMDb RATING
6.9/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
World War I veterans roam Paris, drinking and admiring a woman they recently met.World War I veterans roam Paris, drinking and admiring a woman they recently met.World War I veterans roam Paris, drinking and admiring a woman they recently met.
Johnny Mack Brown
- Bill Talbot
- (as John Mack Brown)
Elliott Nugent
- Francis
- (as Elliot Nugent)
Luis Alberni
- Spectator at Bullfight
- (uncredited)
Herbert Bunston
- Man on Train
- (uncredited)
Yola d'Avril
- French Party Girl at Cafe
- (uncredited)
Jay Eaton
- Extra in Claridge Bar
- (uncredited)
George Irving
- Military Doctor
- (uncredited)
Wallace MacDonald
- Officer at Hospital
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOn 21 October 1931 (after the film's release) a musical adaptation called "Nikki," by John Monk Saunders, opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA, and had 39 performances. The opening night cast included Fay Wray as Nikki, Cary Grant as Cary Lockwood and Douglass Montgomery as Shep Lambert.
- GoofsDuring the sequence in the bullfight ring in Lisbon, the footage of the actual bullfight is stock filmed during the silent era at the then-standard speed of 16 frames per second. Spliced into a sound film and projected at the sound-standard 24 frames per second, it looks unnaturally fast.
- Quotes
Military Doctor: Well, there they go. Out to face life. And their whole training was in preparation for death.
- ConnectionsFeatured in TCM Guest Programmer: U.S. Critics (2010)
Featured review
Unique and fascinating study of post-war disillusion.
I have never seen a 1930's American film like this one! Perhaps this is because it was directed by German director William Dieterle when he was fresh off the boat. Apart from a slightly pontifical doctor musing about the difficulties of war-time flyers adjusting to civilian life near the beginning of the film, this is a subtle, evocative, under-stated and powerful depiction of this mal-adjustment. Following the end of World War One a group of American flyer buddies go on a six months long bender in Paris and Lisbon. They link up with a rich young woman, beautifully played by Helen Chandler, who drinks as hard as they do. They are all a little in love with death and wander from one meaningless adventure to another in pursuit of it. It is here that the film encounters some difficulties - making meaninglessness dramatically interesting is very difficult.
But the actors do an admirable job in suggesting the huge pain under the jovial partying. Richard Barthelmess was one of the greatest screen actors ever, and his talents are well utilised here. Johnny Mack Brown is a revelation as the rougher Bill - who knew this cowboy star was such a fine actor? David Manners is also a surprise, much better here than in "Dracula", he proves to be capable of doing great emotional work. Elliott Nugent as the heavily traumatised Francis is unforgettable, and Walter Byron is fine as an unscrupulous hanger-on.
This is not a perfect film, but it is a brave one, and is absolutely essential to an understanding of the mood after World War One. It is no surprise that the writer was also responsible for "Wings" (1927) - his understanding of the relationships between men in and after wartime is phenomenal. Make sure you see it.
But the actors do an admirable job in suggesting the huge pain under the jovial partying. Richard Barthelmess was one of the greatest screen actors ever, and his talents are well utilised here. Johnny Mack Brown is a revelation as the rougher Bill - who knew this cowboy star was such a fine actor? David Manners is also a surprise, much better here than in "Dracula", he proves to be capable of doing great emotional work. Elliott Nugent as the heavily traumatised Francis is unforgettable, and Walter Byron is fine as an unscrupulous hanger-on.
This is not a perfect film, but it is a brave one, and is absolutely essential to an understanding of the mood after World War One. It is no surprise that the writer was also responsible for "Wings" (1927) - his understanding of the relationships between men in and after wartime is phenomenal. Make sure you see it.
helpful•303
- David-240
- Apr 14, 2000
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Single Lady
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 16 minutes
- Color
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