Road to Paradise
About Road to Paradise
Mary Brennan (Loretta Young), raised by thieves Nick and Jerry, looks exactly like heiress Margaret Waring, whom Young also plays. Nick and Jerry push Mary into the Waring house to open the safe. George Wells (Jack Mulhall), Margaret's fiancé, sees through the impersonation and prefers Mary. Margaret walks in during the theft and Jerry shoots her. Mary lets the police take Margaret for the thief. George protects Mary. Matching lockets show the two women are twin sisters. The case is dropped, and Mary accepts George.
Cast & crew
More about Road to Paradise
William Beaudine directed. F. Hugh Herbert wrote the screenplay from the 1920 play Cornered by Dodson Mitchell and Zelda Sears. John F. Seitz photographed it. Leo F. Forbstein is credited with the music. First National, by then a Warner subsidiary, released a Vitaphone version and a silent version. Beaudine had already filmed the play in 1924 as Cornered, with Marie Prevost. The American Film Institute lists 76 minutes, 6,935 feet, nine reels, and a 20 July 1930 release.
Themes
Background
A 1930 pre-Code twin story, released while some theaters still took a silent print.
Making
Beaudine remade his own 1924 silent, Cornered, as a talkie for First National.
Look
John F. Seitz photographed Young's double role.
Music
Leo F. Forbstein is credited with the music on the Vitaphone version. A silent version was also released.
Notes
- Young plays both the thief's ward and the heiress. Turner Classic Movies notes she was 17.
- Raymond Hatton plays Nick and George Barraud plays Jerry the Gent.
- The 1924 Cornered was a Warner Bros. silent, also directed by Beaudine.
- A silent edition was issued alongside the Vitaphone track.
Scenes
- Nick and Jerry spot the heiress in a restaurant and see Mary's face.
- Jerry shoots Margaret as she walks in on the safe.
- The lockets match.
Influenced by
- Cornered (play, 1920)
- Cornered (1924 film)
