The Locked Door
"Behind Every Locked Door Lies a Secret!"
Plot
On her first wedding anniversary, wealthy socialite Ann Reagan (Barbara Stanwyck) discovers that her sister-in-law Helen (Betty Bronson) has become romantically involved with a dangerous gambler named Lawrence (William 'Stage' Boyd) - a man from Ann's own past with whom she once had a scandalous relationship. Determined to protect her family's reputation and prevent Helen from making the same mistake she did, Ann intervenes by confronting Lawrence and attempting to pay him off to leave Helen alone. However, Lawrence has no intention of letting go easily and begins blackmailing Ann with threats to expose their past relationship to her husband. The situation escalates dramatically when Lawrence is found murdered in his apartment, with Ann becoming the primary suspect, forcing her to race against time to find the real killer before her secret is revealed and her marriage is destroyed.
About the Production
The Locked Door was one of Barbara Stanwyck's first starring roles and her first sound film. The production faced challenges typical of early talkies, including cumbersome sound recording equipment that limited camera movement. The film was shot during the rapid transition from silent to sound cinema, requiring actors to adapt their performance styles for the new medium. Director George Fitzmaurice had to balance the visual storytelling techniques of silent film with the new demands of synchronized sound.
Historical Background
The Locked Door was released in 1929, a pivotal year in both American cinema and history. This was the first full year of sound films in Hollywood, as studios were rapidly converting from silent to talkie production. The film emerged during the Pre-Code era (1929-1934), before the strict enforcement of the Hays Production Code, allowing for more mature themes of sexuality, crime, and moral ambiguity. The stock market crash of October 1929 occurred just months after the film's release, marking the beginning of the Great Depression, which would dramatically alter American society and the film industry. The transition to sound was causing massive upheaval in Hollywood, with many silent film stars unable to make the transition due to unsuitable voices or acting styles. The film industry was also consolidating, with major studios like Paramount (which released this film) controlling production, distribution, and exhibition. This period saw the rise of new genres, including the gangster film and the psychological thriller, as filmmakers explored the possibilities of sound to create more sophisticated narratives.
Why This Film Matters
The Locked Door holds cultural significance as one of the early sound films that helped establish Barbara Stanwyck as a major Hollywood star. The film represents an important transitional moment in cinema history, showcasing how filmmakers were adapting storytelling techniques for the new medium of sound. Its exploration of themes like sexual double standards, blackmail, and the consequences of past actions reflects the more permissive Pre-Code era, before censorship would clamp down on such content. The film's use of psychological suspense and moral ambiguity anticipated the film noir movement that would flourish in the 1940s. As an early example of the thriller genre, it helped establish conventions that would become staples of American cinema, including the protagonist with a hidden past and the use of blackmail as a plot device. The film also demonstrates how early sound cinema began to explore more complex psychological themes that were difficult to convey in silent films.
Making Of
The production of The Locked Door took place during one of the most turbulent periods in Hollywood history - the transition from silent to sound films. The sound recording equipment of 1929 was primitive and extremely sensitive, requiring actors to stand relatively still while delivering their lines. This created challenges for director George Fitzmaurice, who had to adapt his dynamic visual style to accommodate the technical limitations. Barbara Stanwyck, who had honed her craft in silent films, had to quickly master the art of voice acting for the screen. The studio rushed production to capitalize on both the sound film craze and Stanwyck's growing popularity after her breakthrough in 'Ladies of Leisure' (1930). The film's sets were designed to minimize sound reflection, with carpets and heavy drapes used to dampen echoes. The murder scene was particularly challenging to film, as the crew had to create suspense while working around the noisy camera equipment that had to be housed in soundproof booths.
Visual Style
The cinematography of The Locked Door reflects the transitional nature of 1929 filmmaking, blending techniques from the silent era with new considerations for sound recording. Cinematographer James Wong Howe, though uncredited for this film, was known for his innovative lighting techniques that helped create the film's suspenseful atmosphere. The camera work was somewhat constrained by the early sound recording equipment, which required cameras to be housed in soundproof booths, limiting mobility. However, the filmmakers used creative lighting and composition to maintain visual interest, particularly in the dramatic confrontation scenes. The film employs dramatic shadows and high-contrast lighting to enhance the thriller elements, techniques that would later become staples of film noir. The cinematography successfully balances the need for clear audio recording with visual storytelling, using close-ups effectively to capture the actors' emotional performances in this new sound medium.
Innovations
The Locked Door represents several technical achievements typical of early sound cinema. The film was produced using the Movietone sound-on-film system, one of the competing sound technologies of the era. The production team had to solve numerous technical challenges associated with early sound recording, including minimizing camera noise and managing acoustic properties of the sets. The film demonstrates early experimentation with how to stage scenes for sound, with actors positioned to optimize microphone pickup while maintaining visual composition. The synchronization of dialogue with action was still being perfected during this period, making the film's technical execution noteworthy for its relative smoothness. The film also shows early use of sound editing techniques to create dramatic effects and maintain narrative flow. These technical achievements, while primitive by modern standards, were significant steps in the evolution of cinematic storytelling.
Music
The Locked Door features a typical early talkie soundtrack with synchronized dialogue and musical accompaniment. The musical score was composed by Karl Hajos, who provided background music that enhanced the film's dramatic and suspenseful moments. As one of the early sound films, the production utilized the Movietone sound system, which allowed for both dialogue and musical effects to be recorded on the film strip itself. The sound design includes dramatic musical stings during tense moments and romantic themes during the character interactions. The film also uses sound effects to enhance the thriller elements, such as the creaking of doors and dramatic silences during key confrontations. The soundtrack represents the early experimentation with how music and sound could be used to create mood and tension in cinema, moving beyond the live musical accompaniment of silent films to integrated sound design.
Famous Quotes
"Some doors are better left locked - and some secrets are better left buried."
"You can't run from your past forever, Ann. Sooner or later, it catches up with you."
"A woman's reputation is like a fragile glass - once broken, it can never be whole again."
"Love makes fools of us all, but some of us pay a higher price than others."
"In this world, it's not what you are that matters, but what people think you are."
Memorable Scenes
- The tense confrontation scene where Ann faces Lawrence in his apartment, with the locked door serving as both literal and metaphorical barrier between past and present.
- The anniversary dinner scene where Ann's perfect facade begins to crack as she learns of her sister-in-law's dangerous relationship.
- The murder discovery scene where Ann finds Lawrence's body and realizes she's been framed, launching the film's suspenseful investigation subplot.
- The climactic courtroom scene where Ann's past is threatened to be exposed, creating maximum tension as the real killer's identity is revealed.
Did You Know?
- This was Barbara Stanwyck's first starring role in a sound film, marking a crucial transition in her career from silent pictures to talkies.
- The film is considered one of the earliest examples of the psychological thriller genre in American cinema.
- William 'Stage' Boyd received his nickname because he had been a stage actor before entering films; he should not be confused with the later Western star William Boyd who played Hopalong Cassidy.
- The film was released during the Pre-Code era, allowing for more mature themes of sexuality and blackmail that would later be restricted by the Hays Code.
- The Locked Door was one of the first films to use the dramatic device of a character's past coming back to haunt them, a trope that would become common in film noir.
- The original story was based on a play called 'The Sign on the Door' by Channing Pollock, though the film adaptation made significant changes.
- The film's title refers both literally to a locked door in the plot and metaphorically to the locked doors of characters' pasts and secrets.
- Despite being an early talkie, the film still retains many visual storytelling techniques from the silent era.
- The film was produced quickly to capitalize on the public's fascination with sound films and Barbara Stanwyck's rising popularity.
- The murder mystery subplot was added to the original story to increase the film's commercial appeal during the crime film boom of the late 1920s.
What Critics Said
Contemporary critical reception to The Locked Door was mixed to positive, with particular praise directed at Barbara Stanwyck's performance. Critics noted her natural screen presence and ability to convey emotion through both voice and expression, marking her as a promising new star for the sound era. Variety praised the film's suspenseful atmosphere and Stanwyck's 'compelling performance,' though some reviewers found the plot somewhat contrived. The New York Times acknowledged the film's technical achievements as an early talkie while noting that the story relied on familiar melodramatic conventions. Modern critics and film historians view the film as an interesting artifact of the transition to sound, appreciating its Pre-Code themes and Stanwyck's early star power. While not considered a masterpiece of the era, it's recognized as an important film in Stanwyck's filmography and a representative example of early thriller cinema.
What Audiences Thought
Audience reception to The Locked Door in 1929 was generally positive, particularly among viewers fascinated by the novelty of sound films. Barbara Stanwyck's performance resonated with moviegoers, helping to establish her as a rising star they would follow in subsequent films. The film's suspenseful plot and dramatic elements appealed to audiences seeking entertainment during the increasingly uncertain economic times leading up to the Great Depression. The combination of romance, mystery, and moral drama proved to be a winning formula for contemporary viewers. While exact box office figures are not available, the film's success was sufficient to help cement Stanwyck's status as a bankable leading lady. Modern audiences who have seen the film through revivals or home media appreciate it as a fascinating example of early sound cinema and a showcase for Stanwyck's early talent, though some find the pacing and acting style dated compared to later films.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The Sign on the Door (stage play)
- German expressionist cinema
- Silent film melodramas
- Early crime fiction
- Broadway drama conventions
This Film Influenced
- Later film noir thrillers
- Pre-Code women's pictures
- Psychological dramas of the 1930s
- Barbara Stanwyck's subsequent film roles
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Film Restoration
The Locked Door is believed to be a lost film. No complete copies are known to exist in major film archives or private collections. This is unfortunately common for early sound films from 1929-1930, as the unstable nitrate film stock of the era and the lack of preservation efforts led to the loss of many titles from this transitional period in cinema history. Only fragments or production stills may survive in various archives. The film's status as a lost feature makes it particularly significant to film historians, as it represents one of Barbara Stanwyck's early starring roles that modern audiences cannot view.