Watch Kind Lady For Free

Too much of everything

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

1935's "Kind Lady" may be held in less regard than its 1951 remake, but comes off better by casting Aline MacMahon and Basil Rathbone in the leads, both younger and more effective than Ethel Barrymore and Maurice Evans. The widowed Mary Herries still pines for the husband she lost during the Great War, and meets impoverished artist Henry Abbott in front of her door on Christmas Eve, inviting him in for a short visit. She banishes any thoughts of romance with the suave handsome stranger upon learning he has a wife and child, and resolves never to see him again. She sadly fails to reckon with his persistence however, enabling him to move in his family and 'friends,' driving all but the maid (Nola Luxford) out of the house, filled with valuable paintings and artifacts, now targeted by Abbott and his despicable entourage. Dependable players such as Murray Kinnell (as the murderous doctor), Dudley Digges, Frank Reicher, E. E. Clive, and Donald Meek make a terrific ensemble, as Mary feigns illness in seeking to regain the upper hand, an uphill struggle without outside help. Having debuted opposite Edward G. Robinson and Boris Karloff in 1931's "Five Star Final," Aline MacMahon enjoys one of her few starring roles, while Rathbone was only solidifying the villainous reputation he so richly deserved, until Sherlock Holmes succeeded in making audiences forget how deliciously wicked he could be (he'd already played Philo Vance in 1930's "The Bishop Murder Case").

KIND LADY (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1935), directed by George B. Seitz, stars Aline MacMahon, a recent recruit from Warner Brothers, in an interesting role of a caring British spinster known for her acts of kindness who falls victim to a total stranger she meets on a cold snowy night. Based upon the play by Edward Chodorov that starred Grace George and Henry Daniell, and the story "The Silver Casket" by Hugh Walpole, it's one of those overlooked chilling suspense thrillers that could easily be mistaken for an Agatha Christie story or one directed by the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Considering this sort of material enacted, there's no shadow of a doubt this would have been much to his liking. Opening on Christmas Eve, the story introduces Mary Herris (Aline MacMahon), a charitable woman living the lonely life in her mansion with her servants who quietly longs for a man named Richard who died years ago in the war. Leaving church after listening to a boys choir singing "Silent Night," Mary is approached by Henry Abbott (Basil Rathbone), an young artist who has rested his paintings in front of her home. Abbott, knowing about her acts of kindness through a homeless man (E.E.Clive), pleas on her sympathy by having her invite him into her home for a cup of tea. Though Mary finds this handsome young stranger an impressive and well educated gentleman, Rose (Nola Luxford), her housekeeper, finds he's not to be trusted. Told he has a wife and child, Mary offers Abbott both money and a coat as a friendly gesture for his spouse. As he leaves, she advises him not to return. Days later after meeting with her nephew, Peter (Frank Albertson) and his fiancé (Mary Carlisle), Mary is visited by Abbott again. This time he has come with the cigarette case he had stolen from her, and, in desperate need of financial support, talks the kind lady into buying one of his paintings. Seeing that his wife, Ada (Justine Chase) and baby, are awaiting him across the street in the pouring rain, Mary witnesses the frail woman fainting on the pavement while still clutching onto her infant. Having them brought into her home, Mary is advised by the doctor (Murray Kinnell), brought in by Abbott, to have the sickly woman remain under her care until her condition improves. Weeks pass. By then, Mary's servants have quit due to her guests and the visitation of their undesirable friends, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards (Dudley Digges and EIly Malyon) and their daughter, Aggie (Barbara Shields). Realizing her charitable work has reached its limit, Mary orders them from her house. Rather than a fond farewell or gathering by the fireplace singing Christmas songs, Abbott and his friends take control over Mary, who's now become a prisoner of her own home with no means of communication to the outside world.For a movie that opens and closes on Christmas Eve, it's far from being an ordinary Christmas movie. Interestingly, though MGM produced subsequent suspense types as NIGHT MUST FALL (1937) and GASLIGHT (1944), to much success with Academy Award nominations to its credit, KIND LADY has become a somewhat obscure item. Years later when sold to commercial television, title was changed to HOUSE OF MENACE to avoid title conflicts with the 1951 MGM remake starring Ethel Barrymore and Maurice Evans. Broadcast revivals for this original have been scarce until revivals with restored theatrical title have appeared, along with its remake, on Turner Classic Movies after 1994. Although many regard the 1951 edition to be superior, what makes the original interesting is its leading players. Although title character might have or should have gone to the theater's Grace George, or British-born Dame May Witty, MacMahon, who might be labeled miscast, does a commendable job regardless. The unpleasant situation she endures from her house-guests is something that could happen to any trusting soul. Fear and terror come across believably through her fragile face, as does hope of being saved. There's no disagreement about Rathbone's sinister contribution to the cast. It's through his creepy performance that the story survives it's handicaps, notable ones being couple of sudden scene shifts and/or sudden blackouts causing unevenness towards the story that indicate initial print longer than the circulating 75 minutes. Others members of the cast include Donald Meek (Mr. Lester of the Barkeley Bank); Frank Reicher (Gustave Roubet); and Doris Lloyd. Lloyd, seen as MacMahon's sister in the early portion of the story, also appeared in the 1951 MGM remake in a different role. As the cast and crew make every effort making this intense thriller believable in both theme and structure, leave it to the kind lady (MacMahon) to take the time and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. (**1/2)

What an odd little movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Plot-rich but very stagey, almost as if it might have originally been a play, KIND LADY tells the story of a wealthy woman (McMahon) who takes in a starving artist (Rathbone) and his wife and daughter. Soon enough,she finds the artist is no artist, but a grifter with an extended family of grifters who soon move in on her. What they are after is her extensive collection of paintings, which are worth a fortune. The bogus artist and his crew hold the old lady captive, and only an 11th-hour intervention by a suspicious relative saves the day. A young Rathbone is suitably sinister and suave as the head of this pack of thieves and cutthroats, and McMahon is thoroughly convincing as the wealthy old woman who is much too generous. The marvelous character actor Dudley Digges plays Rathbone's main confederate. There is a doctor among this group of thugs, but it is never explained why he is part of the group. A little back story couldn't have hurt, like maybe he was peddling drugs and lost his license to practice medicine. Also, Rathbone is so elegant, one has to wonder why he has thrown in with this mostly ragtag lot, other than to assume these are the best people he could find to aid and abet him with his scam. Or perhaps he just acts and looks elegant, and is as sleazy as the rest of the crew when not working one of his deals. Who knows? A real curio with a top-notch cast, perfect for lovers of creaky old melodramas..

Kind Lady (1935) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Decent drama has a kind, rich recluse (Aline MacMahon) inviting a stranger (Basil Rathbone) into her home. Everything starts off fine but soon the stranger takes the woman hostage and invites his strange "friends" into the house. This is an extremely bizarre little film that has been outlived by the 1951 remake but this film here manages to be quite effective even though the directing is highly lacking. The biggest problem with the film is its rather timid direction, which really doesn't deliver a very good pace or enough tension. The tension is one thing that's really lacking and it's a shame because the story itself is so good as are the performances. Rathbone clearly steals the film as the maniac who has to come off so charming to get into the house and then slowly lose it as the more psychotic side comes out. Rathbone never gets enough credit for being such a good character actor, which is a real shame because most people just remember him as Sherlock Holmes. While he was masterful in that role, he did just as impressive work outside of it. The snake like charm makes this a must see for fans of his. MacMahan also delivers a great performance as she perfectly fits the role and the kindness she does display is quite touching yet she also brings a naive touch that makes it easy to understand why someone could take advantage of her. Mary Carlisle, Frank Albertson and Nola Luxford add nice support. Donald Meeks has a brief role as well. In the end, due to the great performances, you can't help but feel a bit letdown that the final film isn't as great as the cast but there's still enough here to make this one worth seeing at least once.