If my friend hadn’t joined me to see the new Jean Arthur picture, I would make an awful mistake now. She really had to alert me, Miss Arthur plays two characters in this film. I didn’t recognize her in the small role as Emma. Later she plays another of Diamond Jim’s amorous liaisons: Jane Matthews.
Of course I already knew Miss Arthur has lots of natural charm, but I never saw those dangerous looks before — I really had no idea she could do even that. No wonder Edward Arnold’s Diamond Jim, alias James Buchanan Brady, hadn’t the slightest chance to resist the overwhelming temptation.
I had never heard of the figure Buchanan Brady before, although he once really lived — nor have I read the novel about his life yet. But I have lots of respect for the way Edward Arnold played this figure. A man full of world weariness, constantly trying to desperately damp his inner pain with immense dinners and beautiful women. Finally he must see, this all was useless and he starts laughing about himself. The tragedy of his life seems to break him, but the ending is nebulous….
Not the kind of à la mode picture, as we are used to these days, but extremely good!
Clarissa Smith — September 2, 1935
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