Motive For Revenge

Motive For Revenge is a thrilling drama from 1935 that gives a glimpse into the intricate interplay of complex emotions like love, jealousy, greed, and revenge. This black-and-white classic is a rich tapestry of the golden era of American cinema with a captivating story that has the ability to bewitch the modern audience with its timeless charm and suspenseful plot.

The movie boasts of the stellar performance of Donald Cook, who is notable for his extraordinary acting prowess. He plays Barney, a down-on-his-luck banking officer, stuck in a humdrum and unappreciated existence in the bustling heart of depression-era Chicago.

Cook excels in portraying his character's arc from a weary wage slave to a man thrown into a whirlpool of circumstances that question his morality, humanity, and eventually push him towards the road of vengeance. He convincingly anchors the narrative and draws the audience into his character's emotional journey with his evocative expression and subtle display of the inner turmoil rife inside Barney.

Irene Hervey plays Doris, a beautiful and ambitious young woman. Doris is engaged to Barney but is enchanted by her desire for wealth and a grand lifestyle. Hervey's complex portrayal of Doris expertly embodies the internal battle that she wages between love and luxury, which is central to the plot of the movie. Simultaneously, Doris becomes the point of contention for the men in her life who are driven by their love, susceptibility, and even their motive for revenge largely due to her actions. Hervey's performance is multifaceted and she manages to spark sympathy, spite and intrigue from viewers in equal measures with her infallible acting.

The third link in the chain of dramatic events is the character played by Doris Lloyd. Mrs. Harris, a sophisticated and influential elderly lady. Lloyd lends a distinctive charm and likability to the wealthy widow, whose wealth plays a pivotal role in twisting the plot.

The intricate storyline revolves around these three core characters, aided by nuanced supporting casts, who add interesting layers to the narrative. Over the course of the movie, Barney's life takes unpredictable turns, catalyzed by an unexpected promotion and the appearance of a huge sum of unclaimed money, which triggers a chain reaction of events that ensnare the lives of the characters in a web of deceit, suspicion, and aching heartbreak.

Motive For Revenge, directed by Burt P. Lynwood builds the suspense element flawlessly, keeping the audience guessing till the end. Lynwood very meticulously sketches out each character and their motivations, thereby keeping the plot engaging and continuously gripping.

Ted Tetzlaff's daring cinematography and Charles Previn's haunting score play a crucial role in the movie's dramatic appeal. The rolling shadows and sheer angles in the scenes were the pioneering bench marks of film noir. Previn's music perfectly subplot the tone and suspense unraveling the narrative layer by layer. The direction, music and the cinematography together with delightful performances, breathe life into the characters, attract audiences and keeps them on edge throughout.

Motive For Revenge is more than just a gripping thriller; it's also a deep delve into the human psyche, the dark corners of love, aspiration, and revenge. It serves as an excellent example of classic cinema that combines mystery, drama, crime, and romance effectively. This movie is not just for the enthusiasts of the 1930s black-and-white era, but for anyone who can appreciate a solid, engaging story with remarkable performances and atmospheric direction that echoes the timeless allure and charm of classic cinema.