Monta Bell was an interesting director, who got his start with Charlie Chaplin and was an editor on "A Woman of Paris". He found his silent muse in Norma Shearer and was responsible for some of her best silents, though when talkies reared their ugly head he took on a producing role. He still kept his directing hand in and developed what James Card called the "Bell Antihero". He also found in John Gilbert, surprisingly, an actor who was able to turn his back on his "Great Lover" persona and delve into man's lower depths. The Monta Bell "misfit" was often an unadmirable, immature character who readily bought grief and suffering to any woman who crossed his path. Gilbert had already played against type in "The Snob" (with Norma Shearer of course) and in "Downstairs" he presented Bell with a story he had written himself.
He plays Karl, an immoral chauffeur, who breezes into his new employer's home in the middle of a wedding between head butler Albert (suave Paul Lucas) and maid, Anna (Virgina Bruce) - he finds time to eat, flirt and try a little spot of blackmail before the wedding is through. When the butler serving drinks is found to be drunk the self centered Baron (Reginald Owen) thinks nothing of asking Albert (on his wedding night) to fill in and opportunistic Karl tries to weave his "magic" on Anna. Albert is the only one who can see through his ruse and when Karl brings the Baroness home late after a rendezvous with "persons unknown", his loose talk causes Albert to berate him for being disrespectful.
Is Karl any worst than the people "upstairs". At the end, the Baroness (Olga Baclanova) confesses to Albert just exactly what Karl is like, but really no one seems to worry about the servants or their feelings, unless it is infringing on the "upstairs" entertainment ie when Albert forgets the fishing gear, the Baron's boat trip is going to be ruined and when a fight starts in the wine cellar, the Baron's party is upset. (The Baroness only starts rumours about Karl and Anna when she is slighted). The only people you care about are the people "downstairs" - Sophie (Bodil Rosing) the cook, who puts up with Karl's insults and even gives him money, because for a short time he made her feel loved. Gilbert, ever the consummate actor, even gives Karl sympathy - the lies he tells - looking into Gilbert's expressive eyes, you feel he doesn't know the difference between truth and deceit. I don't for a moment believe that Anna has thoughts about running away with him - her love for Albert is too deep, although just for a moment she sees another kind of love making.
It is also interesting to find that Gilbert cared enough about his career to try different characterisations. Who knows, if he had been able to get to Warners, he may have had a brand new career as a tough guy character actor. Making an unbilled cameo appearance as Karl's next employer was Karen Morley, who in 1932 probably thought she had the cinema world at her feet.
Highly Recommended.
He plays Karl, an immoral chauffeur, who breezes into his new employer's home in the middle of a wedding between head butler Albert (suave Paul Lucas) and maid, Anna (Virgina Bruce) - he finds time to eat, flirt and try a little spot of blackmail before the wedding is through. When the butler serving drinks is found to be drunk the self centered Baron (Reginald Owen) thinks nothing of asking Albert (on his wedding night) to fill in and opportunistic Karl tries to weave his "magic" on Anna. Albert is the only one who can see through his ruse and when Karl brings the Baroness home late after a rendezvous with "persons unknown", his loose talk causes Albert to berate him for being disrespectful.
Is Karl any worst than the people "upstairs". At the end, the Baroness (Olga Baclanova) confesses to Albert just exactly what Karl is like, but really no one seems to worry about the servants or their feelings, unless it is infringing on the "upstairs" entertainment ie when Albert forgets the fishing gear, the Baron's boat trip is going to be ruined and when a fight starts in the wine cellar, the Baron's party is upset. (The Baroness only starts rumours about Karl and Anna when she is slighted). The only people you care about are the people "downstairs" - Sophie (Bodil Rosing) the cook, who puts up with Karl's insults and even gives him money, because for a short time he made her feel loved. Gilbert, ever the consummate actor, even gives Karl sympathy - the lies he tells - looking into Gilbert's expressive eyes, you feel he doesn't know the difference between truth and deceit. I don't for a moment believe that Anna has thoughts about running away with him - her love for Albert is too deep, although just for a moment she sees another kind of love making.
It is also interesting to find that Gilbert cared enough about his career to try different characterisations. Who knows, if he had been able to get to Warners, he may have had a brand new career as a tough guy character actor. Making an unbilled cameo appearance as Karl's next employer was Karen Morley, who in 1932 probably thought she had the cinema world at her feet.
Highly Recommended.