Tonight's Movie: Man's Castle (1933) - A Sony Blu-ray Review

I've wanted to see MAN'S CASTLE (1933) for many years, inasmuch as Loretta Young is my favorite actress.

I've held off watching its showings on Turner Classic Movies, as I had read that the version long available was edited.

I've hoped to one day see the original "pre-Code" version, and that dream has now come true thanks to Sony releasing a Blu-ray with the film restored to its full length of 79 minutes. Previous versions ran around 66 minutes and were not only edited but changed the storyline.

It's possible that this version is even slightly longer than the original theatrical release; rather than "reinvent the wheel," I'd like to direct my readers to Glenn Erickson's very interesting explanation of how the restoration was cobbled together from three different prints which were censored in differing ways.

MAN'S CASTLE stars a luminous 20-year-old Young as Trina, a homeless young woman taken in by Bill (Spencer Tracy) to share a Depression-era shantytown shack.

Bill is verbally abusive, although to some extent his gruff exterior and unpleasant words bely a softer interior. His inner sentiments are demonstrated not only by taking Trina in but by unexpected gestures such as buying her the stove of her dreams.

Still, Trina puts up with a lot from Bill, persevering in her growing love for him despite all discouragements...but will a baby prove to be the end of the line for the ostensibly freedom-loving Bill?

For me this film was all about Young and the always-magical romanticism of director Frank Borzage (HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT). In conjunction with Young, Borzage manages to suffuse the film with a lovely, hopeful tone, which is rather remarkable given that Tracy's Bill is such a lout.

Young is sometimes filmed by cinematographer Joseph August through a hazy lens, but one can't help feeling that really wasn't necessary. Young simply glows as the determined, loving Trina, who in taking on a relationship with Bill is perhaps braver (or more foolish?) than she at first appears.

Trina gradually transforms their humble living space into a real, warm home. Bill itches to be free, but keeps returning to the comforts Trina offers. Time and again Trina puts aside her own needs to encourage Bill that he's not only everything she wants, he's also a free man...until she finally explodes with pent-up emotion.

Knowing Young was briefly hung up on the married Tracy offscreen gives her role as a woman in love with a commitment-shy man an added layer of poignance.

Although I tolerate him in a couple films (i.e., PAT AND MIKE), generally speaking I'm not a fan of Spencer Tracy, an apparent minority opinion which I've shared frankly here in the past. He may be believable as something of a louse here, but the character certainly doesn't endear Tracy to me any more than in the past.

MAN'S CASTLE was written by Jo Swerling from a play by Lawrence Hazard, but in the end it's basically CAROUSEL (or, if one prefers, LILIOM) with a better ending. Man scoffs at commitment, girl loves him anyway, man is thrown off kilter by impending baby and commits robbery. I'm surprised I don't recall reading this comparison in the past.

Glenda Farrell plays Fay, a club performer inexplicably hung up on Bill, and the film plays out in part as a battle for Bill. Will he stay with the trusting Trina, head for Europe with seductive Fay...or ditch them both for freedom and hop a train?

The film ends on an optimistic note, though I'm not certain that it was actually earned and completely believable.

Marjorie Rambeau and Walter Connolly are excellent in supporting roles as shantytown residents, playing an alcoholic floozy and a minister turned night watchman, respectively. They each have moving moments, especially when Connolly's character gives Trina his wife's dress for a wedding. Arthur Hohl is another shantytown inhabitant with bad plans.

Despite my dislike of Tracy's character, MAN'S CASTLE is compelling and very much worth seeing in order to watch the superb Young in a Borzage film; I recommend it, especially now that it's available in the original cut.

Sony's Blu-ray print is from a 1080p HD source. For a 1933 film, it's outstanding in both looks and sound, and all the more reason to get this Blu-ray.

There are no extras on the disc. Viewers should also be aware this disc is a rarity in that it doesn't have a menu; put the Blu-ray in the player and the movie starts.

Thanks to Allied Vaughn and Sony for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. MAN'S CASTLE may be purchased from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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