Tonight's Movie: Possessed (1931) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

There are many terrific titles coming this summer from the Warner Archive Collection, and I've already discovered a particular favorite, POSSESSED (1931).

POSSESSED stars the sizzling team of Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. I'll mention right off the bat this movie has no connection to Crawford's later film of the exact same name.

POSSESSED is a very "pre-Code" fantasy in which lower class working girl Marian Martin (Crawford) goes to the big city and lands herself a big fish who will make all her dreams come true.

Marian becomes the mistress of wealthy attorney Mark Whitney (Gable), who refuses to marry again after a bad past experience.

Marian, known in Mark's circles as independently wealthy "Mrs. Moreland," tries to be happy with Mark's love and all that his money can buy. But as the years pass she wants more; her self-respect finally starts to be dented being a "kept woman," and she'd also like more commitment from Mark simply because she loves him.

When it appears as though their relationship could damage Mark's potential political career, Marian nobly tries to step aside...

This was a first-time watch for me, and I found POSSESSED up there with LETTY LYNTON (1932) in terms of being simply a delicious pre-Code, with Crawford at her '30s peak.

By this point in her career she was an excellent actress and had the glamour look down pat, including glorious gowns by Adrian, who also designed Crawford's spectacular LETTY LYNTON wardrobe. She wears a black gown in this one, seen here, which is stunning.

Although the story, adapted by Lenore Coffee from Edgar Selwyn play THE MIRAGE, has Marian acting in very unrespectable ways -- sort of a '30s version of PRETTY WOMAN (1990) -- Crawford totally sells both Marian and her choices. She always maintains audience sympathy, even if we don't wholly approve of what she's doing.

That said, it's hard to fault her for wanting a relationship with Gable, who's incredibly handsome and romantic, other than the "not wanting to get married" angle. And he's wealthy too? She hit the jackpot.

The movie is sensitively directed by Clarence Brown and beautifully filmed in gorgeous black and white by Oliver T. Marsh. 

76 minutes fly by; indeed, the short running time is another of the film's virtues. Drama and trauma near the end are not dragged out but resolved quickly and romantically.

The supporting cast includes Wallace Ford, Frank Conroy, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, and Clara Blandick; the latter was coincidentally just seen in another MGM pre-Code from the same year, IT'S A WISE CHILD (1931).

The POSSESSED print is a 1080p HD master from a new 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative, and it looks absolutely terrific. I don't think a film of this vintage could look or sound better. I was impressed.

Extras from the year of the film's release consist of the cartoon BOSKO THE DOUGHBOY (1931) and a short, LOVE TAILS OF MOROCCO (1931).

POSSESSED presents Crawford and Gable at their glamorous MGM pre-Code best, and this disc is very highly recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

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