- Man's Castle
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Man's Castle 
movie posterDirected by Frank Borzage Written by Story:
Lawrence Hazard
Screenplay:
Jo SwerlingStarring Spencer Tracy
Loretta YoungMusic by W. Franke Harling Cinematography Joseph H. August Editing by Viola Lawrence Distributed by Columbia Pictures Release date(s) October 27, 1933 Running time 75 minutes Country United States Language English Man's Castle is 1933 film directed by Frank Borzage, and starring Spencer Tracy and Loretta Young.
Contents
Plot
Well-dressed Bill (Spencer Tracy) takes pity on Trina (Loretta Young), a starving young woman he meets in a city park and treats her to a dinner in a fancy restaurant. After she is finished, he informs the manager he has no money. He then raises such a ruckus that the manager is all too willing to let them go.
When Bill learns that Trina is also homeless, he lets her stay at his ramshackle home in a shanty town. Among their neighbors and friends are widowed former preacher Ira (Walter Connolly) and Flossie (Marjorie Rambeau), an alcoholic older woman Ira is trying to reform.
Bill is a wandering sort, unwilling to live in the same place too long. Trina falls in love with him, but wisely makes no demands that will make him feel trapped in their developing relationship. When she longs for a new stove, he raises the down payment by serving a summons on Fay La Rue (Glenda Farrell), the star of a show. Far from resenting it, Fay wants him for a playmate. He is tempted, but turns her down.
Just as Bill's restless nature starts becoming too much for him, Trina tells him she is pregnant. Ira presides at Bill and Trina's wedding.
Before hitting the road by himself, Bill decides to get enough money to support his wife and future child. He agrees to help Bragg rob the payroll from a toy factory where Bragg used to work. Ira, the night watchman, shoots Bill before recognizing him. Fortunately, it is only a flesh wound. Wanting Trina for himself, Bragg turns on the burglar alarm, but Bill gets away with Ira's help (and his gun). Back home, Trina dresses the wound. Flossie suggests that Bill take Trina away with him, solving Bill's dilemma. After they leave, Bragg threatens to set the police on their track, but Flossie silences him with Ira's gun.
Cast
- Spencer Tracy as Bill
- Loretta Young as Trina
- Marjorie Rambeau as Flossie
- Glenda Farrell as Fay La Rue
- Walter Connolly as Ira
- Arthur Hohl as Bragg
- Dickie Moore as Joie
Reception
Mordaunt Hall in the New York Times remarked, "Even though Frank Borzage in his direction of Man's Castle, ... gives an occasional fleeting reminder of his successful silent film, Seventh Heaven the story is by no means as plausible or as poetic as that memorable old work. ... Man's Castle can, however, boast of the thoroughly efficient portrayals of Spencer Tracy and Loretta Young, particularly Mr. Tracy's. Their work results in much of the narrative being quite interesting and several of the scenes are blessed with touches of originality."
External links
The films of Frank Borzage 1910s The Pride and the Man • Dollars of Dross • Land o' Lizards • Immediate Lee • Flying Colors • Until They Get Me • The Gun Woman • The Curse of Iku • The Shoes That Danced • Innocent's Progress • Society for Sale • An Honest Man • Who Is to Blame? • The Ghost Flower • The Atom • Toton the Apache • Whom the Gods Would Destroy • Prudence on Broadway1920s Humoresque • The Duke of Chimney Butte • Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford • Back Pay • Billy Jim • The Good Provider • The Valley of Silent Men • The Pride of Palomar • The Nth Commandment • Children of the Dust • The Age of Desire • Secrets • The Lady • Daddy's Gone A-Hunting • The Circle • Lazybones • Wages for Wives • The First Year • The Dixie Merchant • Early to Wed • Marriage License? • Seventh Heaven • Street Angel • Lucky Star • They Had to See Paris • The River1930s Song o' My Heart • Liliom • Doctors' Wives • Young as You Feel • Bad Girl • After Tomorrow • Young America • A Farewell to Arms • Secrets • Man's Castle • No Greater Glory • Little Man, What Now? • Flirtation Walk • Living on Velvet • Stranded • Shipmates Forever • Desire • Hearts Divided • Green Light • History Is Made at Night • Big City • Mannequin • Three Comrades • The Shining Hour • Disputed Passage1940s Strange Cargo • The Mortal Storm • Flight Command • Smilin' Through • The Vanishing Virginian • Seven Sweethearts • Stage Door Canteen • His Butler's Sister • Till We Meet Again • The Spanish Main • Magnificent Doll • I've Always Loved You • That's My Man • Moonrise1950s Television Screen Directors Playhouse (1955–1956)Categories:- English-language films
- 1933 films
- American films
- 1930s drama films
- Black-and-white films
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Films directed by Frank Borzage
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