Operator 13
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Operator 13 |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1934 |
| length | 85 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Richard Boleslawski |
| script |
Harvey F. Thew Zelda Sears Eve Greene |
| production | Lucien Hubbard for MGM |
| music | William ax |
| camera | George J. Folsey |
| cut | Frank Sullivan |
| occupation | |
| |
Operator 13 is a 1934 American drama film set during the American Civil War , starring Marion Davies and Gary Cooper . The script is based on stories by Robert W. Chambers .
action
The USA at the beginning of the American Civil War. The second battle at Bull Run was a disaster for the northern states. Pauline Cushman is a northern spy and is code-named "Operator 27". She takes her friend Gail Loveless to see her boss, Major Allen Pinkerton. Gail also becomes a spy, codenamed "Operator 13". Gail and Pauline move south and find Confederation General James Ewell Brown Stuart . Gail puts on makeup and pretends to be Pauline's black maid. She meets Captain Gailliard during a wash. When Pauline asks too many questions about Gailliard at a ball, Gailliard and Captain Channing become suspicious. Channing has Pauline's room searched. Meanwhile the traveling doctor Dr. Hitchcock, a Northern State agent assigned to assist Operators 13 and 28. Just as Pauline is arrested, Gail Hitchcock is able to convey information about troop movements of the Southern Army. Gail is also under suspicion of espionage. But at Pauline's trial, she reveals Pauline's true identity to protect herself. Pauline is sentenced to death but is able to escape with the help of Gail and Hitchcock.
In Washington, it is clear to Major Pinkerton that he can no longer use Pauline behind the lines. He assigns Gail to find out more about Gailliard, whom Pinkerton suspects of collaborating with southern spies and sympathizers in the north. To add to her credibility, Gail, who now calls herself Anne Claybourne, mocks Northern soldiers. She and a man posing as her father are arrested. Newspapers from the south report on the arrest and turn "Anne" into a heroine. She is deported to Richmond, where she lives as a guest of Mrs. Shackleford and her daughter Eleanor. Gail meets Captain Gailliard again, who is attracted to her but also looks familiar to him. Gail can continue to provide intelligence to the North that will be helpful to the Northern Army and lead to an important victory. However, Eleanor's fiancé John Pelham is also killed in the fight. Gail feels guilty about Pelham's death and mourns in the garden, where she meets Gailliard, who admits to love her. Gail also fell in love with Gailliard.
Dressed in the uniform of the Southern Army, Gail rides north. First and foremost, she wants to get away from Gailliard, but she also has to flee after the soldier Sweeney told her that they knew who she was. Gailliard and Channing pursue them into the woods. They split up, Gailliard finds Gail when she rests. He furiously accuses her of being a traitor and threatens to bring her to court-martial. He handcuffs her. As they leave Gail's hiding place, they witness Union soldiers execute Channing. Sweeney, also in a Southern uniform, rushes to the Union soldiers, but is shot. Gail and Gailliard escape together and have a blacksmith open the handcuffs with which they are tied to one another. Gailliard turns south, Gail north.
A few years later the war ended. Gail and Gailliard get back together and look forward to a future together.
background
The film premiered on June 8, 1934.
The singing group, which started with the itinerant healer Dr. Hitchcock drew, was portrayed by the vocalist group The Mills Brothers . During the performances they sang the songs Roll, Jordan, Roll , Sleepy Hand and Jungle Fever , both composed by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn . Marion Davies also sang two of the duo's songs: Once in a Lifetime and The Colonel, Major and the Captain .
Cedric Gibbons , Edwin B. Willis and A. Arnold Gillespie were responsible for the equipment . Gilbert Adrian took care of the costumes and Douglas Shearer was the sound engineer .
According to reports from Daily Variety and the Hollywood Reporter , filming began on February 1, 1934 under the direction of production by Walter Wenger and directed by Raoul Walsh . After just 11 days, the head of the production studio Cosmopolitan Productions stopped filming. Daily Variety reported that the previous footage was thrown away and the script was rewritten. Wenger was replaced by Lucien Hubbard. Walsh protested the new script and was also fired. Richard Boleslawski replaced him in the director's chair.
Theatrical release
Production costs were $ 880,000. At the box office, the film turned out to be unpopular. Income of only $ 619,000 in the US and $ 391,000 from abroad cumulated to 1,010,000 in the end, which meant a loss of $ 226,000.
Reviews
Mordaunt Hall of the New York Times wrote that the film, if not entirely believable, is well-directed. In its special nature it is entertaining and wise, in addition to the ability of Marion Davies, glamorous performances by Jean Parker and Gary Cooper.
Awards
At the 1935 Academy Awards , George J. Folsey was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Camera category.
Web links
- The operator 13 in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Operator 13 at Turner Classic Movies (English)
- [1] Marion Davis in blackface makeup