The murdered woman is played by Gloria Stuart, best known as "old Rose" in the 1997 smash "Titanic", fresh from a series of classic horror movies, and as a favor to the now legendary James Whale, playing the unfaithful wife of Paul Lukas. Catching her with her lover Walter Pidgeon, Lukas offs both and quickly confesses. His defense attorney is a non-blithering Frank Morgan, as far from being the Wizard of Oz as he can be. Morgan defends Lukas with great care, learning what set Lukas off was "the kiss before the mirror", a metaphor for women's vanity that made Lukas both love her and despise her.

Years ago when I first began collecting rare classics, one of my trading buddies highly recommended this, insisting on getting me a copy in no uncertain terms, and seeing it again some 20 years later, I can see why. This film is a masterpiece of suspense and style, masterfully put on celluloid by James Whale who certainly deserves to be better known as an artist rather than just a director of horror films. The wise script draws you in almost immediately, and for attorney Morgan is a look into the future as he learns that his distractions by the case has lead his wife (Nancy Carroll) into the arms of another man (Donald Cook).

Future "Wizard of Oz" co-star Charley Grapewin joins Morgan in a showy minor role as Morgan's outspoken butler. Carroll, one of the great (although almost forgotten) stars of the early talkies, is more than just another gorgeous clotheshorse. In fact, she's exquisite, with sumptuous photography on her as she stares into the mirror. Whale, the Josef Von Sternberg of Universal studios, took filmmaking to the point of being pure art, directing his actors with great fitness, making them subtle one moment and dramatic and filled with fury out of nowhere. The metaphor of the mirror is a powerful one, and this is a film that really deserves an art house rediscovery. "Wives Under Suspicion", a decent remake also directed by Whale, lacks the finesse of this version, but being in the public domain, is easier to find.

Attorney Frank Morgan (as Paul Held) is called upon to defend a friend, doctor Paul Lukas (as Walter Bernsdorf),who has just shot his wife ) to death. After listening to Mr. Lukas describe how he discovered his wife was having an affair, Mr. Morgan sees similar behavior in his own beautiful young wife, Nancy Carroll (as Maria Held). "All men suspect their wives," Morgan says. So, secretly, Morgan follows Ms. Carroll to her lover's arms. Then, Morgan decides to clear his client, and use his closing argument as a rationale for murdering his own unfaithful wife...

"The Kiss Before the Mirror" is a strange, almost offensive, and downright dumb story; but, it's done with a fine director (James Whale) and an interesting cast. Jean Dixon (as Hilda) almost saves it, with her pointed courtroom comment to Morgan. Donald Cook, Walter Pidgeon, and Gloria Stuart are good-looking lovers. From now on, viewers, you must carefully watch how women put on their make-up - it could help you decide whether or not to shoot them (just kidding).

***** The Kiss Before the Mirror (5/4/33) James Whale ~ Frank Morgan, Nancy Carroll, Paul Lukas

If you only know Frank Morgan for the Wizard of Oz and his other comedic roles of the 30s and 40s, then you don't want to miss his performance here. It's an entirely different Morgan, as the love besotted lawyer married to Nancy Carroll,and defending his best friend Paul Lukas who is accused of murder. I had to look twice to be sure it was him and not his brother Ralph who might have been more at home in this type of role. It's hard to relate to Frank Morgan in a torrid embrace with Carroll who is the nominal star of the film. But that aside, he is rather attractive and does a pretty good job even though the film has the typical over-acting of the early talkies.

Gloria Stuart, in an all too short appearance, is simply gorgeous (why don't they make clothes like that anymore?) as the erring wife of Paul Lukas, and lover of Walter Pigeon (in a very small role). Lukas puts three bullets into her and the murder trial is on with Morgan as the defense lawyer. He uses the "unwritten law" defense and his client is acquitted. As all this is happening, Morgan discovers that his own wife, Carroll, is having an affair with Donald Cook (good grief!!) When Morgan learns of it, he contemplates putting a few of his own bullets into her and using the same defense at his own trial. But reason wins out and he abandons the plan Since this is a pre-code film, Carroll is forgiven, falls into Morgan's arms, and doesn't have to pay for her sins, as she would have in Code films beginning the following year.

If you can get past the sometimes hammy acting styles and the "dearest" and "darling" dialogue, this isn't a bad film. In fact, I rather enjoyed it but then I am a sucker for films of the early 30s.