An Austrian soldier must choose between a wealthy fiancee and a new girl who takes his fancy.
Acting
Ramon Novarro's descent from charm to hollowed-out wreck.
Direction
Feyder's ruthless compression—every scene advances the noose.
Director
Jacques Feyder
Ramon Novarro
Willi Kasder
Helen Chandler
Laura
Jean Hersholt
Herr Schnabel
C. Aubrey Smith
General Von Hertz
William Bakewell
Otto
Karen Morley
Emily Kessner
Douglass Montgomery
Von Lear
Glenn Tryon
Franz
Clyde Cook
Josef
Sumner Getchell
Emil
Clara Blandick
Frau Hoffman
Edwin Maxwell
Herr Hoffman
Jackie Searl
August
Lionel Belmore
Herr Kessner (uncredited)
Symona Boniface
Bystander at Baccarat Table
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during Hollywood's 1930-34 'Pre-Code' window when the Depression made studios desperate and censors lazy. The suicide-as-plot-device would've been unthinkable after the Hays Code locked down in 1934.
Ramon Novarro was MGM's 'Latin Lover' backup plan after Valentino died—this was his attempt at serious dramatic credibility. The box office said 'no thanks.'
US
