1936's most chaotic dinner party has escaped convicts, crashed planes, and zero chill.
Escaped convicts Jack and Judy stumble upon an airstrip on the Western ranch of arrogant business tycoon Gerald Axton. Taking Axton and his secretary hostage, the convicts inadvertently cause the crash-landing of a small plane ferrying Axton's political adversary, Gov. Sam Pruden, and a nosy reporter. As the long night unfolds, each person's rivalries and weaknesses are prodded by the others.
Acting
Lionel Atwill's deliciously arrogant tycoon performance.
Writing
Witty pre-Code barbs that cut deeper than the tension.
Director
George B. Seitz
Lionel Atwill
Gerald A. Axton
Irene Hervey
Laura Tait
Raymond Walburn
Gov. Sam K. Pruden
Stuart Erwin
Oscar "Chubby" Rudd
Ann Loring
Zelda Tadema
Louis Hayward
Gregory Bengard
Wallace Ford
Jack
J. Carrol Naish
Pedro
Bernadene Hayes
Judy
Harvey Stephens
Barney Tait
Robert Gleckler
Jasper Cowdray
Matt Moore
Pilot
Robert Livingston
Co-Pilot
Edwin Maxwell
Baxter (Uncredited)
Charles Trowbridge
Doctor (Uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Lionel Atwill's final film before his notorious 'orgy at the home' scandal derailed his career. Watch his smug arrogance here and wonder if art imitated life.
The 'absolute quiet' of the title refers to a radio silence order during the crisis, but the film itself is talky as hell — pure 1930s irony.
US
