Congratulations! Your presence on this movie site says that you are familiar with one of the most remarkable yet least known American films of the budding sound era. Crime Without Passion (CWP) is the film Claude Rains made immediately following his great success in The Invisible Man. It was produced at the Paramount Astoria New York Studios of Paramount---where two early Marx Brothers comedies (Coconuts and Animal Crackers) were also made. CWP is unique in many ways:
1. Although released by Paramount, it really was a joint project primarily derived from the creative talents of three individuals---Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur and Lee Garmes. All three were given co-directing credit (although the evidence suggests that Garmes did most of it). Hecht and MacArthur claimed the writing credit (from an original story by Hecht). Garmes was the official cinematographer on the film and both Hecht and MacArthur appear in CWP as extras.
2. Rains (who was 45 at the time) played one of the few leading man romantic roles in his long Hollywood career---opposite Margo as his mistress ((then 17!) and Whitney Bourne as his "real girl friend" (then 20!). For those who have criticized Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Debra Paget and Kim Novak for accepting many leading lady roles opposite much older male stars, CWP may be referred to as an example of the identical practice but at a much earlier time in movie history.
3. The CWP special effects in general and its remarkable photographic effects in particular were extraordinary for their time---as other IMDB readers have also noted.
4.Esther Dale, who graced many films of the 1930s and 1940s in enjoyable supporting roles, appears here as Rains's wise and understanding secretary in an uncredited performance.
5. Paula Trueman, who often played much older characters, appears here in a "Baby Snooks"-like role (including costume) as Margo's friend in an uncredited performance. The real "Baby Snooks" creator, Fanny Brice, is in CWP as an extra.
6. Claude Rains as the mordant and unscrupulous lawyer Lee Gentry presents us with a character he will revisit often during his movie career (e.g. They Won't Forget (1937), Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939), Lawrence Of Arabia (1962), etc.).
7. CWP is another in a long line of superb performances by Rains that were unrecognized by an Academy Award nomination (e.g. Now, Voyager (1941), Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), Kings Row (1942), etc.).
8. The principal credit information appears at the end of the film---an unusual practice for that time.
Primarily because of his height and age, Claude Rains was not a major leading man-type star during his peak Hollywood years. When he made his first Hollywood film (The Invisible Man), he was already a middle-aged gentleman. In the end, nothing kept him from attaining his undeniable status as one of the greatest actors in motion picture history.
1. Although released by Paramount, it really was a joint project primarily derived from the creative talents of three individuals---Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur and Lee Garmes. All three were given co-directing credit (although the evidence suggests that Garmes did most of it). Hecht and MacArthur claimed the writing credit (from an original story by Hecht). Garmes was the official cinematographer on the film and both Hecht and MacArthur appear in CWP as extras.
2. Rains (who was 45 at the time) played one of the few leading man romantic roles in his long Hollywood career---opposite Margo as his mistress ((then 17!) and Whitney Bourne as his "real girl friend" (then 20!). For those who have criticized Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Debra Paget and Kim Novak for accepting many leading lady roles opposite much older male stars, CWP may be referred to as an example of the identical practice but at a much earlier time in movie history.
3. The CWP special effects in general and its remarkable photographic effects in particular were extraordinary for their time---as other IMDB readers have also noted.
4.Esther Dale, who graced many films of the 1930s and 1940s in enjoyable supporting roles, appears here as Rains's wise and understanding secretary in an uncredited performance.
5. Paula Trueman, who often played much older characters, appears here in a "Baby Snooks"-like role (including costume) as Margo's friend in an uncredited performance. The real "Baby Snooks" creator, Fanny Brice, is in CWP as an extra.
6. Claude Rains as the mordant and unscrupulous lawyer Lee Gentry presents us with a character he will revisit often during his movie career (e.g. They Won't Forget (1937), Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939), Lawrence Of Arabia (1962), etc.).
7. CWP is another in a long line of superb performances by Rains that were unrecognized by an Academy Award nomination (e.g. Now, Voyager (1941), Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), Kings Row (1942), etc.).
8. The principal credit information appears at the end of the film---an unusual practice for that time.
Primarily because of his height and age, Claude Rains was not a major leading man-type star during his peak Hollywood years. When he made his first Hollywood film (The Invisible Man), he was already a middle-aged gentleman. In the end, nothing kept him from attaining his undeniable status as one of the greatest actors in motion picture history.