The Devil to Pay

Ronald Colman's dashing good looks made him a star in the silent era, but what really consolidated his appeal and catapulted him to the ranks of the all-time movie greats was the coming of sound. It revealed an elegant speaking voice that, when gently softened for the American market, became every male's ideal. This early talkie creaks a bit now, but clearly confirms Colman's magnetic screen presence, despite the primitive recording techniques. Colman co-stars with two luminous ladies near the start of their illustrious careers: Loretta Young and Myrna Loy. A real curio, and well worth watching if you can bear in mind the period in which it was made.