If we discount Hearts Of The World in which, as a youngster, he had a small role, The Scoundrel was Noel Coward's first significant film in which he played the lead. It will be of special interest to anyone interested in the New York literary scene - the Algonquin 'Round Table' set for example for not only are the characters drawn from that milieu but it was actually shot in new York shortly before the Hollywood companies closed down their studios in New York and moved permanently to the West coast. Add to that the fact that co-writer-directors Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur were very much a part of the Algonquin set - it was in fact Hecht to whom Herman Mankiewicz sent his now notorious telegram urging Hecht to take up a screenwting post in Hollywood where his only competition would be 'idiots' - and they found a part for prominent member Alexander Woolcott, more or less playing himself whilst leading lady Julie Haydon would go on to marry leading drama critic George Jean Nathan. Coward plays publisher Anthony Mullare, clearly based on the late Horace Liveright and has no problem convincing as the witty, urbane, narcissist, who wouldn't be caught dead without a bowl of bon mots within arms' reach. It's dialogue rather than plot-driven and Coward is well up to carrying the part. Veteran film buffs may well cherish seeing 'hard' men such as Eduardo Cianelli and Lionel Stander as effete hangers-on and it remains an interesting curio.
Review of The Scoundrel
