BORN RECKLESS

DIRECTED BY ANDREW BENNISON/JOHN FORD
PRODUCED BY JAMES KEVIN McGUINNESS .
FOX FILM CORPORATION

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/1930BornReckless01.jpg..http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/BORNRECKLESS_1930-0.jpg

Information From IMDb

Plot Summary
Hoping to use the publicity to get re-elected,
a judge sentences a notorious gangster to fight in the war

Full Cast
Edmund Lowe ... Louis Beretti
Catherine Dale Owen ... Joan Sheldon
Frank Albertson ... Frank Sheldon
Marguerite Churchill ... Rosa Beretti
William Harrigan ... Good News Brophy
Lee Tracy ... Bill O'Brien
Warren Hymer ... Big Shot
Ilka Chase ... High Society Customer at Beretti's
Ferike Boros ... Ma Beretti
Paul Porcasi ... Pa Beretti
Joe Brown ... Needle Beer Grogan - Bartender
Ben Bard ... Joe Bergman
Pat Somerset ... Duke
Eddie Gribbon ... Bugs
Mike Donlin ... Fingy Moscovitz
Paul Page ... Ritzy Reilly
Roy Stewart ... District Attorney Cardigan
Jack Pennick ... Sergeant
Ward Bond ... Sergeant
Yola D'Avril ... French Girl
Stanley Blystone ... Newspaper Worker (uncredited)
Edwards Davis ... Uncle Jim (uncredited)
Bill Elliott ... Dance Extra at Beretti's (uncredited)
Robert Homans ... Policeman (uncredited)
John Kelly ... Irish Recruit (uncredited)
James A. Marcus ... General Sheldon (uncredited)
Tom McGuire ... Newspaper Worker (uncredited)
Randolph Scott ... Dick - Joan's Rejected Suitor (uncredited)
Harry Strang ... Sergeant (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook ... Beretti Henchman (uncredited)
Duke Morrison ... Extra (uncredited)

Writing Credits
Donald Henderson Clarke (novel "Louis Beretti")
Dudley Nichols (screenplay)

Original Music
Peter Brunelli
George Lipschultz
Albert Hay Malotte
Jean Talbot

Cinematography
George Schneiderman

All in all a pretty dire film,
of which the quote below sums up.

John Ford cast the ever maturing actor Ward Bond,
in a billed role on this one.
Although Ford was keeping a 'watchfull eye' on Duke,
it was Bond who was initially in the forefront.
At this time Duke and Ward's friendship,
was forever blossoming.
Jack Pennick, Randolph Scott and Marguerite Churchill,
are three of Duke's 'Pals' to be in this one


A John Ford Production, wrecked by Andrew Bennison.
Author: arthursward

With such fluid epics as "The Iron Horse" (1924), "Lightnin'" (1925),
"Hangman's House" and "Four Sons" (both 1928) in his resume,
it is surprising that Fox would encumber Ford
with a dialogue director over and over, but Fox did.
In '29's "The Black Watch" it was Lumsden Hare.
Andrew Bennison is credited with the stage direction
of "Men Without Women" released January 1930.
Judging from the result Bennison achieved in
"Born Reckless" (released in May 1930),
I'm astonished anyone would have given him a second chance.

The photoplay opens with a traveling camera shot of a parade.
The camera prowls into a jewelry store where a heist is in progress.
Outside, the cops "get wise" when a stolen truck is discovered.
An exiting shootout and chase ensues, with our hero,
Louis Berretti, gaining refuge at his parents' apartment.
Then Bennison's stuff takes over.
Well, molasses in Anchorage moves better and the pace of the film congeals
. Berretti faces justice (eventually) and is "sentenced" to join the war effort overseas.
John Ford stages some excellent sequences here,
with Berretti's approbatory service delivering him home a hero.
He opens a nightclub which, unfortunately,
keeps Berretti rubbing elbows with his old mob
and allows plenty scenes filled with Bennison-helmed hubris.
The dialogue is not only awkward with head-shaking gaps,
but has characters with names like Big Shot
putting people "on the spot" [murdered].

Audiences of 1930 could not fast forward but you can and should.
Edmund Lowe's performance is nothing like the smooth "Chandu"
of a year later and probably should be skipped over to view Ford's
impressive set pieces.
The swamp at the picture's conclusion cribs Fox's "Sunrise"
but remains impressive for an early talkie.
I gave it a 7 for Ford's contributions.
On the whole, though, this is the kind of film that gave early
TV viewers a bad taste for early talkies.
Viewers beware.