Kattiera Nana I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Forn55 The first, starring movie vehicle of a very young Barbara Stanwyck, "The Locked Door" isn't a good film, but still worth seeing for the magnetic aura that already surrounds its leading lady. This early "talkies" movie comes from the era when stage actors and silent film stars were just beginning to make the transition to sound and -- to tell the truth -- many of them hadn't yet found their "sea legs" on the sound stages of Hollywood. Histrionics more appropriate to the live stage are greatly in evidence in this predictable murder mystery, which perhaps isn't surprising given the fact that the movie was adapted from an earlier stage play. Particularly egregious in that regard are the performances of Stanwyck's co-stars, William Boyd and Rod La Rocque who indulge themselves in hammy, wooden (Boyd) and oily (La Rocque) characterizations. But there's a most entertaining cameo performance by Zasu Pitts as a telephone operator, and Stanwyck, herself, gives a sure and carefully calculated performance as a woman wronged who goes to great lengths to save her sister-in-law (Betty Bronson) from a similar fate. Veteran "silents" director George Fitzmaurice is in control here, and while his direction isn't especially memorable (and how could it be given the script with its jaw-dropping coincidences and deus ex machinae?) he at least has the sense to keep the camera on Stanwyck as much as possible and let her emote. See "The Locked Door" for Stanwyck if you must, but don't expect to see an overlooked, early screen gem. It isn't.

wes-connors Handsome but oily playboy Rod La Rocque (as Frank Devereaux) takes secretary Barbara Stanwyck (as Ann Carter) on a Prohibition-era cruise aboard a boozy gambling boat. He locks their cabin door for dinner and sex, but a police raid saves Ms. Stanwyck from date rape. Eighteen months later, Stanwyck has happily married well-heeled William Boyd (as Lawrence "Larry" Reagan). Then, Stanwyck is shocked to discover Mr. La Rocque is charming cute sister-in-law Betty Bronson (Helen). Stanwyck wants La Rocque to hit the road without Ms. Bronson, so he threatens to reveal her participation on the opening cruise.Director George Fitzmaurice does his best maneuvering everyone around the early sound-equipped stages.Viewers in 1929 likely remembered the original "The Sign on the Door" (1921) starring Norma Talmadge and Lew Cody in the Stanwyck and La Rocque roles; this film survives, but has not been released. La Rocque, a popular cad, and perky "Peter Pan" star Bronson were likely the main draws in this "All Talking!" re-make. Now, it's seen as the first big role for Stanwyck. Unafraid to repeatedly show her underwear, Stanwyck is bold but inexperienced. Bronson measures theatrical. La Rocque is at his smarmy best, and Mr. Boyd lends good support. Telephone operator Zasu Pitts and dumb waiter Harry Stubbs provide comic relief.***** The Locked Door (11/16/29) George Fitzmaurice ~ Barbara Stanwyck, Rod La Rocque, William 'Stage' Boyd, Betty Bronson

mark.waltz All great stars had to start somewhere, and for Barbara Stanwyck, it was on Broadway. The play "Burlesque" made her famous and brought her to the attention of film producers. It would take a man named Frank Capra to get ahold of her and teach her to love the camera and teach the camera to love her. But between "Burlesque" on Broadway and "Ladies of Leisure", Stanwyck made several films in which she did her best to find her niche' on screen. "The Locked Door" and "Mexicali Rose" are the two I've seen, and in each, I have to admit that my favorite actress of the 30's and 40's just hadn't found her place yet. It doesn't help that the films are stagy, filmed like old theatre melodramas, and are stiff and rigid. Stanwyck has presence; She just needed the right Svengali to come along and show her the way. "The Locked Door" is certainly better than "Mexicali Rose" (the Brooklyn gal as a Latina?), but not much better. Rod La Rocque is the slimy villain she fights off then defends her sister-in-law from; He is an exile of the silent movies, a character that has thankfully faded from view in films, TV and theatre except for parody (most memorably in the Broadway musical "The Drowsy Chaperone"). No one else in the cast really is worth mentioning except for Zasu Pitts as the chatty operator who adds on some much needed laughs. Thankfully this has been rescued from obscurity by recent TCM airings, one of the last Stanwyck films I needed to see to complete my viewing of all her work. As Stanwyck herself proclaimed, "They never should have opened the damned door!"

Michael Morrison Someone referred to this as "stagy," and was more correct than perhaps he knew: "The Locked Door" was originally a stage play, and this movie was an adaptation, a good one in my opinion.C. Gardner Sullivan had been writing scenarios and inter-titles since at least 1912, and is honored among aficionados who know his work from those earliest years of motion pictures. The four top-billed players were also veterans, except for Barbara Stanwyck who has only one previous credit.Rod La Rocque had been in movies since at least 1914, and put in 12 more years.Betty Bronson became a huge star with her seventh role, Peter Pan in the movie of that name, and reportedly was chosen for the part by James M. Barrie, the author, himself.William Boyd, known here at IMDb as "William 'Stage' Boyd," is the primary reason the Screen Actors Guild usually forbids a member having the same name as another, Harrison Ford being the only exception that comes immediately to my mind.This particular Boyd was busted on something shameful and the picture of "the other" William Boyd, who later became very famous as Hopalong Cassidy, was published in a newspaper, almost destroying his career.In this cast there are lots of "withs" who help make this a very good movie, including Mack Swain and Zasu Pitts.The story is not really a mystery, at least not to us, because we see everything that happens, but it is a drama, with conflict and character change.I'm reminded of the aphorism that people in small towns buy their local paper not to see who did what, because everyone knows, but to see who gets blamed.That's the premise of this story, and it's well done, plausible by the standards of its time.There is also a good point for modern society: Laws against consensual acts, such as gambling or ingestion of certain substances, in this case, alcohol, cause more problems than they solve."The Locked Door" is good cinema, especially for anyone who wants to watch the evolution of the art.