WarrenWilliam.com

1930s & 1940s Film Star Warren William Tribute Site

WarrenWilliam.com

  • Intro
  • Biography
  • Reviews
  • Shopping
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
© 2007-2024 WarrenWilliam.com
privacy policy

Warren William in Outcast (1937) – the Inverse of Bedside (1934)


By Cliff Aliperti 13 Comments

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to catch Outcast with Warren William, Karen Morley and Lewis Stone and have either watched or remember my having written about the wild and crazy Bedside (1934) then I think you’ll catch the drift of my title.  If you haven’t seen Outcast, and it’s pretty likely that you haven’t–I noticed I was only the 7th person to cast my vote for it on the IMDb–the I’m going to have to recommend it to you almost as enthusiastically as I had Bedside.

Warren William with Karen Morley in Outcast

Warren William with Karen Morley in Outcast

While I’ve yet to see the Warren William title which beats Bedside for over the top zaniness, and personally I love that, I do once again, for the second time on this blog get to invoke Frankenstein (1931) when talking about a Warren William film!  In Bedside Donald Meek was bringing guinea pigs back from the dead, well in Outcast Warren William is chased by villagers with torches!  Okay, no pitchforks, but the scene was quite similar.

In Paramount’s Outcast Warren William is also cast as a doctor.  This time he’s fully licensed, totally on the up and up, but the movie opens with his being on trial for murder.  After his acquittal he becomes the outcast of the title, no one will have anything to do with him professionally.  He hocks his surgical instruments and escapes Baltimore taking a train as far as the pawn shop funds take him, which turns out to be Orchard Fork, Wisconsin, a small town, basically filled with, pardon, hicks, and one really wise old-timer, Anthony Abbott, a retired lawyer played with a nice combination of savvy and folksiness by Lewis Stone.

In Orchard Fork Jones tells Abbott who is he is, and the old man knows all about him but still takes him on as his personal physician and helps him get started all over again as a country doctor.   Soon Doc Jones becomes a popular and necessary part of the town.  Trouble looms when Karen Morley, as Margaret, sister-in-law of the woman WW’s Jones was cleared of killing, comes to town planning to out him to the kind, but dimwitted, citizens of Orchard Fork.

In Bedside Jean Muir’s Caroline continually tells Warren William’s Bob Brown that he’s marvelous when he’s about as far from that as you can get.  In Outcast Warren William plays a man who has some degree martyred himself and is in fact a pretty marvelous human being.  Not only is he a doctor in both films, but he performs an operation on a patient’s throat in each–in Bedside his actions nearly lead to the death of his patient with her bleeding out and needing rescue from the aforementioned Donald Meek.  In Outcast Dr. Jones is totally legit, does everything right, but the end result is far more damaging.  In fact, on their way to carrying those torches one towns person comments about Jones “He’s too smooth and too oily.”  No, he’s not, but that does describe Bob Brown of Bedside!

Lewis Stone is wonderful in Outcast as the elderly lawyer Abbott, a role which certainly looks forward to the recurring role of Judge Hardy he’d soon be playing.  Abbott’s content to a life of reading, smoking and drinking, but a bit of a busy-body at the same time willing to interject his own sound belief system on those around him.

I like Karen Morley and she does a pretty good job here as well, though at the same time she’d probably be easiest to replace in this cast with similar results.  You really feel for this prim and proper city girl when she’s evicted for keeping late hours and being up to who knows what.  From that moment on Morley is biting her lip waiting to break into tears with no one better to comfort her than Stone’s Abbott once she does.

Esther Dale is over-the-top mean and old-fashioned, and I mean that in a good way.  For the story to take the turns it does, her Hattie Simmerson needs to be the way she is.  John Wray, on the other hand, is somewhat invisible as her husband.  This is partly by design, any man would have to take a back seat to Dale here, but at the same time Wray was obviously there to inject a little comedy earlier in the picture and he kind of flopped in this regard.  Jackie Moran plays their son, Freddie.

There is one hilarious scene around the Simmerson dinner table where Hattie talks about the electric bloodstream reverser, basically a souped-up vibrator that she tells Karen Morley will “give you a brand new set of vibrations.”  Huh?  Oh, well Wray’s Mr. Simmerson explains that the reverser is “a rubber covered windingus that works with a battery.  You sit on it an hour a day and it makes your clockwork run backwards.”  It’s actually a very funny scene on a couple of levels, one of which obviously has me wondering how it slipped past the censors.

Christian Rub, as Abbott’s valet Olaf, is there to steal scenes but falls a little flat.  Though I have to admit I smiled along with him as he chomped down on one of Abbott’s cigars and walked off at the very end of the picture.

Warren William is excellent as Dr. Phil Jones, a little stiff in some spots, but very strong overall.  I was interested in this movie largely because it’s a post-Warner Brothers, pre-Columbia (ie: Lone Wolf) lead for William with Paramount and I was wondering how he’d do with it.  I’m left wondering why better leads didn’t come.  He’s more than capable in this drama whose escalating action does eventually recall the lynch mob of Fury (1936) starring Spencer Tracy, even if it’s not as good a film overall.

Regarding Robert Florey’s direction, the lone comment over on the IMDb from briantaves puts it beautifully:

…Florey reveals an increasing stylistic sophistication, blending the German Expressionist visuals which had marked his earlier work with an increased naturalist influence, that would eventually coalesce in the 1940s when Florey became one of the leaders in Hollywood’s shift to a realistic style. The result in Outcast is a naturalism that serves to emphasize an artistic rendering of the subject matter…

My own thoughts on picturesque Orchard Fork is that it’s a pretty little town, the kind people talk about retiring too, that Florey takes and paints with enough shadows at the appropriate times to anticipate the onslaught of American noir films coming soonafter.

That IMDb rating?  I gave it an 8.  Admittedly, I’m surely partial to a strong Warren William movie, but that’s exactly what Outcast is.  Unlike several of his more dramatic roles Warren William is the unquestionable lead of Outcast and it makes me wish that there were more like this.

I found my copy on iOffer.  Titles seem to come and go over there, so I’d say act quick if you want it.  I purchased it with another title from seller lightscameraaction for $15 plus shipping–don’t bother negotiating, he doesn’t take offers.

By the way, I’ve been on a Warren William buying frenzy recently and have now got my checklist down to just 7 titles.  If you have any leads about where to find these feel free to let me know in the comments section below.  I’m pretty sure the first two titles are lost, but also just as convinced that the other 5 can be had:

The Town That Forgot God (1922)
Honor of the Family (1931)
Expensive Women (1931)
The Woman from Monte Carlo (1932)
The Widow from Monte Carlo (1935)
Midnight Madonna (1937)
The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947)

Thanks for any help on those.  The reverse side of the press photo found at the top of this page follows:

Reverse of Outcast press photo, date stamped January 28, 1937 by the Examiner Reference Library.  Text on reverse follows below

Reverse of Outcast press photo, date stamped January 28, 1937 by the Examiner Reference Library. Text on reverse follows below

AN OLD FASHIONED COUNTRY PARTY – one of the highlight scenes from “Outcast,” which features Warren William, Karen Morley, Lewis Stone and Jackie Moran.  Miss Morley’s chic costume is due to the fact that she’s a big city girl visiting a small town in the dramatic picture.  That’s a fork Warren is fondling–not a lethal weapon.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: bedside, Karen Morley, Lewis Stone, Outcast, press photo, review, warren william

Subscribe by Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

My Pre-Code Kindle eBook

11 Pre-Code Hollywood Movie HistoriesAvailable on Amazon for just $2.99 - 11 Pre-Code Hollywood Movie Histories includes my most polished look to date at Warren William in Employees' Entrance, plus 10 additional reviews! The entire Introduction and additional front matter can be read for free in Amazon's preview. If you don't have a Kindle, Amazon offers some alternatives for reading eBooks here.

Comments

  1. Jeffers says

    September 1, 2009 at 10:44 pm

    Well, Cliff, you talked me into it and at a glance it does look as good as you say! I’m having a terrible time getting any movies seen, not merely a matter of the limited number of hours in a day, but of the even more limited number in which I can have access to a comfortable chair with a screen in front of it for any consecutive period. But I will get to it (as well as The Wolf Man, Cleopatra, Upperworld, The Secret Bride, Arizona, Trail of the Vigilantes [I trust WW makes a terrific borderline-B-Western villain], and Wild Geese Calling). Outcast now joins The Wolf Man at the top of this WW to-see list, but I have so many non-WW movies I also want to see, and lately I’m only getting in about one movie of any kind a month. Nonetheless, I will continue to seek out your referrals, for which I thank you!

    Reply
  2. The_Mouthpiece says

    September 2, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    I was surprised and impressed. Very happy with Outcast.

    Here’s a source to try for Warren William movies I came upon while trying to finish my search: VintageClassicMovies – He has, I believe, 42 different titles with Warren William, though only those titles not in print are available.

    Reply
  3. The_Mouthpiece says

    September 2, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Oh, almost forgot, Jeffers, I want to watch “Trail of the Vigilantes” again before saying much more, but I’ll say this…that second viewing is going to be a bit of a struggle.

    Warren William is fine, though Franchot Tone stars and Brod Crawford probably has next most screen time. Again, I didn’t really read up on in before watching it and so I was quickly surprised to find it was a comedy. At least as the villain WW didn’t have to drop his pants like most of the other cast members, but as of now this one ranks pretty far down my list of must-sees. Actually, I did enjoy Mischa Auer here.

    Cliff

    Reply
  4. Jeffers says

    September 9, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    “Bedside” and “Outcast” really do make a remarkable diptych–it IS almost as if they were deliberately made to mirror each other, as if they were planned at the same time as set. Each makes me appreciate the other more (even in retrospect, with regard to “Bedside”).

    I read somewhere, possibly as speculation, that “Trail of the Vigilantes” had been intended to play straight but turned out so bad that they had to partly redo it in hopes it would work as a comedy. I admit I’m not exactly chomping at the bit to see it; maybe some time when I’ve been watching actual B-Westerns again and wondering if the villain was trying to imitate Our Hero.

    Reply
  5. The_Mouthpiece says

    September 9, 2009 at 9:43 pm

    Hey Jeffers, so glad to hear that you watched “Outcast,” I really thought it was excellent myself. Very pleased that you saw the similarities, and especially differences, with “Bedside” too, I really think these two are twins. Well, at least siblings in the vein of Cain and Abel.

    In much better news on the WW western front I can tell you I really enjoyed first viewing of “Wild Bill Hickok” rides. In fact I think it’s solid enough to warren a DVD release (okay, at least from Warner Archives). I’d mentioned to someone else, this little Western was re-released twice, the second time in 1959, leading me to believe it was somewhat appreciated then. All I can think now is that with a cast of Bruce Cabot, Constance Bennett and Warren William it’s been deemed DOA by most prior to viewing.

    Thanks for stopping by as always!
    Cliff

    Reply
  6. Jeffers says

    September 9, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    Vintage Classic Movies does have “The Mind Reader,” I see–hurray!

    Reply
  7. Jeffers says

    September 9, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    I watched the trailer for “Wild Bill Hickok Rides” and that’s really what I was looking for when I found “Trail of the Vigilantes” instead. I would love to it, despite not being bowled over by my glimpse of Cabot.

    Reply
  8. Jeffers says

    September 9, 2009 at 9:47 pm

    I meant “love to see it,” of course. Several weeks of inadequate sleep in play here, though they didn’t keep me from enjoying “Outcast” (and I got to “The Wolf Man,” too.

    Reply
  9. The_Mouthpiece says

    September 9, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    I can’t recall which source I used for Wild Bill, it might have actually been Vintage Classics, but if not let me know and I’ll check my receipts for you.

    What did you think of “The Wolf Man”? As solid as it is and deserving of its iconic status as a horror movie, I think one criticism would be a poor use of talent.

    Reply
  10. Jeffers says

    September 9, 2009 at 9:58 pm

    How mortifying–only after ordering “The Mind Reader” did it occur to me wonder where you had seen “Wild Bill Hickok Rides”–could it also be on Vintage Classic Movies? Yes! Hoo-hah! Unfortunately I’ve still got a few hours to go before I sleep, but I think I’d at least better get off the computer. Cliff, thanks for everything!

    Reply
  11. The_Mouthpiece says

    September 9, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    No problem, my friend. Working away here, but hopefully you have time for a movie before bed. Have a great night!

    Cliff

    Reply
  12. Jeffers says

    September 16, 2009 at 6:34 pm

    When I started “The Wolf Man,” I thought, Wow, I hadn’t realized it had such a strong cast. When I finished, I thought, Well, that was good enough, but not nearly as good as I expected it to be. So I think you have hit the nail on the head again! I now have my copies of “The Mind Reader” and “Wild Bill Hickok Rides” from Vintage Classic Movies and they do look GREAT as far as image quality, but it will probably be a while before I get a chance to see them, though you have really whet my appetite for the former and I always have a taste for a “B++” western. I’ll still be following the blog, in the mean time!

    Reply
  13. The_Mouthpiece says

    September 16, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    Thanks, Jeffers. While I liked “Wild Bill Hickok Rides” quite a bit, “The Mind Reader” is pre-code Warren William at his best.

    By the way, and I’m sure I’ll post on this as it gets nearer, but anyone looking for “The Match King,” if you have TCM you can stop looking and just wait–it airs at 3 am EST late in the evening of October 29 as part of a “Life in the Depression” series of movies TCM is running next month.

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Key Content

  • About Cliff
  • Warren William Biography
  • Filmography
  • Movie Reviews
  • Strange Wills Episode Guide
  • News
  • Shopping
  • Links

Order Now:

Warren William by John Stangeland

Or Read My Review First
(Trust me, you'll want it!)

Proud Member:

Large Association of Movie Blogs

Other Classic Movie Blogs

  • Ann Dvorak
  • Cinama OCD
  • Genevieve Tobin
  • Magnificentscoundrel's Blog
  • Out of the Past
  • Pre-Code.com
  • She Blogged By Night
  • Silents and Talkies
  • Trouble in Paradise

RSS Recent Immortal Ephemera Posts

  • Rebecca (1940) and My Du Maurier Kick
  • Movie Centenarians Updated to Include Nehemiah Persoff, Marge Champion
  • Some Recently Landed Doris Day Images
  • New Collectible Checklist & Gallery: 1933 Moviebook Corp. Set of 32 Film Stars
  • More Movie Collectible Videos Posted to YouTube

Warren William with Helen Twelvetrees

Helen Twelvetrees and Warren William in a publicity shot from Columbia while both were on loan there.

Helen Twelvetrees and Warren William in a publicity shot taken while both were on loan to Columbia. Twelvetrees was appearing in My Woman, and Warren in Lady for a Day. My book, Helen Twelvetrees, Perfect Ingenue, is available at Amazon.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy
%d