The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (1934)

Set in Paris on the eve of WWI, a pacifist writer (Claude Rains) allows an ambitious politician (Lionel Atwill) to take credit for his words in the broadsheet he publishes. When his political aspirations bring him closer to the very people condemned in the pacifist's writings, he urges the scribe to soften his rhetoric. Based on the play by Jean Bart and directed by Edward Ludwig (WAKE OF THE RED WITCH). The play was a flop (it ran for about three weeks) and also starred Claude Rains, recreating his stage role here. Considering this was not a pre code film, I was taken aback at the violent ending (the title is to be taken literally as well as metaphorically). Other than that, it's your standard tale of a passive man pushed to the brink until the worm turns. Enjoyable enough but not essential. With Joan Bennett (still in the blonde phase of her career), Wallace Ford and Juanita Quigley, one of the most annoying child actors I've ever seen.