The Man With Two Faces (1934)

When his sister (Mary Astor) falls under the spell of her Svengali like, sadistic husband (Louis Calhern), an acclaimed stage actor (Edward G. Robinson) decides he'll do whatever it takes to save her ..... even if it takes murder. Based on the play THE DARK TOWER by George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott and directed by Archie Mayo (THE PETRIFIED FOREST). Despite its illustrious theatrical roots, this is a rather static and stage bound effort for a film made some seven years after the first talking movie. Fortunately, at its center, there's a marvelous turn by the great Edward G. Robinson playing two roles. Alas, it's not a pre code film or perhaps the ending would have allowed the murderer to get away. The victim is a despicable prick and everybody in the film hates him but the ending is still ambiguous enough to encourage the idea that although the murderer is caught perhaps a jury would be on his side. With Ricardo Cortez, Mae Clarke and Margaret Dale.