The Secret Call

... Paramount's "The Secret Call" (1931) went to newcomer Peggy Shannon. The story is that her father (Harry Beresford) committed suicide because he was wrongly accused of nefarious activities by a crooked politician (William B. Davidson). Peggy makes it her mission to seek revenge but she is somewhat hampered because she is in love with the politician's son (Richard Arlen). She finds herself a year later as a switchboard girl at a hotel and she gets an opportunity while there to right the wrong.

This is a very complicated plot at times and requires a lot of concentration in order for the audience to keep up with what is going on. Also, the first few reels are rather drawn out and uninteresting and thus the whole film takes a little while to actually get moving.

If this film is supposed to be a big starring role for Richard Arlen, it isn't, he only waltzes in here and there - Peggy Shannon gets the limelight and she is very good. It's such a pity her career didn't go anywhere after this.

A surprising name on the cast list is that of Ned Sparks who plays a reporter. One can't help but feel this is a bit of miscasting and that he has wandered in on the wrong picture.