RECENT VIEWINGS: Ann Harding

Her Private Affair (Rollo Lloyd and Paul L. Stein): Early sound dramatic films are frequently marked with abundant theatrical dialogue and this adaptation of a play is not an exception. Why have sound, after all, if every moment of a film is not filled with banter? So Her Private Affair is largely stage-bound with rigid editing, but the film never quite aches with the fixed fortitude of many contemporaneous works. Perhaps the average shot length is few seconds less or maybe the short overall running time contributes to the perception (though even at a brisk 71 minutes, the film is longer than other features of the era) .  More likely culprits are the interesting, if antiquated, performances—particularly star Ann Harding.


As a society woman who accidentally murders her would-be blackmailer, Harding certainly plays to the back of the house. On-screen and off-screen husband Harry Bannister is dead weight against the actress, though John Loder registers better as a chaste friend. As the patsy on trial for the killing, Elmer Ballard delivers a robust, sometimes outrageous performance that finds a center in his final scenes. The focus, however, is always Harding. Her mannerisms are grand and more appropriate for silent film making, but something about her deep, hesitant voice is convincing and ambiguous. The moral dilemma of her character, a bout between guilt and selfishness, provides a few entertaining and melodramatic moments. Harding is affected but nonetheless manages to convince in her portrayal of a woman quickly slipping into paralyzing regret.  The superficiality works well  for such a self-centered character! The more unhinged she becomes, the more dynamic Her Private Affair appears even if the film is generally a routine and clunky early-era "talkie".