Copyright 1 September 1933 by Paramount Productions, Inc. U.S. release: 1 September 1933. New York opening at the Paramount: 1 September 1933. U.K. release: 10 March 1934. Australian release: 17 October 1934 (sic). 85 minutes. SYNOPSIS: A comedy about a dentist who decides to murder the man who sent him to prison.NOTES: Although some sources record Karl Struss as an uncredited contributor to the film's cinematography, Struss does not include this movie in either his official or unofficial lists of credits. 1933 and 1934 were Fay Wray's biggest years as a star. She appeared in no less than 22 movies, including King Kong. COMMENT: A surprisingly offbeat yet vivid and colorful performance by Fay Wray, plus a solid (if appropriately glum) interpretation by Gary Cooper in the central role, lifts this original version of Hagen's thrice-filmed stage play into the must-see category, despite the fact that it's outclassed in every department by the Raoul Walsh re-make, The Strawberry Blonde. Although it has its comic moments, particularly in its amusing observation of the courting habits of the gay nineties, its overall mood (aided by Victor Milner's stark photography) comes across as decidedly downbeat. True, in this aspect as well in plot and characterization, it does stay much closer to the Broadway play, but that's not necessarily an advantage.

Finally caught this one on TCM as part of my unhealthy quest to see every Fay Wray film possible. Not a bad little story, but nothing spectacular. Very cool to see Neil Hamilton in his early days, and Gary Cooper and Frances Fuller were equally interesting. Fay is not really on screen much which was disappointing, but then she steals the show at the end by channeling Mae West. What a treat this was! The direction was fine with some really cool moving camera work in the opening scene. This seemed to be a trend in the early 1930's to have a really cool moving camera shot to open the film, but then fade into standard static setups thereafter.Overall worth a look for the performances of Cooper and Fay Wray or if you just want to see what Batman's Commissioner Gordon looked like in his younger days. Otherwise, it's pretty routine.

This movie when i first saw it i thought it was pretty funny but i thought that The Strawberry Blonde with James Cagney was better than this 1933 version. The movie stars Gary Cooper as Biff Grimes a man who ends up falling in love with a blonde girl named Virginia Rush (played by Fay Wray.). But also for the Grimes character i thought that between the two Biff Grimes movies i thought that Gary Cooper had a more suitable portrayal than James Cagney did but i thought that Cagney did an excellent job playing Biff Grimes as well. Also even though i enjoyed this movie it was not as funny as Raoul Walsh's 1941 version which had a lot more laughs than this 1933 version. But still it stayed true to Biff Grimes character but it didn't tell the story to his love affair with Virginia Rush all that correctly.

There are three versions of this movie and hands-down this is the best. I of course adore James Cagney, Rita Hayworth and Olivia De Haviland in The Strawberry Blonde but this version is the best. Gary Cooper, aka Biff Grimes, is smitten with Virginia, aka Fay Wray. Ms Virginia was not interested in the simple Biff. Amy, aka Florence Fuller, has had a crush on Biff since grade school. Virginia is no more attracted to Biff than I can fly. Near the beginning when Biff is trying to impress Virginia there's a scene where he's winding around a tree ala true county bumpkin style, it's wonderful. And hanging upside-down on a Merry-go-Round ride, is too darling. The beginning of the movie gives away what happens but the whole 85 minutes is a treasure showing the road of the trials and tribulations. The real eye-opener of what's real and right is exposed in this lovely film.