A Dangerous Woman (1929)
Director:
Rowland V. Lee
Writers:
John Farrow (adaptation), John Farrow (dialogue), Margery Lawrence, Edward E. Paramore Jr.
Stars:
Olga Baclanova, Clive Brook, Neil Hamilton, Clyde Cook, Leslie Fenton, Snitz Edwards
The "dangerous woman" of the title is Tania Gregory, played by the magnificent Olga Baclanova. The Russian-born wife of African district manager Frank Gregory (Clive Brook), Tania soon develops "Somerset Maugham disease" and begins yearning for the companionship of other men. Using her knowledge of African witch-doctor magic, she enmeshes several young men in her web of seduction -- and then, like any proper black widow, kills them when they've served their purpose. Gregory's handsome brother Bobby (Neil Hamilton) is at first impervious to Tanya's evil spell, but before long he, too, has succumbed to her wicked wiles. Finally figuring out what's what, Gregory puts an end to Tanya's homicidal philandering by poisoning her drink. Fully expecting to be arrested by the authorities, Gregory is saved by his old pal Tubbs (Clyde Cook) who makes it appears as though Tanya died from a snakebite. The ending of Dangerous Woman would hardly pass muster a few years later under the more stringent Production Code, which dictated that all crimes -- even justifiable ones -- be duly punished.