The archetypal creaky early talkie, Mothers Cry stars Dorothy Peterson as the hard put upon mother of four whose bad seed son (Edward Woods) brings ill repute and woe upon the family. Her one note performance is only outdone in ineptitude by Woods, who rolls his eyes and snarls through a mask of heavy pancake makeup and distracting lipstick. In all honesty, he looks like Michael Jackson. The rest of the family is portrayed by David Manners and Helen Chandler (a year away from starring together in Dracula), neither of whom distinguish themselves, and Evelyn Knapp, who delivers the best performance here, though that isn't saying much. Reginald Pasch appears as Knapp's German husband, a decent sort who sounds like he's seen one too many El Brendel pictures. The best thing about Mothers Cry? It's literally the final shot of the film, as Peterson admires the Anton Grot designed handiwork of her architect son (Manners). For very hardcore '30s buffs and masochists only.
Review of Mother's Cry
