The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1940) User Reviews

A very enjoyable B-movie

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 2 October 2015]

While "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk" has a story that is VERY hard to believe, it still is well worth seeing. It's a B-movie but despite that, it is very interesting and worth seeing. Plus, Lloyd Nolan (who did a lot of Bs) did a nice job here as did the director.

The film begins with a man being murdered. Someone is arrested for the killing but soon the real killer comes forward and admits he did it. Despite this, the killer (Nolan) won't say who he is or why he did it. The rest of the film consists of investigators and the court ultimately figuring out who he is as well as his more than justifiable reasons to kill the man. The answers are very satisfying...provided you turn off that part of your brain that questions just how realistic the story happens to be. Yes, it is far-fetched but still quite nice.

A Big-Budget "B"!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 21 August 2008]

Even by Fox's handsome standards, production values for this "B" from the Sol Wurtzel unit rate as commendably high. True, this unusual, compellingly off-beat murder/courtroom drama (partly scripted by Fox's ace Ellis-Logan team) is inclined to be a bit talky, but the acting is fine. Just look at that cast! The support players enjoy some real moments of glory here, particularly Irving Bacon as a swaggering raconteur, and Eric Blore mugging delightfully as a simpering servant.

My only complaint is that director David Burton, or film editor Alex Troffey, have a disconcerting habit of jarringly cutting into a full-face close-up from a profiled two-shot. In other respects, however, the direction is most efficient and the photography commendably crisp.

Man Without A Country.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 14 July 2015]

Inexpensive but neatly joined suspense story of ex-soldier Lloyd Nolan, who confesses to the murder of the wealthy New Yorker Onslow Stevens and then refuses to say anything more, except to claim that his name is Joe Monday, an incognito he's drawn spontaneously from a wall calendar.

The introductory scenes leave little doubt that Nolan did the deed. The rest of the movie explores the reasons why he did it and why he is refusing to reveal his identity. The unraveling is done in flashbacks during Nolan's murder trial.

There's nothing exceptional in the director or the photography. And although the Germans are on the wrong side, the flashbacks take us to 1918 in France. It's just a rather nifty, up-tempo B movie with a well-written script and a fine, subdued performance by Lloyd Nolan. Also a few laughs from Mantan Moreland, who is no more humiliated by the role than John Ford's brother Francis was by his ridiculous parts..

Lloyd Nolan Knows When To Keep His Mouth Shut

[boblipton · 6/10 · 1 February 2024]

Lloyd Nolan is toiling away in a mine in Chile when the mail and magazines come in. Most of his fellow workers are interested in the girlie magazines, but there is some discussion of the news item about the mine being purchased by a New York company, with a picture of its CEO: Onslow Stevens. The next thing we know, we're int he office, where Stevens is a popular fellow, about to head off on a trip to Africa and more mines. He doesn't have time to see Nolan, who walks away with $5 from the generous man. The next thing we know, Stevens is shot, murdered, and a man is being arraigned while protesting his innocence. In walks Nolan. He says he shot Stevens and gives the weapon. When questioned, he gives the obviously false name of Joe Monday. Jean Rogers shows up. Her mother thinks Nolan might be her brother, last heard of on the Western Front. Nolan tells her he knew her brother, and he died heroically, but the reports were never made.

Wit his lawyer offering a play of insanity, the trial begins, and a different and darker story emerges.

There are lots of problems with trial, as surprise witnesses appear, and others are questions about opinions without a protest raised. Of course, it will all turn out well in the end, and I figured it out when things were going on, but mostly I enjoyed thefine performances. Nolan was fine and brooding, Mae Marsh turns up in a wheelchair, befitting her great age (she was 46), Mantan Moreland is a comic witness, and even Irving Bacon gets a big part. Eric Blore is a butler, Elizabeth Risdon is a pig-headed old lady willing to hang the jury, and Fred Kelsey shows up in uniform as the court bailiff. Although there are lots of corners cut in the scripting, it's another handsomely produced B movie from 20th Century-Fox.

Denying who he may be to protect those he may love.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 28 August 2022]

This is a very well written but slow moving 20th Century Fox B movie about the sudden murder of a powerful businessman and the sudden arrival of someone who claims to have committed the murder when someone else is accused. Lloyd Nolan is a great man of mystery as he steps up and all of a sudden confesses to killing Onslow Stevens. Who he is and why he killed Stevens becomes the mystery, and it's an intriguing one.

Jean Rodgers co-stars as the young lady who may or may not be Nolan's sister, with Richard Clarke, Eric Blore, Irving Bacon, Joan Valarie and Mae Marsh and support. The film includes some flashbacks to the events of World War I where Nolan and Stevens first encountered each other and includes some amusing humor in the opening scenes involving a gorilla costume. Nolan is soft spoken and dignified, so audience sympathy is definitely on his side. A surprisingly thoughtful story, and one of the better B films from Fox.