- Published on
Magic, betrayal, and love in vaudeville.
Advert from Picture Play Magazine (October 1929)
Date of Release: September 21, 1929
Studio: Paramount
Director: Lothar Mendes
Screenplay: E. Lloyd Sheldon, Richard H. Digges Jr.
Music: Lou Davis, J. Fred Coots, Sam Coslow, Larry Spier
Leading Actors: Charles "Buddy" Rogers (Carlee Thorpe), Nancy Carroll (Claire Jernigan), June Collyer (Hilda Schmittlap), Regis Toomey (Eric Schmittlap), Knute Erickson (Mr. Jacob Schmittlap), Kay Francis (Zelda Paxton), Eugenie Besserer (Mrs. Jacob Schmittlap), Maude Turner Gordon (Queen of Dalmatia), William Austin (Mr. Z), Emilie Melville (Mother Fay), Frances Raymond (Mrs. Y), Catherine Wallace (Mrs. Z), J. E. Nash (Mr. X), William McLaughlin (Mr. Y), Eddie Kane (Gus Bloomberg), Michael Visaroff (Equerry), Paul Lucas (Count Fortuny), Richard Cramer (Magus), Bessie Lyle (Consuelo), Col. G. L. McDonnell (Jarman), Lillian Roth (Herself, a singer), Harriet Spiker (Midget), Anna Magruder (Fat lady), Albert Wolfe (Giant)
Studio: Paramount
Director: Lothar Mendes
Screenplay: E. Lloyd Sheldon, Richard H. Digges Jr.
Music: Lou Davis, J. Fred Coots, Sam Coslow, Larry Spier
Leading Actors: Charles "Buddy" Rogers (Carlee Thorpe), Nancy Carroll (Claire Jernigan), June Collyer (Hilda Schmittlap), Regis Toomey (Eric Schmittlap), Knute Erickson (Mr. Jacob Schmittlap), Kay Francis (Zelda Paxton), Eugenie Besserer (Mrs. Jacob Schmittlap), Maude Turner Gordon (Queen of Dalmatia), William Austin (Mr. Z), Emilie Melville (Mother Fay), Frances Raymond (Mrs. Y), Catherine Wallace (Mrs. Z), J. E. Nash (Mr. X), William McLaughlin (Mr. Y), Eddie Kane (Gus Bloomberg), Michael Visaroff (Equerry), Paul Lucas (Count Fortuny), Richard Cramer (Magus), Bessie Lyle (Consuelo), Col. G. L. McDonnell (Jarman), Lillian Roth (Herself, a singer), Harriet Spiker (Midget), Anna Magruder (Fat lady), Albert Wolfe (Giant)
Advert from The Film Daily (Sept 5, 1929)
Illusion told the story of Carlee (Buddy Rogers) and Claire (Nancy Carroll), who star together in a vaudeville magic act. Carlee abandons Claire for a wealthy society girl, Hilda (June Collyer). Claire is despondent and attempts to take her own life by sabotaging the act. She miraculously sustains only minor injuries, and is relieved to discover Carlee has tired of society life and has come back to her.
The story was based on Arthur Chesney Train’s novel Illusion, published in 1929. Chesney Train was a lawyer and novelist who was best known for writing legal thrillers. Several of his books were adapted for film and television plays, including his popular Mr. Ephraim stories.
Earlier in 1929, Charles “Buddy” Rogers and Nancy Carroll had been a hit in the charming musical Close Harmony. It was hoped bringing the duo back together would be a sure fire hit.
Theatre managers employed innovative tricks to promote Illusion. Window dressings and foyers had magic-themed displays, carnival and trick mirrors that on closer inspection changed into ads for the film. One enterprising theatre had cards printed with the letters “I L S O,” and when held up to a light, the card read “ILLUSION”.
The story was based on Arthur Chesney Train’s novel Illusion, published in 1929. Chesney Train was a lawyer and novelist who was best known for writing legal thrillers. Several of his books were adapted for film and television plays, including his popular Mr. Ephraim stories.
Earlier in 1929, Charles “Buddy” Rogers and Nancy Carroll had been a hit in the charming musical Close Harmony. It was hoped bringing the duo back together would be a sure fire hit.
Theatre managers employed innovative tricks to promote Illusion. Window dressings and foyers had magic-themed displays, carnival and trick mirrors that on closer inspection changed into ads for the film. One enterprising theatre had cards printed with the letters “I L S O,” and when held up to a light, the card read “ILLUSION”.
Trick card featured in Motion Picture News (October 12, 1929)
Radio was also employed as a publicity tool. To coincide with the film’s release, Paramount presented an hour-long radio broadcast through the Columbia Radio Chain. The broadcast featured live performances of theme songs from various Paramount films, including “When the Real Thing Comes Your Way” from Illusion. The song was performed by Buddy Rogers.
The Paramount Theatre in New York staged a live show called Believe It Or Not as an “atmospheric prologue” to the feature. The two-act show included various magic acts, comedy, and music, and was described by The Film Daily (Sept 29, 1929) as “one of the best stage shows that Paramount has uncovered.”
The reviews for Illusion were mixed. Director Lothar Mendes received the most criticism, with reviewers describing his work as lacking in skill and imagination. German-born Mendes worked as a director in Germany, England, and the United States. He directed thirty films in twenty years, including The Four Feathers (1929), Paramount on Parade (1930) and The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936). Mendes’ 1934 film Jew Süss (released in the USA under the title Power) aimed to show the anti-semitic roots of the Nazi Party. He was briefly married to leading lady Dorothy Mackaill, who appeared in another musical from 1929, The Great Divide.
Male lead Charles “Buddy” Rogers received less-than-glowing reviews. The critics blamed the poor script, and the fact that his character was “A heel” for leaving Claire in the first place.
The female leads fared better, particularly Nancy Carroll and June Collyer, and Kay Francis, with the critics stating they were well-suited to their rules.
Nancy Carroll started out on Broadway and moved with her husband and daughter to Hollywood. Carroll became a movie star, adored by the public and critics alike, and was particularly known for her comedies and movie musicals. She reportedly received the most fan mail of any movie star of her day. Her films include Sweetie (1929), Close Harmony (1929), The Dance of Life (1929), Follow Thru (1930), Child of Manhattan (1933), and There Goes My Heart (1938). Carroll also appeared on television throughout the 1950s.
June Collyer started out in silent film, and was named a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1928. She made a successful transition to talkies and appeared in over 30 films. She later appeared on television on the The Stu Erwin Show and Playhouse 90. Illusion (1929)
Kay Francis started out on Broadway before becoming a prominent Hollywood star, and one of the highest paid actors of her day. She appeared in seventy films including The Cocoanuts (1929), Illusion (1929), Paramount on Parade (1930), Trouble in Paradise (1932), Confession (1937) and Four Jills in a Jeep (1944).
The Paramount Theatre in New York staged a live show called Believe It Or Not as an “atmospheric prologue” to the feature. The two-act show included various magic acts, comedy, and music, and was described by The Film Daily (Sept 29, 1929) as “one of the best stage shows that Paramount has uncovered.”
The reviews for Illusion were mixed. Director Lothar Mendes received the most criticism, with reviewers describing his work as lacking in skill and imagination. German-born Mendes worked as a director in Germany, England, and the United States. He directed thirty films in twenty years, including The Four Feathers (1929), Paramount on Parade (1930) and The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1936). Mendes’ 1934 film Jew Süss (released in the USA under the title Power) aimed to show the anti-semitic roots of the Nazi Party. He was briefly married to leading lady Dorothy Mackaill, who appeared in another musical from 1929, The Great Divide.
Male lead Charles “Buddy” Rogers received less-than-glowing reviews. The critics blamed the poor script, and the fact that his character was “A heel” for leaving Claire in the first place.
The female leads fared better, particularly Nancy Carroll and June Collyer, and Kay Francis, with the critics stating they were well-suited to their rules.
Nancy Carroll started out on Broadway and moved with her husband and daughter to Hollywood. Carroll became a movie star, adored by the public and critics alike, and was particularly known for her comedies and movie musicals. She reportedly received the most fan mail of any movie star of her day. Her films include Sweetie (1929), Close Harmony (1929), The Dance of Life (1929), Follow Thru (1930), Child of Manhattan (1933), and There Goes My Heart (1938). Carroll also appeared on television throughout the 1950s.
June Collyer started out in silent film, and was named a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1928. She made a successful transition to talkies and appeared in over 30 films. She later appeared on television on the The Stu Erwin Show and Playhouse 90. Illusion (1929)
Kay Francis started out on Broadway before becoming a prominent Hollywood star, and one of the highest paid actors of her day. She appeared in seventy films including The Cocoanuts (1929), Illusion (1929), Paramount on Parade (1930), Trouble in Paradise (1932), Confession (1937) and Four Jills in a Jeep (1944).
Charles "Buddy" Rogers as featured in Picture Play Magazine (December 1929)
Illusion is notable for the unusually high number of older women in its cast. Illusion boasts not just one motherly/older female character, but four – Emilie Melville, Maude Turner Gordon, Eugenie Besserer, and Frances Raymond.
At age 78, Emilie Melville is, thus far, the oldest female actor of the movie musical project. She was an early Broadway performer and appeared in two films, the early silent The White Sister (1915) and Illusion. The John Hopkins University holds in its collection a piece of sheet music entitled “The Emilie Melville Polka.” Published in 1866, when Melville would have been fifteen years old, it is not clear if the song was named for her. According to IMDb, Melville was the daughter of show business parents, so it is possible there was a connection.
Next in age was Maude Turner Gordon, who was 61 when she appeared in Illusion. She performed in 15 Broadway shows, and over 80 films, though following the advent of sound, most of her roles were small or uncredited. Her film credits include Sally (1929), The Floradora Girl (1930) and Living on Velvet (1935).
A month younger than Gordon was Eugenie Besserer. Besserer had a successful career as a stage actor and appeared in her first film in 1910 at the age of 42. She played Aunt Em in an early short The Wizard of Oz (available to watch at the Internet Archive). Besserer appeared in almost 200 silent shorts and films. Her first talkie was The Jazz Singer (1927), where she played Al Jolson’s mother in a beautiful, if somewhat disjointed, performance. She continued to appear in films until her death in 1934.
A year behind Gordon and Besserer was Frances Raymond. She was a silent film actress and although she continued to appear in film following the advent of talkies, it was usually in small or uncredited roles.
By the numbers, Illusion did well at the box office. The numbers may have been deceptive however, as one theatre manager reported in Exhibitors Herald World (June 26, 1930) that the film had “more walkouts… than on any of 15 pictures.”
For the purposes of seeing several female show business veterans in action, it’s a shame Illusion hasn’t been made available for general distribution. A research copy is held at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
At age 78, Emilie Melville is, thus far, the oldest female actor of the movie musical project. She was an early Broadway performer and appeared in two films, the early silent The White Sister (1915) and Illusion. The John Hopkins University holds in its collection a piece of sheet music entitled “The Emilie Melville Polka.” Published in 1866, when Melville would have been fifteen years old, it is not clear if the song was named for her. According to IMDb, Melville was the daughter of show business parents, so it is possible there was a connection.
Next in age was Maude Turner Gordon, who was 61 when she appeared in Illusion. She performed in 15 Broadway shows, and over 80 films, though following the advent of sound, most of her roles were small or uncredited. Her film credits include Sally (1929), The Floradora Girl (1930) and Living on Velvet (1935).
A month younger than Gordon was Eugenie Besserer. Besserer had a successful career as a stage actor and appeared in her first film in 1910 at the age of 42. She played Aunt Em in an early short The Wizard of Oz (available to watch at the Internet Archive). Besserer appeared in almost 200 silent shorts and films. Her first talkie was The Jazz Singer (1927), where she played Al Jolson’s mother in a beautiful, if somewhat disjointed, performance. She continued to appear in films until her death in 1934.
A year behind Gordon and Besserer was Frances Raymond. She was a silent film actress and although she continued to appear in film following the advent of talkies, it was usually in small or uncredited roles.
By the numbers, Illusion did well at the box office. The numbers may have been deceptive however, as one theatre manager reported in Exhibitors Herald World (June 26, 1930) that the film had “more walkouts… than on any of 15 pictures.”
For the purposes of seeing several female show business veterans in action, it’s a shame Illusion hasn’t been made available for general distribution. A research copy is held at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
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