BRIAN DONLEVY
"Another Face"
1935 - RKO Pictures

Broken Nose Dawson (Brian Donlevy) is a mug who has the perfect plan to go under cover so the cops won't ever find him. Being the Number One Most Wanted gangster, his face is plastered on every newspaper from coast to coast and in just as many police stations. Not wanting to live a life on the run or go underground forever, Dawson decides the best way to hide his face is to get a new one!

Obtaining the services of a shady surgeon, Broken Nose gets a whole new look. Now quite handsome (Donlevy is allowed now to look like himself, minus the prosthetic nose and bad teeth of Dawson) his henchman suggests he looks good enough to be a movie star. This gives Dawson the ultimate idea of evading the cops. He'll go to Hollywood and become an actor! "What'a them mugs got that I ain't? Nuthin'!"

But Hollywood isn't quite as ready to accept the new actor (who's using the assumed name of Spencer Dutra III, a society dude that's about 30 years older than the supposed new Dutra III) and the outcome is hilarious! And when the studio's publicity agent tries to make headlines with the society Dutra, in a last attempt to keep his job and his girlfriend, who both think he's a loser, the outcome is better than a Keystone Cops' comedy.

With acting done so poorly it actually proves Donlevy is an excellent actor (because no one can really be that bad), Brian shows his wonderful comedic ability! With marvelous facial expression, delightful vocal utterances and sight gags galore, Brian is a riot!

This film is a must see for anyone who loves Brian Donlevy or just loves a good 1930s Screwball Comedy Another Face will leave yours aching from laughter!

© J. Byron Dean 1996 - 2005