Another Face

Another Face

Year: 1935

Runtime: 69 mins

Language: English

Director: Christy Cabanne

DramaCrimeComedy

A wanted murderer undergoes a radical facial reconstruction to escape the law and then hides in plain sight under the glare of a spotlight. The surgeon who performed the operation is found dead, and only the nurse who assisted knows his true appearance. As he adjusts to his new identity, she teaches him about women.

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Timeline & Setting – Another Face (1935)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Another Face (1935). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

The story unfolds in the early 1930s, a period when talkies and publicity were shaping the careers and images of film stars amid the Great Depression. The era's mix of glamour and hardship informs the characters' ambitions and schemes. Public relations and sensational narratives dominate the industry's landscape.

Location

Hollywood, California, Zenith Studio, Yuma, Arizona

Set around Hollywood's studio system with scenes on a studio lot at Zenith Studio. The city serves as the backdrop for star-making schemes and public spectacles. It contrasts the glossy facade of film fame with the criminal undercurrents driving the plot.

🎬 Film Industry 🏙️ Hollywood 🎭 Glamour

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:03

Main Characters – Another Face (1935)

Meet the key characters of Another Face (1935), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Broken Nose Dawson / Spencer Dutro III (Brian Donlevy)

A wanted gangster who surgically alters his face to escape justice and reinvent himself as a suave movie star. He uses manipulation and bravado to control others, revealing how easily appearance can mask intent. His dual identities propel the plot, but his criminal nature shadows every 'new' life.

🎭 Dual identity 🧠 Cunning 💥 Dangerous

Mary McCall (Molly Lamont)

A nurse who recognizes Dawson under his new face and becomes entangled in the schemes of Hollywood publicity. She is principled, resourceful, and driven by loyalty to her fiancé. Her actions spark the pursuit of truth as the story unfolds.

👩‍⚕️ Nurse 💡 Moral compass 🏃‍♀️ Resourceful

Joe Haynes (Wallace Ford)

A studio press agent who thrives on sensational publicity, orchestrating stunts to boost the studio’s image. He balances showmanship with practicality, risking danger to maximize headlines. His ambitions illuminate the power and ethics (or lack thereof) in public relations.

🗣️ Publicity 🧭 Ambition 🕵️‍♂️ Manipulation

Sheila Barry (Phyllis Brooks)

A leading actress who becomes involved with the transformed Dawson and influences his Hollywood trajectory. She is initially unimpressed by his egotism, yet the dynamic between them drives the film’s star-driven plot. Her perspective grounds the glamour against the underlying menace.

🎬 Actress 💔 Relationship tension 🧭 Independent

Tex Williams (Jack Randall)

A Western film star and Mary’s fiancé, who becomes part of the studio’s publicity machinery. He embodies the tension between personal loyalty and the Hollywood machine’s demands. His presence anchors the personal stakes within the showbiz world.

🎖️ Western Star 💼 Industry Insider ❤️ Loyalty

Charles L. Kellar (Alan Hale)

The studio’s general manager who oversees production and approves publicity strategies. He represents the corporate side of Hollywood and the tension between risk-taking and responsibility. His decisions shape the film’s direction and the fate of those around him.

🏢 Studio Executive 🧭 Cautious 📈 Ambition

Bill Branch (Paul Stanton)

The director who hires Dutro to play a gangster, bridging Dawson’s criminal past with his screen persona. He functions as a gatekeeper within the industry’s process of turning real-life into fiction. His collaboration with Haynes highlights the collaborative nature of creating a star.

🎬 Director 🤝 Collaboration 🧭 Gatekeeper

Dr. H. J. Buler (Oscar Apfel)

The physician who assists Dawson in changing his appearance, unwittingly enabling his escape. His role underscores the moral gray area of scientific meddling for fame. His murder catalyzes the film’s crime plot and the ensuing chase.

🧪 Scientist ⚖️ Ethics 🕯️ Moral ambiguity

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:03

Major Themes – Another Face (1935)

Explore the central themes of Another Face (1935), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪞 Identity

Dawson undergoes a physical transformation to mask his past and pursue fame as a movie star. The narrative probes how outward appearance can redefine perception, status, and power. Dual identities drive the tension as the man behind the face struggles with his conscience and criminal past.

📢 Fame & Publicity

The plot treats publicity as a commodity that can manufacture a person’s fame. A scheming press agent orchestrates stunts and spin to control public perception. The pursuit of headlines blurs moral boundaries and fuels dangerous decisions.

🚓 Crime & Consequences

Dawson’s criminal past surfaces through killings and a police pursuit. The murders drive the narrative forward and threaten everyone who knows his hidden identity. Law enforcement closes in as the publicist’s schemes threaten to implode.

✨ Illusion

Hollywood glamour vests illusion over reality, with characters playing roles that mask true intentions. The film exposes how the entertainment world can sanitize and sensationalize danger. The line between screen persona and real threat becomes dangerously thin.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:03

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Another Face Summary

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Another Face Summary

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Another Face Timeline

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