The Live Wire (1935)

★★★★ · Novel Fight Scenes · Donavan Blue · 2006-03-27

This movie has some interesting moments. Probably the most fascinating are the fight scenes. The protagonists are flailing about but clearly not landing their punches. It demonstrates how dangerous fight scenes were considered in the early years, and how actors had to exercise extreme care. Contrast it to later when actors learned to suppress their punches at the last moment, or the cameramen chose angles that made the blows appear to connect. This movie is a great piece of fight history.

★★★★ · I liked it. · kareneliot · 2006-04-29

It was a little on the predictable side, but it was entertaining and kept my interest. I watched it through to the end, which is saying something, as I have what is known as 'a short attention span' when it comes to movies.

★★★ · Jackie Chan Forerunner · bearpuf · 2004-12-04

Adolescent and kidready for a Saturday afternoon. There are some fairly fun acrobatics accomplished by the hero. The real plus of this movie is the daughter, who gives this flick a little potential to be enjoyable by her wild looks of surprise. The fight scenes are pretty amateurish by today's standards. I liked the steady and clear photography. Not bad for it's day; although I keep wondering what happened to the second archeaologist after the explosion. Ah who cares, the mutineying sailors get theirs and the hero gets the girl.

★★★ · Entertaining · Big Boomer · 2017-11-11

Richard Talmadge never quite lost his German accent completely and it peaks through from time to time here. He was usually a stunt man in his early career and his well honed skill is displayed frequently here. The plot is thin but there is lots of action.

★★★ · fun film · katperrr · 2013-01-18

It was entertaining, and that's all I'm looking for.

★★ · this Live Wire blows a fuse · Poplar House · 2005-02-06

"The Live Wire," Reliable 1935. This is a lost-civilization treasure hunt that should be better than it is. It has an intersting cast of relatives, and stars former Barnum & Bailey acrobat Richard Talmadge doing lots of action scenes. You'll see veteran western actor George Walsh (brother to Raoul), Charles French (Victor's grandfather), Sam McDaniel (Hattie's brother), and another familiar western character actor, George Chesebro.