Comments on: Two Seconds (1932)

By: Ned Merrill

Ned Merrill — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:45:26 +0000

I was lucky enough to catch TWO SECONDS several years back at Film Forum on the bottom half of a bill with the restored BABY FACE. I was riveted then, longed to see it again, and always seemed to miss it when it re-aired on TCM. I got it this time…of course, at the same time that it finally hits DVD (sort of) via the Warner Archive. A shame that Warner Home Video didn’t see fit to grant Mr. Robinson and John Garfield box sets before they dropped proper catalog releases in favor of the Archive.

Robinson is on my list of favorites to have never won a competitive Oscar:
http://knifeinthehead.blogspot.com/search?q=edward+g.+robinson

By: Helen

Helen — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 02:09:04 +0000

I enjoyed this film very much and was quite impressed with Robinson in the courtroom scene as well. After the film, I read a few reviews on another website and a lot of folks thought Robinson was hammy. Not me–he was just right as a guy who had a nervous breakdown. I agree with Mongo–Robinson always delivers.

By: Spanki

Spanki — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:24:24 +0000

Great piece. Ironically, I caught “Two Seconds” by chance when it aired on TCM last week and was quickly sucked in for the gritty, hardbitten duration. I had never heard of it nor knew nothing about it, but guessed by the delivery and style that it was by LeRoy. Robinson is fantastic, chewing up the scenery and spitting it out with an unexpectedly moving gusto.

By: mongo

mongo — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:30:25 +0000

Moira, I finally caught up on a batch of your well written and entertaining blogs today and “Two Seconds” is no exception.
In fact anything with Edward G. Robinson will do. Now I have to make it my business to see the movie.

By: Steve-O

Steve-O — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:15:45 +0000

fantastic article. I love this film. I was so happy it finally made it to DVD…

By: DVD Movies Galore

DVD Movies Galore — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:13:47 +0000

I’m very upset at the moment. Here I am on the evening of the 21st reading this and realized I have missed the movie. After reading this article I would have done anything to have seen it. If anyone knows if and when it will air again please let me know.

By: Beelzabub

Beelzabub — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:03:46 +0000

Robinson never won a competitive Oscar because he was never nominated for one!

By: Patricia

Patricia — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:01:24 +0000

In the middle of a busy morning I lucked onto “Two Seconds” and I haven’t been able to shake the awe since. I always expect the best from Edward G. Robinson and he never disappoints. The story and the characters made me sad and angry, and isn’t that just what a good movie is supposed to do? Bravo to Mr. LeRoy.

By: moirafinnie

moirafinnie — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:33:28 +0000

Suzi, Thanks for taking the time to respond and for your generous comments. I love LeRoy's snappy, angry, and seemingly heartfelt films from the '30s and always wonder how the same man could have made such bland films as he aged. While I can admire his craftsmanship and storytelling skill up to Madame Curie, beginning with that film, it seems to have been downhill for his creativity, unfortunately. Still, there is one LeRoy film that I've heard good and bad things about from the fifties: Home Before Dark (1958) with Jean Simmons, an actress who, despite her beauty and being cast in studio superproductions, seems to retain her individuality, subversive edge of anger and discontent as an undercurrent in her characters. I've never had the opportunity to see this Mervyn LeRoy film, but hope that anyone else who has might share their thoughts on it, as well as on Two Seconds. Thanks again, and I wish I could attend your classes at Facets. They sound great.

By: suzidoll

suzidoll — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:55:17 +0000

I showed I AM A FUGITIVE… in my film history class last semester. It was one of the class’s three favorites for the semester, alongside CITIZEN KANE and CASABLANCA. It was interesting to me that all three favorites were from the Golden Age instead of more modern eras.

LeRoy has always been one of my personal favorite directors, especially his films from the early 1930s. Gotta say that I am not wild about MADAME CURIE or QUO VADIS, however.

Great post, Moira. You are a font of info. If I need background info on someone for my class, I have started to check your posts first to see if you have written about the person or film!