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  • The Secret Call (1931)
  • 70 min | Drama, Romance
The Secret Call (1931)
70 min | Drama, Romance

City Commissioner Frank Kelly commits suicide after political boss Jim Blake frames him in Blake's own grafting racket. Kelly's daughter Wanda, who is in love with Blake's son Tom, vows revenge against Blake when he insists innocent men do...See moreCity Commissioner Frank Kelly commits suicide after political boss Jim Blake frames him in Blake's own grafting racket. Kelly's daughter Wanda, who is in love with Blake's son Tom, vows revenge against Blake when he insists innocent men do not commit suicide. A year later, Wanda is head telephone operator at the Hotel Keswick, where Blake conducts business. Meanwhile, The Bulletin has been printing stories implicating Blake in Kelly's demise. In order to divert attention from himself, Blake creates a scandal involving Senator Matt Stanton, who is spearheading the investigation of him. At the hotel, Blake blackmails Stanton into dropping his reform bill by threatening to expose Stanton's past love affair in the next morning's newspaper. Meanwhile, Bulletin reporter Bert Benedict offers to pay Wanda to listen in on Blake's calls. Unaware of the name of Stanton's former liaison, Blake sends henchman Jim Neligan to pay the hotel operator for the phone number of Stanton's next call, assuming he will be calling the woman to warn her. When Tom's brother-in-law, Senator Phil Roberts, who is in league with Blake, calls the same number, Wanda realizes Blake's own daughter Grace is the woman, and refuses to report to either Benedict or Neligan. Blake, meanwhile, pays Stanton's ex-secretary, Vera Lorraine, to give him the name, and she promises to deliver it the next morning. That night, Tom and Wanda spend a romantic evening together after a year's separation, and she tells him his father has come between them. The next morning, Grace arrives at the hotel and Wanda warns her to stop her father's involvement in the Stanton scandal. When Vera telephones, Wanda intercepts the call. As the press waits, Grace runs to Tom for help and Wanda is ordered to report to Blake. When Blake realizes Kelly's daughter is the woman he tried to bribe, he threatens to put her in prison for intercepting Vera's call. Wanda resists naming Grace until Blake cruelly reminds Wanda of her father's fate. As Tom and Grace arrive, Wanda blurts out Grace's phone number and Blake, mortified, says he is through with politics. Wanda then gives Benedict a tip that she will marry Tom. See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writers
Arthur Kober (screenplay) | William C. de Mille (play "The Woman")
Cinematographer
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Jul 25, 1931

Release date
Jul 25, 1931 (United States)

Contacts

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Cast

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16 cast members
Name Known for
Richard Arlen
Tom Blake Tom Blake   See fewer
Peggy Shannon
Wanda Kelly Wanda Kelly   See fewer
William B. Davidson
Jim Blake Jim Blake   See fewer
Charles Trowbridge
Phil Roberts Phil Roberts   See fewer
Jane Keithley
Grace Roberts (as Jane Keith) Grace Roberts (as Jane Keith)   See fewer
Selmer Jackson
Matt Stanton Matt Stanton   See fewer
Ned Sparks
Bert Benedict Bert Benedict   See fewer
Jed Prouty
Jim Neligan Jim Neligan   See fewer
Charles D. Brown
Bob Barnes Bob Barnes   See fewer
Harry Beresford
Frank Kelly Frank Kelly   See fewer
Larry Steers
Fillmore Fillmore   See fewer
Elaine Baker
Vera Lorraine Vera Lorraine   See fewer
Frances Moffett
Gwen Allen Gwen Allen   See fewer
Claire Dodd
Maisie Maisie   See fewer
Perry Ivins
Bill - Jim Blake's Secretary (uncredited) Bill - Jim Blake's Secretary (uncredited)   See fewer
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