The Masquerader

The Masquerader is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Richard Wallace and starring Ronald Colman, Elissa Landi and Juliette Compton. It was produced by Samuel Goldwyn and released through United Artists. The Masquerader was a popular 1904 novel, a 1917 play, and a 1922 silent film. Colman takes a dual role as a drug-addicted member of Parliament and his lookalike cousin recruited to take his place. Plot There is much civil unrest in England, as unemployed workers demand work. In Parliament, the government refuses to do anything, stating that things will work out without their interference. The opposition is counting on Sir John Chilcote to roast their inactivity, but he collapses at the beginning of his speech. He soon revives, but declines seeing a doctor, instead taking something in a drink. Fraser, the head of his party, is fed up with Chilcote's latest failure and insists that he attend a meeting the next morning to discuss his political future. While walking home in the London fog, he bumps into his lookalike cousin, journalist John Loder, who chastises him for his disgraceful performance. He then goes to see his mistress, Lady Diana Joyce. Eve, Chilcote's estranged wife, returns from France and tries to persuade Fraser and newspaper editor Lakely to give her husband one more chance to speak that night. More because they have no other choice than because of her pleas, they give in. Chilcote does not appreciate her efforts.