Behind the Make-Up


Behind the Make-Up is an American Pre-Code drama film starring Hal Skelly, William Powell, Kay Francis, and Fay Wray, and based on the short story "The Feeder" by Mildred Cram.
This was the first of seven in which Powell and Francis co-starred, the others being Street of Chance, Paramount on Parade, For the Defense, Ladies' Man, Jewel Robbery, and One Way Passage.

Plot summary

Gardoni, a down-on-his-luck vaudeville performer, is taken in by a fellow performer, a clown who has a bicycle riding act. Gardoni shows his appreciation by stealing the clown's act and his girlfriend, whom he marries.

Cast

, film critic of The New York Times, praised the performances of Powell, Wray, Skelly, and Francis, but noted "the story is rather limp and disappointing."