Themes: Opposites Attract, Class Differences, Self-Destructive Romance
Main Cast: Joan Crawford, Margaret Sullavan, Robert Young, Melvyn Douglas, Fay Bainter
Release Year: 1938
Country: US
Run Time: 76 minutes
Plot
Frank Borzage directed this doomed romance starring Joan Crawford as Olivia Riley, the young bride of Henry Linden (Melvyn Douglas), an upper-crust conservative. Olivia is a show girl in a New York nightclub and when Henry brings her home to his family -- his brother David (Robert Young) and spinster sister Hannah (Fay Bainter) -- on his family's estate, Olivia is given the cold shoulder, particularly by David, who is actually attracted to Olivia himself. Olivia strikes up a friendship with David's wife Judy (Margaret Sullivan), who feels as shut out from the family as Olivia does. Olivia is attracted to David herself, and Hannah tries to drive Olivia away before things really heat up. Judy recognizes the attraction and is willing to leave David so he can pursue his romance with Olivia. David has no idea how to handle the situation, and Henry is blissfully unaware of the simmering passions between David and his wife. But Hannah brings the situation to its inevitable, and tragic, outcome buy setting fire to the estate. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Olivia (Crawford), a New York nightclub dancer, tires of the fast life and marries Henry Linden (Douglas), a farmer. When Olivia moves to her new husband's farm, in Wisconsin, she encounters trouble from his domineering sister-in-law Hannah (Bainter) and his brother David, (Young), who do not approve of her. Olivia finds an ally in David's wife, Judy (Sullavan), who is in a loveless marriage. Olivia also comes to realize that she and Judy are in the same situation. Olivia's living situation is further complicated when David defends her from the unwanted advancesof a farm hand and he begins to fall in love with her. Henry is unaware of this; but, when Hannah finds out what is going on, sets fire to the home in a drunken rage. Olivia saves a badly burned Judy, and David realizes he has loved Judy after all. Olivia then decides to leave the farm; and, as she drives away, Henry joins her and they leave together.
The Pride and the Man •Dollars of Dross •Land o' Lizards •Immediate Lee •Flying Colors •Until They Get Me •The Gun Woman •The Curse of Iku •The Shoes That Danced •Innocent's Progress •Society for Sale •An Honest Man •Who Is to Blame? •The Ghost Flower •The Atom •Toton the Apache •Whom the Gods Would Destroy •Prudence on Broadway
1920s
Humoresque •The Duke of Chimney Butte •Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford •Back Pay •Billy Jim •The Good Provider •The Valley of Silent Men •The Pride of Palomar •The Nth Commandment •Children of the Dust •The Age of Desire •Secrets •The Lady •Daddy's Gone A-Hunting •The Circle •Lazybones •Wages for Wives •The First Year •The Dixie Merchant •Early to Wed •Marriage License? •Seventh Heaven •Street Angel •Lucky Star •They Had to See Paris •The River
