Irene Dunne and John Boles classically pull off what easily could have been a smarmy pre-code movie with the usual clichés about extra-marital affairs.
Rae (Irene) misses the chance to marry the man she loves, due to helping another woman, her step-sister, who is in trouble. Years later Rae meets Walter (handsome John Boles) again in New York City; he's a rich banker-stockbroker now, married, with two children, yet the old sparks are still there and she agrees to be his mistress. The affair lasts years and there is genuine affection there. At one point Rae almost marries a childhood friend to escape her back street romance, but Walter begs her to return to him, and she does.
Now twenty years go by, his children are grown and learn about the long-term affair, though we are to believe the wife is clueless. Walter has a stroke and his last thoughts are of Rae, and Rae gives up the ghost shortly thereafter, unable to continue living without her lifelong love.
It's nice to see the transition between the Gilded Age through the 1930's; it's nice to see two pros give touching performances in this film. As per the style of that time, there was no background musical soundtrack, except for a few brief scenes, and this is not a distraction; in fact I think it helps keep one's concentration going on the actual storyline not to be interrupted by Max Steiner-like musical notes soaring over the action.
This film has never been released on video or DVD and is never played on TCM or Fox Movie Channel. Very unfortunate; it needs to be readily available for precode fans.
Rae (Irene) misses the chance to marry the man she loves, due to helping another woman, her step-sister, who is in trouble. Years later Rae meets Walter (handsome John Boles) again in New York City; he's a rich banker-stockbroker now, married, with two children, yet the old sparks are still there and she agrees to be his mistress. The affair lasts years and there is genuine affection there. At one point Rae almost marries a childhood friend to escape her back street romance, but Walter begs her to return to him, and she does.
Now twenty years go by, his children are grown and learn about the long-term affair, though we are to believe the wife is clueless. Walter has a stroke and his last thoughts are of Rae, and Rae gives up the ghost shortly thereafter, unable to continue living without her lifelong love.
It's nice to see the transition between the Gilded Age through the 1930's; it's nice to see two pros give touching performances in this film. As per the style of that time, there was no background musical soundtrack, except for a few brief scenes, and this is not a distraction; in fact I think it helps keep one's concentration going on the actual storyline not to be interrupted by Max Steiner-like musical notes soaring over the action.
This film has never been released on video or DVD and is never played on TCM or Fox Movie Channel. Very unfortunate; it needs to be readily available for precode fans.