Possessed (1931)

Ambitious factory Girl Marion Martin meets a handsome well-to-do, but he's interested in her as a mistress, not a wife.

Writers:

Edgar Selwyn (from the play by: "The Mirage"), Lenore J. Coffee (adaptation)

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Wallace Ford

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Marian
Clark Gable	...	Mark Whitney
Wallace Ford	...	Al Manning
Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher	...	Wally (as Skeets Gallagher)
Frank Conroy	...	Travers
Marjorie White	...	Vernice
John Miljan	...	John Driscoll
Clara Blandick	...	Mother

Storyline

Marion is a factory worker who hopes to trade the assembly line, for a beautiful penthouse apartment. Mark Whitney, a wealthy and influential lawyer can make her dreams come true, but there is only one problem, he will give her everything but a marriage proposal. Will this affair ever lead to marriage?

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Plot Keywords:

mistress | factory | factory worker | lawyer | governor | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French German

Release Date:

21 November 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Verkaufte Liebe

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The short films Trader Hound and I Love a Lassie played before this film in some theaters during its original theatrical run.

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Quotes

Marian Martin, aka Mrs. Moreland: Oh, Mark, I feel as if I was walking on the edge of a precipice.

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Connections

Referenced in The Scarlett O'Hara War (1980)

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Soundtracks

"A Hot Time in the Old Town"
(1896) (uncredited)
Music by Theo. A. Metz
Played during an electioneering scene

User Reviews

Mature pre-code Hollywood drama

This movie goes to prove that pre-code Hollywood was much more mature and knew how to make movies of good taste on socially relevant issues. The theme of the woman who lives as a 'mistress' of the man she loves because he prefers not to get married was very daring in those days. The social background was also cleverly handled. One scene is particularly impressive and intelligent: when J. Crawford, just about to cross a railroad, stops to wait a train go slowly by and, through each window that passes, she has a glimpse of how the other half lives, just as though she were watching a movie. A visually very inspired moment.