Cynara (1932)

Director:

King Vidor

Writers:

Robert Brown (novel)
Frances Marion (writer)

Release Date:

24 December 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Back to the arms of his wife after a hectic weekend with his mistress!

Plot:

London barrister's marriage is under strain after his affair with a shop-girl who is out to have him. Told in flashback. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Ronald Colman	...	Jim Warlock
Kay Francis	...	Clemency Warlock
Phyllis Barry	...	Doris Emily Lea
Henry Stephenson	...	John Tring
Viva Tattersall	...	Milly Miles
Florine McKinney	...	Garla
Clarissa Selwynne	...	Onslow
Paul Porcasi	...	Joseph, Maitre D'
George Kirby	...	Mr. Boots
Donald Stuart	...	Henry
Wilson Benge	...	Merton, Jim's Valet
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Coroner at Inquest

Also Known As:

I Was Faithful (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Quotes:

John Tring: No woman is respectable until she is dead.

Movie Connections:

Features A Dog's Life (1918)

Underrated King Vidor Early Sound Film

Recently I was finally able to see this early sound classic with Ronald Colman and Kay Francis. I haven't seen many movies with the latter, and her understated beauty suits Colman perfectly.

Colman looking elegant in his perfectly tailored suits, plays a conservative and happily married (to Kay, as Clemency) barrister whose life is turned upside down by a chance affair with a shop girl played sensitively by an unknown at the time, Phyllis Barry. King Vidor, the director, took a chance in casting her, but his faith in her ability paid off. She brings just the right touch of pathos and desperation to the role of Doris. (And just happens to resemble Kay more than just a little.) In David Shepard's book on King Vidor several effects within the movie are discussed, such as the movie within a movie scene with Charlie playing the little tramp when they all go to the flickers the night he and Tring (character actor Henry Stephenson in a salty role.) meet the girls, and the fade out scenes of Colman tearing up the paper with the girls address to a scene of Clemency in Venice with her sister and the scraps of paper have dissolved into pigeons in flight.

I would say that this was a different type of role for Colman. Yet even though he plays an adulterous husband, his kindness and tenderness toward Doris is always there, and all parties suffer because of the infidelity. Even in a precode, no one gets away from the consequences of their actions! I highly recommend this movie for Colman and Francis fans and as a fine example of an early Vidor sound movie. I enjoyed it more than Street Scene as the sound quality was better by this time, and the story flowed more smoothly.