The Silver Cord (1933)

A domineering matriarch is less than happy when her son brings home his new bride. She immediately sets to work at sabotaging their marriage as well as the engagement of her younger and ... See full summary »

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Jane Murfin (screenplay), Sidney Howard (from the play by)

Stars:

Irene Dunne, Joel McCrea, Laura Hope Crews

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Irene Dunne	...	Christina Phelps
Joel McCrea	...	David Phelps
Laura Hope Crews	...	Mrs. Phelps
Eric Linden	...	Robert Phelps
Frances Dee	...	Hester

Storyline

A domineering matriarch is less than happy when her son brings home his new bride. She immediately sets to work at sabotaging their marriage as well as the engagement of her younger and weaker son.

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Plot Keywords:

mother | newlywed | based on play

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amor de Mãe

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frances Dee met Joel McCrea on the set of this film. Following a whirlwind courtship, the two were married later that year(1933) in Rye, New York. He died on their 57th wedding anniversary. (ref: Frances Dee's Biography & Personal Details for marriage dates.)

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Quotes

Robert Phelps: [Mummy's boy to ex-fiancee] What are you going to do?
Hester: I don't know... Yes I do, I'm going to marry an orphan!

User Reviews

Live and let live

Long before the Freudian craze in the forties thrillers ,"the silver cord" depicted a terrifying mother/children relationship where mom is in love with her boys (and at least in one case vice versa: the boy kisses her on the mouth).

The movie looks like a filmed stage production for we almost never leave the house and there are only five actors (plus a short appearance by the doctor),but it's absorbing from start to finish .Irene Dunne ,as a scientist ,predates woman's lib by thirty years .Frances Dee says the words that are the keys to the movie: " give birth to them ,raise them ,and let them live!" To keep her sons by her side,the mother-in-law you would not imagine even in your worst dreams ,would do anything:she urges her sons to break up ,she even blackmails them with the poor condition of her heart (whereas the physician says she is all right);when her younger son's fiancé tries to commit suicide ,she is not moved that much :Laura Hope Crews ' playing may seem old fashioned by today's standards;but this portrayal of a self-absorbed woman remain convincing and Mrs Phelps is a distant relative of Tennessee Williams' Mrs Venable in "suddenly last Summer"