This is a so-called "Pre-Code" film because it was made before the rigid new Hollywood Production Code was developed and enforced in order to stamp out indecency in movies. Up to about 1934, movies about adultery were quite the rage in the far less than puritanical world than people today might imagine. As a result of this code, films like this probably wouldn't have been made in the post-code era AND it seriously impacted on actress Kay Francis' career--who made a long string of adultery melodramas.
The problem with this film is that although the subject matter is very adult and you'd think there'd be a bit of titillation, there really isn't all that much. Plus, the lady played by Francis and her husband really are dumber than a sack of door knobs! Here are some of the husband's stupid actions as the film began: his sister lives with him and this sister continuously berates his wife--treating her like dirt (a sure way to win her heart) and the man goes away on business in India for a full year!! Talk about a great way to preserve the marriage and ensure fidelity! As for Francis, while she never commits adultery per se, she sure dances and skates around the edges a lot--spending most of this year in Paris with a Latin lover (Austrian-born Ricardo Cortez--who was actually Jewish, not Spanish). Despite never actually having sex with Cortez, when her husband returns, Francis treats her husband coolly and then agrees to go off to Cortez' castle in Spain--while staunchly saying she refuses to have an affair! Well, duh...she seems like a woman who has no idea what she wants and her brain is "blowin' in the wind".
Once there in Spain, she discovers (no big surprise) that the other guests who were supposed to be there are not coming! And in a fleeting moment of passion, she decides to chuck everything and sleep with Cortez. However, after penning a "Dear John" letter to her hubby, a stranger comes in and shoots Cortez dead!! Really, I know this sounds way too incredible to be true, but that IS the plot! And, naturally, Francis wants to get the letter back and rejoin her husband. So she takes a plane back in order to beat the mail. What depth of feeling, eh? Later, back home in England, Francis frantically waits for the letter so she can intercept it but it never arrives. Out of the blue, a blackmailer arrives but Francis FINALLY gets a conscience and refuses to pay and tries to tell her husband the truth. But in a wonderful scene that saves this film, somewhat, he realizes he doesn't need to know the truth--they both made mistakes and should start anew.
Overall, a silly film because the characters are so gosh darn dumb and because the melodrama seems so fake and silly. Without the excellent ending, the movie would have only earned a 3 despite being a rather bold Pre-Code film. However, in a tender and gripping scene, it manages to pull off a 5--putting it in the category of a time-passer.
The problem with this film is that although the subject matter is very adult and you'd think there'd be a bit of titillation, there really isn't all that much. Plus, the lady played by Francis and her husband really are dumber than a sack of door knobs! Here are some of the husband's stupid actions as the film began: his sister lives with him and this sister continuously berates his wife--treating her like dirt (a sure way to win her heart) and the man goes away on business in India for a full year!! Talk about a great way to preserve the marriage and ensure fidelity! As for Francis, while she never commits adultery per se, she sure dances and skates around the edges a lot--spending most of this year in Paris with a Latin lover (Austrian-born Ricardo Cortez--who was actually Jewish, not Spanish). Despite never actually having sex with Cortez, when her husband returns, Francis treats her husband coolly and then agrees to go off to Cortez' castle in Spain--while staunchly saying she refuses to have an affair! Well, duh...she seems like a woman who has no idea what she wants and her brain is "blowin' in the wind".
Once there in Spain, she discovers (no big surprise) that the other guests who were supposed to be there are not coming! And in a fleeting moment of passion, she decides to chuck everything and sleep with Cortez. However, after penning a "Dear John" letter to her hubby, a stranger comes in and shoots Cortez dead!! Really, I know this sounds way too incredible to be true, but that IS the plot! And, naturally, Francis wants to get the letter back and rejoin her husband. So she takes a plane back in order to beat the mail. What depth of feeling, eh? Later, back home in England, Francis frantically waits for the letter so she can intercept it but it never arrives. Out of the blue, a blackmailer arrives but Francis FINALLY gets a conscience and refuses to pay and tries to tell her husband the truth. But in a wonderful scene that saves this film, somewhat, he realizes he doesn't need to know the truth--they both made mistakes and should start anew.
Overall, a silly film because the characters are so gosh darn dumb and because the melodrama seems so fake and silly. Without the excellent ending, the movie would have only earned a 3 despite being a rather bold Pre-Code film. However, in a tender and gripping scene, it manages to pull off a 5--putting it in the category of a time-passer.