A Bill of Divorcement

At the start of A Bill of Divorcement, Billie Burke is hosting a glorious Christmas party for her family and friends. She's celebrating with her fiancé Paul Cavanagh, for they plan to take a vacation at New Year's and marry. Her sister-in-law Elizabeth Patterson disapproves because she still values Billie's first marriage to her brother, John Barrymore. After he came home from the war, John's shell shock devolved into insanity, and he's been in an asylum for fifteen years. When John escapes from the asylum, anxious to reclaim his place in the family, he's in for a rude awakening.

John Barrymore gives a wonderful, heartbreaking performance as the insane patriarch. His emotions are highly volatile and all worn on his sleeve, which fits his character and the situation perfectly. When he first comes home, he chances upon a young woman he believes to be his wife. It's actually Katharine Hepburn, his daughter all grown up, and the two have some very touching emotional scenes together. I don't know why this film was ignored at the Oscars, but it wasn't ignored at the Hot Toasty Rags. This is a very well-acted, well-written, thoughtful piece. Bring your Kleenexes when you sit down for this heavy drama. It might not be clear from the cheerful first scene, but you'll be in for quite a few tears by the end.