This film produced in 1941 contains a surprisingly modern story line of a career girl - Marvin Myles Ransome, played by Hedy Lamarr from a poor immigrant background, who works at an advertising agency in New York and there has a romance with Robert Young, playing a rich Boston heir - Harry Moulton Pulham who makes a hit with his boss on a soap campaign for a client. Harry's parents and family don't want him to work at the agency however.They want him to come back to Boston,join the family firm and marry a "nice" girl of their own choosing.What is intriguing is that for 1941 this film, directed and written by acclaimed director King Vidor, has a surprisingly modern theme.Hedy puts her career first before marriage because she realises, after visiting Harry's family home, that the stuffy atmosphere there with its restrictive ideas of what young ladies can and cannot do, would not be conducive to her long term personal happiness.Quite a mature decision considering that Harry comes from a rich family.
They both then go their separate, reluctant, ways and are married to different partners for 20 years or so.Marvin contacts Harry after this time because we suspect they are still in love.After a later meeting in Marvins luxury New York flat at her instigation, they are obviously still very fond of each other.Harry kisses Marvin on the lips to prove his affection.
We know of course that the morality code operating in films at the time could not condone an affair and that marriage - the status quo - must in the end triumph.Even here there is for the time an unusual twist.After quizzing his wife, Codelia, played by Ruth Hussey over the breakfast table whether they are truly happy and still in love, she changes her mind about her inability to leave her social engagements and surprises her husband at work as she has been thinking about what he said about taking off into the hills just the two of them and without their own family; to re-ignite their marriage.
I found it surprisingly modern in its theme as I suspect royal marriages without love are still happening today!In 2013 I wrote a general amendment to this and other user comments which also applies to those actresses whose films I have already commented on IMDb.com in recent years.My love goddess/film actresses are Margaret Lockwood, Jennifer Jones, Vivien Leigh, Hedy Lamarr & Ava Gardner.Perhaps you will notice they were all dark brunette 1940s (& 50s) stars.It occurred to me that there should be one defining film which perfectly encapsulates for me their intrinsic personality, talent glamour & intellect.These are my choices after years of deliberation: Margaret Lockwood - "The Wicked Lady" (1945), Jennifer Jones - "Portrait Of Jennie" (1948), Vivien Leigh - "That Hamilton Woman" (1941), Hedy Lamarr - H.M.Pulman esq (1941), Ava Gardner "One Touch of Venus" (1948).
They both then go their separate, reluctant, ways and are married to different partners for 20 years or so.Marvin contacts Harry after this time because we suspect they are still in love.After a later meeting in Marvins luxury New York flat at her instigation, they are obviously still very fond of each other.Harry kisses Marvin on the lips to prove his affection.
We know of course that the morality code operating in films at the time could not condone an affair and that marriage - the status quo - must in the end triumph.Even here there is for the time an unusual twist.After quizzing his wife, Codelia, played by Ruth Hussey over the breakfast table whether they are truly happy and still in love, she changes her mind about her inability to leave her social engagements and surprises her husband at work as she has been thinking about what he said about taking off into the hills just the two of them and without their own family; to re-ignite their marriage.
I found it surprisingly modern in its theme as I suspect royal marriages without love are still happening today!In 2013 I wrote a general amendment to this and other user comments which also applies to those actresses whose films I have already commented on IMDb.com in recent years.My love goddess/film actresses are Margaret Lockwood, Jennifer Jones, Vivien Leigh, Hedy Lamarr & Ava Gardner.Perhaps you will notice they were all dark brunette 1940s (& 50s) stars.It occurred to me that there should be one defining film which perfectly encapsulates for me their intrinsic personality, talent glamour & intellect.These are my choices after years of deliberation: Margaret Lockwood - "The Wicked Lady" (1945), Jennifer Jones - "Portrait Of Jennie" (1948), Vivien Leigh - "That Hamilton Woman" (1941), Hedy Lamarr - H.M.Pulman esq (1941), Ava Gardner "One Touch of Venus" (1948).