The silver cord

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Movie
Original title The silver cord
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1933
Rod
Director John Cromwell
script Jane Murfin , based on the play of the same name by Sidney Howard
production Merian C. Cooper / RKO
music Max Steiner
camera Charles Rosher
cut George Nicholls Jr.
occupation

The Silver Cord is a 1933 melodrama starring Irene Dunne and Joel McCrea and directed by John Cromwell .

action

Young biologist Christina just married budding architect David Phelps when she received an offer to work at the prestigious Rockefeller Institute. Before leaving for New York, the newlyweds pay a visit to David's mother, a dominant woman who lives with her younger son Robert and his mentally unstable fiancé Hester on a stately home in the Hamptons. Mrs. Phelps ignores Christina from the first moment and leaves no stone unturned to regain her influence on David. Christina soon realizes that the mother's excessive love for her sons is on the verge of the unnatural. In her jealousy, Mrs. Phelps insults her daughter-in-law and claims that Christina only married David to have a breadwinner. At the same time, she turns her intrigues on Robert against Hester, so that he breaks the engagement.

Christina, who is pregnant by David, tries in vain to get her husband to leave for New York soon. The events reach their dramatic climax when Hester suffers a nervous breakdown and nearly drowns in a lake. At least there is a suspicion that she wanted to commit suicide. Christina gives David an ultimatum to accompany her to New York or to consent to the divorce. David vacillates and then chooses his mother. Shortly before leaving, Christina confronts Mrs. Phelps and reveals her true motives: Over the years, she has transferred feelings for her husband, who died young, to her two sons. David finally realizes the true nature of maternal feelings. Horrified, he leaves the house and hurries after Christina. Robert is left alone with his mother.

background

Irene Dunne had inexorably risen to become the most popular female star at her studio, RKO , since her film debut in 1930 , although most of her films were unpretentious melodramas and love triangles. She played substantial roles mostly for other studios, for example in Back Street in 1932 and a year later in The Secret of Madame Blanche . Although their films usually made a high profit, Dunne was clearly behind Ann Harding and Katharine Hepburn in the internal hierarchy and mostly only got roles at RKO that had been expressly rejected by the established stars. Again, Dunne was only given the role after the material was unsuccessfully offered to both Ann Harding and Katharine Hepburn. The stage version had to be changed in several places for the filming. In the original, author Sidney Howard hinted at incestuous undertones in Mrs. Phelps' affection for her sons.

Irene Dunne's draw at the box office was evident in the announcement of her name, which appeared alone above the film title. For Joel McCrea , the film was significant insofar as he married his film partner Frances Dee while filming .

Reviews

The critics criticized the extreme word-heaviness of the film. The New York Times found :

“This movie probably has more dialogue than any other, and some of it is the longest that has ever been on screen. […] Irene Dunne plays satisfactorily […]. Mr. McCrea is completely in his character when he is in dialogue with others, but in the moments when he actually has to act, he only remains in the role of the listener and does not seem particularly interested in what is being said. "

The film critic Leonard Maltin also noted that the film was reminiscent of a "photographed play". Nevertheless, he is interesting because of his view of a dominant mother. In addition, Dee and Dunne are first class in their roles.

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ There is probably more dialogue in this offering than in any other, and some of the speeches are the longest ever heard from the screen. […] Irene Dunne acts commendably […]. Mr. McCrea is well in character when he is exchanging words with other players, but during those moments when he is called upon to act merely a listener, he does not appear to be markedly interested in the arguments.
  2. ^ The Silver Cord. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved November 2, 2018 .