Universal
The first version of Fannie Hurst’s best-selling novel is directed by John Stahl and stars Irene Dunne and John Boles.
The second version, in 1941, was directed by Robert Stevenson, and adapted to the big screen by Bruce Manning and Felix Jackson.
Adapted to the screen by Gladys Lehman and Lynn Starling, it tells the story of Ray Smith (Dunne), a woman who remains committed to her lover, the married Walter Saxel (Boles), who can’t get a divorce or else it would ruin his career.
In early 1900s Cincinnati, young and beautiful Ray Schmidt (Irene Dunne) works in her father’s shop by day and stays out late drinking beer and dancing with various men by night, although her stepmother disapproves.
Ray dates for fun, mostly traveling salesmen passing through town, and neither she nor her dates are interested in any attachment.
An exception is Kurt Shendler, who owns a bicycle shop near Mr. Schmidt’s shop and aspires to get into the auto business. Kurt is in love with Ray and asks her to marry him, but she refuses because she doesn’t return his romantic feelings.
While visiting the train station with Kurt, Ray meets Walter Saxel (John Boles) and the two fall for each other at first sight. Walter soon confesses to Ray that he is actually engaged to another woman in town,
Hurst’s potboiler again was filmed in 1961, with Susan Hayward and John Gavin in the leads.
The 1961 version was Oscar-nominated for Jean Louis’ costume design
Release date: August 29, 1932
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