Subdued, dignified melodrama based on a James Hilton novel; star Muni felt it was one of his greatest roles. He's a violin-playing country doctor in England with a neurotic wife, Robson, and a precocious son, Severn. The movie begins in 1914 as the physician treats and becomes attracted
to Bryan, an Austrian dancer whose career has been cut short by a broken wrist. (The part was originally cast with Dolly Haas, but when she and Muni had those old, familiar "creative differences," she was replaced with tyro Bryan after three weeks' shooting had been completed.) She becomes the
child's governess, and tries to protect him from Robson, who resents her. Robson fires Bryan and sends the lad off to live with her pious brother, Napier, an archdeacon. Muni, furious, continues to see Bryan. Some time later, Severn sneaks back to his house and accidentally knocks over some pill
bottles belonging to Muni. The pills get switched, eventually resulting in Robson's death by poisoning. Muni and Bryan are arrested on the charge of murder. Can they prove their innocence? Do they want to?
With its downbeat conclusion, unusual for a Hollywood film of the time, the film achieves a certain integrity. It was Muni's 10th and final picture for Warner Bros. and a fine bow-out to the contract that saw him appear as Louis Pasteur, Benito Juarez, and Emile Zola. The studio did well in its
creation of the atmosphere of a small English village of the period, and the acting is excellent. leave a comment