I don't know why it was such a popular theme during the early 1930s to have an unfaithful husband inadvertently blame his wife for his straying, because she neglected him or went away to care for her sick mother. If a man's left alone, he's not responsible for his actions? If you don't like that theme either, don't rent Those We Love.
Since you already know what happens, the beginning of the film is quite sad. Kenneth MacKenna has just written and published his first novel, and he happens to bump into the first purchaser of his book on the street, Mary Astor. He kisses her in thanks, and then pursues her romantically. Their courtship is so romantic and so sweet, it's unthinkable that Kenneth will end up cheating on her, as the synopsis reveals. Well, as the movie progresses, they marry and have a child, and then temptation takes its form in Lilyan Tashman.
Just like another Mary Astor film Smart Woman, the overwhelming theme of this film is that a wife is to blame for her husband's infidelity, and that after such betrayal is committed, it's her job to apologize and beg forgiveness. And just like Smart Woman, the husband's character is not written to be a wonderful person, so the audience can at least understand why the wife fights so hard to keep him.
Since you already know what happens, the beginning of the film is quite sad. Kenneth MacKenna has just written and published his first novel, and he happens to bump into the first purchaser of his book on the street, Mary Astor. He kisses her in thanks, and then pursues her romantically. Their courtship is so romantic and so sweet, it's unthinkable that Kenneth will end up cheating on her, as the synopsis reveals. Well, as the movie progresses, they marry and have a child, and then temptation takes its form in Lilyan Tashman.
Just like another Mary Astor film Smart Woman, the overwhelming theme of this film is that a wife is to blame for her husband's infidelity, and that after such betrayal is committed, it's her job to apologize and beg forgiveness. And just like Smart Woman, the husband's character is not written to be a wonderful person, so the audience can at least understand why the wife fights so hard to keep him.